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Russia Calls for Middle East Ceasefire, Alleges Israel Provoking US-Iran Conflict

Oct 2, 2024, 04:12 PM

Russian officials, including Ambassador to Israel Anatoly Viktorov and UN representative Vassily Nebenzia, have called for an immediate end to hostilities in the Middle East and urged a diplomatic resolution to the conflict. Viktorov emphasized the need to cease military actions and respect territorial integrity and sovereignty, stating, "Our call is very simple: it is time to stop hostilities immediately." Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov urged all parties to exercise restraint and condemned "any actions which lead to the deaths of civilians." Nebenzia alleged that Israel aims to provoke a direct conflict between the United States and Iran, asserting that "Israel bears full responsibility for the escalation and its consequences." He also remarked that "it is an illusion that Israel has military superiority" and suggested that Iran joined the confrontation after displaying exceptional restraint for months.