Russia is urged to take a more proactive stance in shaping security and stability across the Middle East, a point raised during talks between top diplomats. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian reportedly conveyed this expectation in conversations with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, as reported by TASS. The two ministers spoke by phone to discuss the evolving situation in the Gaza Strip and the broader regional dynamics that influence prospects for lasting peace.
According to a statement from the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the phone call touched on urgent humanitarian and political concerns in Gaza and the West Bank. Amir-Abdollahian underscored the necessity of preventing ethnic cleansing and forced displacement of civilians in these areas, emphasizing that international actors must act to protect civilians and preserve opportunities for a sustainable ceasefire. The Iranian side framed Russia as a pivotal partner in pursuing a secure and stable Middle East, calling for coordinated diplomatic engagement to reduce violence and humanitarian suffering while safeguarding the rights and safety of residents in the region.
In a separate development, Israeli officials criticized the seizure of the Galaxy Leader cargo vessel in the Gulf of Aden by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, with many pointing to Iran as a key factor in the broader regional confrontation. Israel’s officials highlighted the broader implications for regional security and warned that any escalation could threaten maritime routes and civilian shipping in a critical chokepoint for international trade. These tensions come amid a string of cross-border actions and retaliatory moves that have drawn in multiple regional players and their international backers.
Earlier discussions in Israel regarding the potential involvement of Hezbollah in the broader conflict were described by officials as a grave miscalculation with potentially severe consequences. The possibility of an expanded confrontation through Hezbollah was viewed as a major strategic risk to regional stability, prompting calls for restraint and careful, calibrated diplomacy to avoid a wider war that could draw in external powers and jeopardize civilian safety across multiple fronts.