MOSCOW, Thursday, March 5, 2026 (WNP): Sergey Lavrov, Foreign Minister of Russia, has issued a strong geopolitical warning, declaring that countries affected by aggression by the United States and Israel would be treated as Russia’s strategic partners.

In remarks addressing the widening Middle East conflict, Lavrov said Moscow would work alongside allied states and “peace-loving nations” to create an international environment that prevents further military attacks by Washington and its allies.

“All those who suffer from the aggression of the United States and Israel are our strategic partners,” Lavrov said, adding that Russia would cooperate with other countries through international platforms to stop further escalation.

The statement comes amid intensifying regional tensions following recent U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets, which Moscow has described as a “premeditated and unprovoked act of armed aggression.”

Russia has accused Washington and Tel Aviv of deliberately escalating tensions in the Middle East and attempting to widen the conflict by provoking regional powers. Russian officials argue that such actions risk destabilizing the entire region and could trigger broader international confrontation.

Lavrov also suggested that the military campaign against Iran could have unintended global consequences, warning that it might push more countries to consider developing nuclear weapons for deterrence.

He further claimed that the conflict risks dividing countries in the Persian Gulf region and undermining recent diplomatic efforts aimed at improving relations between Iran and several Arab states.

While condemning the strikes, Russia has also signaled its readiness to play a diplomatic role in the crisis. Russian officials have called for an immediate halt to hostilities and a return to negotiations through international forums, including the United Nations Security Council.

Analysts say Lavrov’s remarks reflect Moscow’s broader effort to rally countries dissatisfied with U.S. military interventions and to strengthen partnerships across the Global South during the ongoing geopolitical rivalry between major powers.

The escalating conflict has already triggered widespread international concern, with global leaders warning that continued hostilities between Iran, Israel, and their allies could push the Middle East toward a broader regional war with global economic and security consequences.