Russia Urges Ending Escalation In Persian Gulf, Launching Negotiations - Deputy UN Envoy

UNITED NATIONS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd May, 2019) The escalation in the Persian Gulf region should immediately be halted and negotiations launched, Russian Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vladimir Safronkov said during a UN Security Council meeting on the situation in Iraq.

"The escalation in the Persian Gulf should be stopped immediately, and confrontation should be replaced by dialogue and negotiations," Safronkov said on Tuesday.

Safronkov explained Iraq's stability is of great importance for the middle East and any attempt to involve the country in an artificially-created confrontation with Iran would be counterproductive and have adverse effects on both Iraq and the region.

"We welcome the consistent policy of Baghdad in maintaining good neighborly relations with all regional partners, including Iran, Syria and Saudi Arabia," Safronkov said.

On Sunday, a rocket reportedly hit Baghdad's Green Zone, an are where government buildings and foreign diplomatic missions are located, and landed near the US Embassy.

The United States has in recent weeks stepped up its military forces in the Middle East in what US National Security Adviser John Bolton has called a clear and unmistakable message to Iran. The new US deployments in the region include an aircraft carrier strike group, Patriot missiles, B-52 bombers and F-15 fighters, according to the Pentagon.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said that Iran does not intend to wage war with the United States, but will continue to resist Washington.

US-Iranian tensions first flared up last year when the United States unilaterally withdrew from the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran and started reinstating sanctions. On May 8, Iran announced its decision to partially discontinue its obligations under the nuclear agreement.