Russia urges responsible conduct ahead of US-Iran talks in Islamabad

MOSCOW: The Russian Foreign Ministry has said that a “window of opportunity” has emerged to resolve the complex and volatile situation in the Persian Gulf region, expressing support for upcoming negotiations between the United States and Iran in Islamabad under Pakistani mediation.

According to the statement issued here on Friday, Moscow noted that a majority of countries are backing diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalation and are hopeful that the Islamabad talks will succeed in reducing tensions and restoring regional stability.

The ministry, however, cautioned that certain unnamed actors are obstructing progress toward peace, warning against actions that could undermine the negotiation process. It stressed the importance of accurately reflecting the sequence of events surrounding the conflict, including developments related to maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz, which it said remained stable until late February.

Russia reiterated that the priority must be addressing what it described as the “root causes” of the crisis, calling for a complete end to the war it attributed to the United States and Israel. It further said the conflict had caused widespread damage across the Arabian Peninsula and intensified instability in neighbouring regions, including Lebanon, where it cited ongoing military activity and cross-border strikes that it said must stop immediately.

Moscow urged all regional disputes to be resolved through political and diplomatic channels and reaffirmed its commitment to working with international partners to support what it described as constructive peace efforts in the Middle East.

The ministry also called on all parties participating in the Islamabad negotiations to act responsibly and avoid steps that could jeopardize the emerging diplomatic opportunity.

Reaffirming its long-standing regional policy, Russia highlighted its proposal for a collective security framework in the Persian Gulf. The initiative envisions dialogue among littoral states, including Arab countries and Iran, alongside participation from external actors capable of contributing to a balanced and sustainable regional security structure.