Russia extremely concerned, calls for restraint after Iranian strikes on Israel

Russia said on Sunday it was extremely concerned by Iranian strikes on Israel and called on all parties to exercise restraint but said tensions would remain high until the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians was resolved.

“We express our extreme concern over another dangerous escalation in the region,” Russia’s foreign ministry said in a statement on the Iranian attacks. “We call on all parties involved to exercise restraint.”

Russia noted that Tehran had said the attack was made within the right to self-defense after Israel’s strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus that Moscow condemned.

Russia, which has close ties to Iran, said that the West had blocked attempts in the United Nations Security Council to respond to the Israeli strike on the consulate.

“We have repeatedly warned that the numerous unresolved crises in the Middle East, primarily in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict zone, which are often fueled by irresponsible provocative actions, will lead to an increase in tension,” the ministry said.

The Kremlin has yet to comment publicly.

But Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said that a war between Israel and Iran would worsen Joe Biden’s prospects of being re-elected US president.

“America does not want a big war in the Middle East,” Medvedev said on Telegram. “The killings in Gaza worsen Biden’s prospects in the elections, and war between Israel and Iran would introduce additional uncertainty.”