From the Liveblog of
Monday, October 7, 2019
Russia’s top diplomat in Iraq to discuss US-Iran ‘escalation’
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleBAGHDAD — Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is in Iraq where he’s meeting with Baghdad officials to discuss the escalating tensions between the US and Iran in the Persian Gulf.
Lavrov tells reporters after meeting his Iraqi counterpart Mohammed Ali al-Hakim today that the aim of both Moscow and Baghdad is to “reduce escalation and we have a unified stance on putting forward initiatives regarding the Gulf region.”
Tensions have spiked since US President Donald Trump last year unilaterally pulled America out of the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers.
Trump also imposed sanctions that have kept Iran from selling its oil abroad and crippled its economy. Iran has since started breaking the terms of the deal.
Al-Hakim says he and Lavrov talked about reducing tension and protecting shipping in the Gulf.
— AP
The Times of Israel Community.