Russia Urges Azerbaijan, Iran to Show Restraint Amid Rising Tensions

(MENAFN) Russia on Saturday called on Azerbaijan and Iran to exercise the “utmost prudence” as tensions rise between the two nations following a drone strike on Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan exclave earlier this week.

Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, emphasized in a statement that both countries should avoid rash actions and prevent the creation of new regional divisions at the expense of good-neighborly principles.

Zakharova underscored the need to carefully review “all the circumstances of any events that could lead to further escalation” amid the current tense situation. She expressed Moscow’s “grave concern” over what she described as the “extremely dangerous” developments in the Middle East caused by US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

“As the Russian side has repeatedly warned, this military adventure could have a profoundly negative impact on the security of all countries in the region, especially Iran’s neighbors. And so it has. The current developments are the direct responsibility of the perpetrators of this aggression, as well as those who directly or indirectly support it,” Zakharova said.

She added that Russia is ready to actively assist in finding ways to immediately halt the violence in the region and to support the renewal of political and diplomatic processes.

The statement comes after reports from Baku indicated that drones launched from Iranian territory struck the Nakhchivan exclave on Thursday, injuring four people and causing damage to the region’s international airport.

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