Moscow: Russia on Tuesday rejected American claims that Iran was building nuclear weapons, calling it the main reason for the ongoing conflict that has dragged several Gulf nations.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told his Brunei counterpart during talks here that Moscow had found no evidence of Iran developing nuclear arms. “We still see no evidence that Iran was developing nuclear weapons, which was the main justification for the war,” Lavrov said.
The war began on February 28 when US President Donald Trump backed joint strikes with Israel, targeting Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and Iran’s nuclear sites and missile facilities.
Trump said the attacks were aimed to stop Tehran’s nuclear programme and ballistic missiles, which he said was a big threat to Israel and the region, as well as the US.
Lavrov said the fighting has hurt Arab countries, resulting in economic losses and deaths.
He referred to a school bombing in southern Iran’s Minab town, in which 160 girl students were reportedly killed. Iran blamed the US and Israel for the brutal attack killing so many school students.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied targeting the school, saying that US forces have not deliberately attacked any school, and are only hitting military targets.
Lavrov urged all sides to stop at once. “First, we must halt actions that kill civilians,” the Russian Foreign Minister said, warning that the war could push Iran’s neighbours to seek nuclear arms.
The US has shut two embassies in the Gulf amid rising tensions which show no sign of ending any time soon.
