Russia tells US to drop ultimatums after years of strong-arming world
Sergey Lavrov (Photo: Getty Images)
The head of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Sergey Lavrov, stated during a conversation with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, that to de-escalate the conflict, the US must abandon ultimatums and return to negotiations, according to Sky News.
Thus, on Sunday, April 5, an urgent telephone conversation took place between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
The key topic of the conversation was steps to de-escalate the war, which is increasingly engulfing the region. The Russian side placed responsibility for a peaceful settlement on the US.
The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that the US must make its contribution to stabilizing the situation. To achieve this, in Moscow's view, Washington must meet two conditions:
- Stop pressure: completely abandon the language of ultimatums in communication with Iran and other players.
- Change the format: return the situation exclusively to a negotiating track.
Playing ahead at the UN
Lavrov and Araghchi paid special attention to work within the UN Security Council. Both sides expressed concerns about possible Security Council decisions initiated by Western countries.
The diplomats called for avoiding any actions on the international stage that could undermine the remaining chances for a political resolution of the crisis. In effect, Moscow and Tehran are trying to block tough resolutions or sanction mechanisms being prepared in response to the recent Iranian drone attacks.
What this means for the world
This conversation demonstrates that Russia continues to act as Iran's chief advocate on the international stage. The call to the US reflects the Kremlin's attempt to seize the initiative in the diplomatic process, while simultaneously trying to shield its ally from direct strikes and international isolation.
Trump named the exact time for opening the Strait of Hormuz to Iran. If Iran does not open the Strait, the US will begin destroying power plants across the country.
