Russian Foreign Minister states Russia adheres to the principle of nuclear non-proliferation

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on the 3rd that Russia adheres to the principle of nuclear non-proliferation and firmly opposes any actions that could trigger a nuclear arms race. According to TASS, citing Lavrov, the threat to global nuclear security is increasing given the current conflict in the Middle East. Military strikes against Iran could lead to the country developing nuclear weapons, and such a situation could soon occur in neighboring Arab countries. Lavrov stated that all parties must do everything possible to prevent any casualties among civilians, whether in Iran or other countries. Political and diplomatic means are the only way to resolve the escalation in the Middle East.

According to another report from TASS, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on the same day that President Putin has recently held phone conversations with multiple parties regarding the Iran situation and is doing everything possible to ease tensions in the Middle East. Peskov also said that the timing and location of the new trilateral talks between Russia, the U.S., and Ukraine are currently unclear. Given the current situation in the Middle East, it is unlikely that the talks will be held in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE. He noted that although tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate, the progress of negotiations regarding Ukraine has not been affected. (Xinhua)