Lavrov Demands Release of Maduro and End to Attacks on Iran
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has called for the immediate release of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, while also demanding an end to attacks against Iran’s leadership.
Lavrov condemned what he described as the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader and senior government officials, calling the actions unacceptable examples of a policy of coercion.
Addressing the crisis surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, Lavrov said rebuilding trust between Iran and the Arab states of the Gulf would be essential to resolving the situation
The Russian foreign minister also accused European countries of supporting Ukraine in carrying out strikes against targets on Russian territory. He claimed that European governments were seeking to undermine prospects for peace negotiations, which he said Washington also supports
Lavrov further reiterated Moscow’s position that Russia intends to eliminate what it describes as security threats originating from Kyiv as part of its so-called “special military operation,” the Kremlin’s term for the war in Ukraine.
The statements reflect Moscow’s continued criticism of U.S. and European policies toward Iran, Venezuela and Ukraine.