Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said today that the world is “millimeters away from catastrophe“ due to daily Israeli strikes on Iran's nuclear infrastructure, Reuters reported, citing Russian media, BTA reported.
According to Zakharova, the nuclear threat in the Middle East is not hypothetical, but real, TASS reports.
“This does not just lead to escalation, but to a threat to the region and the world in connection with the fact that the strikes are being carried out on peaceful atomic or nuclear facilities“, the foreign ministry spokeswoman said on radio “Sputnik“.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov warned earlier today that any direct American aid to Israel could seriously destabilize the situation in the Middle East, where the air war between Iran and Israel has been going on for six days, Reuters reported.
Ryabkov said that Russia is warning the US not to provide such aid to Israel and not to are considering such “speculative options.” He said Moscow is in contact with both Israel and Iran.
”This would be a step that would seriously destabilize the entire situation”, he said, quoted by the Russian news agency Interfax. In a separate statement, the head of Russia's foreign intelligence agency, Sergei Naryshkin, said that the situation between Iran and Israel was already critical.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stressed national unity and cohesion as the most important elements in overcoming crises, stressing that no challenge can pose a threat to the country if the people support the government, IRNA reported, quoted by BTA.
At a government meeting today, he called on all officials to act immediately at any time and anywhere when people need their services. The President stated that the people should feel the officials by their side and that it is necessary to create appropriate conditions for all citizens.
He expressed additional gratitude to the various countries for their support and called on the ministers to prioritize interaction and cooperation with neighboring countries. Pezeshkian also emphasized the need to provide local authorities with powers so that they can make timely and appropriate decisions.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria is following with increased attention and concern the dynamically developing situation in the Middle East. The escalation of tension in the region, in particular on the territory of the State of Israel, has created an immediate risk to the security of Bulgarian citizens residing there, BTA reported.
In response to the complicated situation and after coordination between the institutions, the Republic of Bulgaria has taken urgent actions to ensure the safety of our compatriots. Thanks to the rapid intervention and excellently organized operation, 148 people, including 89 Bulgarian citizens, were successfully evacuated from Israel on a specially chartered plane. Three of our compatriots who returned to Bulgaria on this flight managed to leave Israel for Egypt with the help of a convoy organized by the Greek Consulate General in Jerusalem.
The transport was carried out in strict compliance with all security measures, and upon the arrival of the evacuees on Bulgarian territory, they were provided with additional support and assistance.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses its gratitude to all institutions that have provided and continue to provide assistance, as well as to the teams of the Bulgarian diplomatic missions on the ground, for the professionalism and commitment shown. At this time, a limited number of applications have been received from Bulgarian citizens for evacuation from the territory of the State of Israel, and assistance has been provided to those who expressed a desire for assistance in removal from Iran. For security reasons, more detailed information cannot be provided at this stage.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs remains in constant contact with the Bulgarian diplomatic missions in the region and monitors the development of the situation.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs once again urges all Bulgarian citizens who are in the affected areas to establish and maintain contact with the Bulgarian embassies, to regularly monitor official announcements and to register in the system for voluntary registration of travelers abroad on the MFA website.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to work tirelessly to ensure the security of Bulgarian citizens abroad.