Russia says Iran and Lebanon want to avoid ‘big war’

The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, has indicated that Hezbollah shows no interest in escalating conflicts with Israel. In an interview with Russia’s RT television, Lavrov expressed his belief that neither Iran, Lebanon, nor Hezbollah are inclined to expand the Israel-Palestine conflict into a larger regional war. Despite ongoing tensions and the possibility of a broader Middle Eastern conflict triggered by the Israel-Hamas clashes, Moscow’s stance is that neither Lebanon nor Iran is seeking to intensify the situation.

Israel’s Defense Minister has issued threats to launch attacks on Beirut similar to those in Gaza, and some U.S. officials have suggested attacking Iran. However, Lavrov emphasized that there is no desire for significant conflict in Lebanon or Iran. He referenced the restrained rhetoric of Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah in a televised speech, suggesting Hezbollah is not seeking a major war.

Lavrov warned, however, that any attempts to force Palestinians out of Gaza could provoke Hezbollah. He also touched on the situation with Iran, noting that despite the attacks on American bases in the region—attributed to Iran by the U.S.—this does not imply Iran’s leadership is looking for escalation.

Lavrov criticized the U.S. military presence in Syria as illegal and questionable in Iraq, especially after the Iraqi parliament’s directive in 2020 to expel American forces. He suggested that regional militias might respond to Palestinian mistreatment with sporadic attacks against American and Israeli targets, but this does not reflect a broader intention to escalate conflicts by their leadership.

Finally, Lavrov cautioned against interpreting this restraint as a sign of weakness, warning against giving Israel unrestricted freedom in Gaza. He condemned the severe consequences of the conflict, noting the high civilian death toll in Gaza due to Israel’s military response to Hamas’s unexpected and deadly attack last month, which resulted in numerous civilian casualties and the capture of many hostages.