Russian Foreign Ministry on Iran, Mali, and Deploying Banned Missiles by the US

by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)

On August 18, Russian and German Foreign Ministers Sergey Lavrov and Heiko Mass discussed Persian Gulf security in light of hostile Trump regime actions against Iran.

Both officials affirmed the commitment of their governments to Security Council Resolution 2231 that unanimously affirmed the JCPOA.

Both concurred that the landmark agreement "enhanc(ed) nuclear weapons non-proliferation and regional security in the Middle East."

Following his conversation with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, Lavrov said the following:

He and Borrell affirmed the importance of preserving the JCPOA by upholding its provisions.

"They reaffirmed the lack of any legal grounds for the recent US initiatives at the UN Security Council on issues regarding the implementation of the JCPOA, which is an integral whole with UNSC Resolution 2231 endorsing it, and in which Washington officially terminated its participation in 2018."

Separately, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova (MZ below) said the following on unlawful Trump regime actions toward Iran.

Its attempts to restore UN sanctions on the country that became null and void after P5+1 countries signed the JCPOA that was affirmed by SC Res. 2231 have no legal standing and are "doomed to fail," adding:

It has no legal "authority (to push) its egoistic, Iran-hating" policies.

It's "crudely violating" SC Res. 2231 it unlawfully abandoned in May 2018.

"Russia condemns US efforts to continue destroying the JCPOA and undermining UN Security Council Resolution 2231." 

"We are seriously concerned that (its) reckless actions might trigger a deep crisis in the UN Security Council, but regrettably, it seems that (Pompeo and other regime hardliners) could not care less about this today."

Speaking for her government, MZ expressed confidence that its world body anti-Iran agenda will fail.

Instead of learning from two overwhelming defeats on Iran at the UN in the past week, it's "planning a new aggravation."

MZ called on the world community to reject the Trump regime's hostile agenda against Iran that flagrantly breaches international law.

Separately, she addressed the situation in Mali following a military coup against President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, Prime Minister Boubou Cisse, other government officials, National Assembly President Moussa Timbine, targeted military officers and the country's defense minister.

The action led by Col. Sadio Camara was denounced by the UN and African Union.

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) closed their borders with Mali.

Moscow expressed concern about what happened, MZ saying "government and residential buildings are being robbed and the crime rate has spiked."

Russia's embassy in Bamako reported no harm to its citizens in the country.

A Foreign Ministry statement advised against travel to the nation until normality is established and security is guaranteed.

A coup d'etat junta spokesman said a "transition council" headed by a "transition president" will be established.

What happened was the fourth coup in the country since the Republic of Mali was proclaimed on September 22, 1960.

In 2019, there were anti-government protests that continued this year — culminating in the coup that occurred on August 18.

At this time, government bodies, state Radiodiffusion-Television and banks in the capital Bamako are closed.

It's unclear to what extend Mali's military supports the coup.

MZ commented on remarks by Trump regime arms control envoy Marshall Billingslea, saying that intermediate-range/nuclear capable missiles banned by the INF Treaty DJT abandoned may be deployed in the Asia/Pacific near the borders of China and Russia.

MZ: "(W)e would consider such a move an extremely risky and destabilizing measure for international and regional security." 

"Undoubtedly, the deployment of new American missile systems in the region would provoke a dangerous new round of the arms race." 

"We are also compelled to take into account the additional missile risks for our territory that such weapons would create, including to our facilities of strategic importance; and naturally, the situation would call for compensatory response measures."

US actions continue to risk greater conflicts over responsibly seeking world peace and stability — notions it abhors.

Note: MZ also slammed "aggressive" US space policy…viewed by its (bipartisan hardliners) as an arena for military action."

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