Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova [didn’t mince words]( https://mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/news/2084103/) in speaking of the US–Israeli military operations in Iran at her daily press briefing of March 4. “Events unfolding in the Middle East cannot simply be described as the Iran situation. Let’s call a spade a spade: it’s Washington and Tel Aviv’s aggression against Iran, and the crisis is unfortunately escalating,” Zakharova said. “This is the result of the unprovoked attack by the US and Israel on Iran. With their irresponsible and reckless actions, Washington and Tel Aviv are committing (perhaps using a less internationally legal expression, but one that clearly defines what is happening) an outrage, flagrantly flouting the norms and principles of international and humanitarian law, plunging the region deeper into chaos. The international community is obligated to give an objective and uncompromising assessment of this.”
“Russia has strongly condemned the latest dangerous adventure by the American–Israeli tandem against the Islamic Republic, the vile assassination of the Iranian leader, Ayatollah A. Khamenei, and several other members of the country’s top military and political leadership… There’s no doubt that the imaginary (as has been repeatedly claimed over the years, invented) Iranian threat was merely a pretext for implementing a long-cherished plan to violently overthrow the constitutional order in a sovereign UN member state unpopular with Washington and Tel Aviv, and the renewed negotiation process was a cover-up. Is there anything innovative in this? No. For years, we’ve seen how negotiation processes were used for precisely this purpose: either as a cover for plans to overthrow and change regimes, to militarize certain countries, or to escalate conflicts.”
“In fact, Washington isn’t hiding it—it’s now openly saying so—that it’s seeking “regime change” in Iran. The trigger for these dramatic events was the failure of the “color revolution” scenario, which the Islamic Republic’s opponents unsuccessfully tried to impose on Iranian society and the Iranian people in January of this year, bearing the burden of their long-standing sanctions oppression. But this oppression didn’t just arise. It has its authors and implementers. All those who, in fact, wanted regime change in Iran. It’s just that previously, they used illegal and illegitimate sanctions, a stifling economic blockade, and every possible tactic to achieve this. It didn’t work. So they moved on to the next scenario,” she said. “We categorically and resolutely advocate an immediate cessation of hostilities by all sides.”
