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By Toby Meyjes
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Russia has said the U.S.-Israeli ceasefire with Iran was a "crushing defeat" for a "one-track, aggressive, unprovoked attack."
The U.S., Israel and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday night after President Donald Trump had threatened to destroy Iranian civilization if it failed to meet an 8 p.m. ET deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova told Sputnik Radio on Wednesday, quoted by RIA news agency: "All the statements that were made about…being more aggressive, being more offensive, writing more on social media and ‘victory’—it's just around the corner. Once again, this position has suffered a crushing defeat. So has the approach of such a one-track, aggressive, unprovoked attack."
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Why It Matters
Moscow, an ally of Tehran, has consistently positioned itself as a diplomatic counterweight to Washington during the conflict and had been calling for "an immediate cessation of hostilities" in the Persian Gulf as the deadline loomed.
Earlier Tuesday, along with China, Russia had vetoed a measure at the United Nations Security Council to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, arguing it would have given the U.S. and Israel "carte blanche for continued aggression."
The war has seen Russia's oil profits soar. In the early weeks of the conflict, a report from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air estimated Moscow had raked in nearly $7 billion in fossil fuel revenues since U.S.-Israeli strikes had led to the effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had said Russia had "started supporting the Iranian regime with drones," although it was not clear whether the Ukrainian leader was referring to drone supplies or technology sharing.
What To Know
According to Al Jazeera, Zakharova said Moscow had been calling "to immediately stop this aggression" since the start of the conflict and that there was "no military solution."
She also called for the immediate start of "a real political and diplomatic settlement" that was "based on the negotiation process with a real consideration of positions."
Her comments came just hours after Trump announced a two-week ceasefire deal had been agreed that included reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said it has accepted the ceasefire and that it would negotiate with the United States in Pakistan beginning Friday.
What People Are Saying
Donald Trump, announcing the ceasefire on his Truth Social Platform: "Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double sided CEASEFIRE! The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East. We received a 10 point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate. Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two-week period will allow the Agreement to be finalized and consummated. On behalf of the United States of America, as President, and also representing the Countries of the Middle East, it is an Honor to have this Longterm problem close to resolution."
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