Russian, Qatari top diplomats call for halt to hostilities amid US-Israeli strikes on Iran

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Qatari counterpart Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on Saturday called for a halt to hostilities that risk regional stability amid US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran.

A statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry following a phone call between the two top diplomats said that Lavrov and Al Thani discussed the situation surrounding Iran.

“The parties unanimously supported the cessation of any military action that risks destabilizing the entire region,” the statement said, noting the two foreign ministers agreed on the need to urgently return to a political and diplomatic process to resolve all issues between the US, Israel, and Iran “based on the principles of the UN Charter and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.”

The statement further said it is essential that all parties fully take into account the “legitimate interests of the Arab states of the Persian Gulf,” adding Lavrov reaffirmed Russia's initiative to establish a collective security architecture in the Gulf region.

Israel and the US launched a joint military operation against Iran early Saturday, citing alleged threats posed by the "Iranian regime."

The strikes came after the latest round of US-Iran nuclear talks concluded in Geneva on Thursday, where both sides had described the atmosphere as serious and constructive under Omani mediation.

Last June, the US had struck three Iranian nuclear sites during a 12-day Israel-Iran conflict.