Moscow, Russia. Russia accused the United States and Israel of trying to draw Arab countries into a wider Middle East conflict by provoking Iran into striking targets across the region.
Russian accusation against Washington and Tel Aviv
Russia’s Foreign Ministry said there was no sign the United States and Israel would let up, accusing them of deliberately trying to pull Arab Gulf states into a wider conflagration.
“They deliberately provoked Iran into retaliatory strikes against targets in some Arab countries, which led to human and material losses, which the Russian side deeply regrets,” the ministry said.
“In doing so, they (Washington and Tel Aviv) are trying to drag the Arabs into a war for someone else’s interests,” it said.
Strikes on Gulf states and Putin’s calls
Arab states in the Gulf, described as close U.S. allies, have come under Iranian drone and missile attacks since the United States and Israel launched air strikes on Iran on Saturday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone on Monday to leaders of four Arab Gulf states, offering to use Moscow’s ties to Iran to relay concerns about Tehran’s strikes on oil infrastructure across the region.
How do you think Arab Gulf states will respond to Russia’s accusation that they are being drawn into a wider conflict?
