The leader of the Kremlin chooses with whom to take sides in the new conflict in the Middle East. And it is not a surprise: “The aggression of the Americans is without any justification”. And China warns: “Global risk”
The Russian president Vladimir Putin defined the US attack on Iranian nuclear plants an “unprecedented aggression, without justification”. He said it before the official meeting at the Kremlin with the Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchiaccording to what is reported by the Interfax agency. Putin reiterated Russia’s commitment to support the Iranian people and underlined The need for close cooperation between Moscow and Tehran in a moment of growing tension in the Middle East.
According to Russian diplomatic sources, the two countries are coordinating their positions in front of the undergoing escalation. Araghchi, visiting the Russian capital for a series of high -level interviews, said he was expecting “serious and important discussions” with Putin, focused on “common challenges and threats”. The official meeting with the head of the Kremlin is scheduled in the next few hours and, according to observers, could culminate in strengthened political support, even if a direct military commitment remains unlikely to Moscow.
Khamenei’s letter
During the visit, Araghchi will give Putin a letter of the Iranian supreme guide Ali Khamenei, in which Iran urges greater support from Russiaas Reuters reports. Iranian sources report that Tehran has remained disappointed by the level of support so far received by Moscow and hopes for a more incisive stance against Israel and the United States. Despite the dramatic military escalation in the Middle East, The Kremlin clarified that the attack conducted by the United States against Iranian nuclear plants will not affect the strategic relations between Moscow and Tehran. “These are independent processes,” said the Cremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, cited by the Interfax agency, underlining that bilateral cooperation with Iran continues without external interference. At the same time, the director for foreign policy of the Russian president, Yuri Ushakov, confirmed that “contacts with the Americans are underway. Also on Iran “, suggesting that Moscow continues to maintain an open communication channel both with Washington and with Tehran, despite the tensions.
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, commented on his social truth the effects of the operation conducted against Iranian nuclear plants, calling it a total success. «All nuclear sites in Iran have undergone monumental damage, as shown by the satellite images. Annihilation is an exact term! ” The American leader wrote, claiming the effectiveness of attacks. Trump described in detail one of the affected objectives: «The white structure shown is deeply set in the rock, with the roof well below the ground level, and completely protected by the fire. The greatest damage occurred well below the soil level. Center !!! “he said, underlining the precision of the operation and the ability to penetrate the bomb bunker bunker used.
The role of China
The words of the US President arrive in a context already inflamed by the Middle Eastern crisis, and represent a further act of challenge to Tehran, a few days after the joint attack that saw the involvement of US and Israeli forces. The message, with emphatic and provocative tones, was interpreted by many observers such as A sign of continuity in the American strategy of maximum pressure on Iran. In the middle of the bag between Iran, Israel and the United States, China invited the parties involved to exercise maximum moderation, warning against potential repercussions on a global scale. “We undermine Iran and Israel to reduce escalation to avoid the enlargement of the conflict,” said the spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Guo Jiakun, during the daily briefing with the press in Beijing. “It is necessary to prevent the situation from further degenery and that there is a surge in the war. We must return to the path of political resolution, “continued the spokesperson, underlining how a military escalation could have” negative consequences for the world economy “. Beijing’s appeal arrives while the cross attacks in the region multiply and the risk of an enlargement of the conflict at regional or global level is acute. China, traditionally favorable to diplomatic solutions, fears in particular that the deterioration of Middle Eastern stability can destabilize energy markets and curb the global economic recovery.
The bombs that penetrate the subsoil
On the nuclear front, the International Agency for Atomic Energy (AIEA) announced the urgent convocation of the Council of Governors, after the US air attack against Fordow’s underground system. The general manager Rafael Mariano Grossi warned that, based on preliminary information, the system has undergone “very large damage”, compatible with The use of Bunker Buster bombs. Grossi also communicated to Tehran that “any transfer of nuclear material from one site protected to another must be reported” and expressed concern for the possible suspension of the collaboration by Iran. According to the Tasnim agency, the Iranian Parliament will shortly discuss a proposal to stop cooperation with Aiea “until objective guarantees are provided”.
In the meantime, the Iranian authorities have arrested at least 36 people in the province of Gilan, accused of having collaborated with Israel and having attempted destabilization acts. This was reported by the opposition channel Iran International, citing press releases attributed to the Iranian public security. The arrested are suspected of having spread disinformation and used drones for monitoring military bases, as well as possessing satellite communication devices and handmade explosive devices. The Islamic Republic has launched hard threats against Washington, accusing it of having passed every red line. In a television message, the spokesman for the Army Forces Jewim Zolfaghari said that the American attack “will extend the war in the region” and has promised “unpredictable consequences” by the “Islam fighters”, with “powerful and targeted military operations”. With the Middle Eastern scenario on the verge of an enlargement of the conflict, Moscow and Tehran seem to want to strengthen their strategic understanding. However, The absence of a binding defense agreement between the two countries makes the level of Russian involvement uncertain in case of further attacks. In the meantime, the international pressure continues to climb.
Israel continues to bomb
The Israeli defense forces (IDF) have announced that they have hit six Iranian military airports located in the western, central and oriental regions of the country. According to the military spokesman, The air raids caused significant damage to take-off tracks, underground hangars, a tanker plane and a total of fifteen aircraft, between F-14 hunting, F-5 and Ah-1 attack helicoptersall belonging to the armed forces of the Iranian regime. The operation, which fits into the context of the growing escalation between Israel and Iran, aims – according to military sources – to reduce the air projection and logistics capacity of the Iranian aviation, in particular in the regional theaters where Tehran exerts influence through allied militias. The details on the operation, released by hours after the bombings, report a possible change of strategy by Israel, increasingly oriented to directly affect the military infrastructures of the Islamic Republic in its territory.
