Statement by Chargé d’Affaires a.i. Anna Evstigneeva at a UNSC Briefing Following Attacks against Bahrain
Mr. President,
To begin with, we would like to thank the Colombian delegation for the presidency of the Security Council in June. And we would like to congratulate you, Mr. President, on assuming the presidency of the Security Council for the month of July. We wish our colleagues from the Democratic Republic of the Congo every success in this role. You can count on our full support. We welcome the participation in today’s meeting of Bahrain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Dr. Abdullatif Al-Zayani.
We thank Assistant Secretary-General Elizabeth Spehar for her briefing.
From the very outset of the escalation in the Middle East in late February 2026, the Russian Federation has maintained a principled and objective stance regarding the developments there. Our country has consistently condemned the US-Israeli aggression against Iran, emphasized that strikes against the civilian infrastructure in any country of the region are unacceptable, and stressed the need to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all States concerned. We advocate for resolving the situation through political and diplomatic channels. There is no alternative to this, nor can there be any. In this context, Russia welcomed the agreement to end the military conflict reached between the United States and Iran through the vigorous and effective mediation of Pakistan and Qatar. The signed memorandum of understanding paved the way for a further negotiating process and instilled hope for the establishment of a lasting peace.
However, late last week we witnessed an exchange of strikes that could have threatened ongoing diplomatic efforts. As far as we can tell from the information we are receiving, first came the strike targeting a Panamanian-flagged tanker in the Strait of Hormuz; the attack was allegedly carried out by Iranian forces. Then, the United States hit targets related to military intelligence and communications, UAV warehouses, and air defense positions within the Islamic Republic of Iran. In response, Iran attacked the infrastructure of the US armed forces in Bahrain and Kuwait.
We assume that Iran, much like any other UN member State, has the right to self-defense as provided for in Article 51 of the UN Charter. In this case, the enemy’s military facilities become legitimate targets and do not enjoy immunity. We have also seen statements by Iranian officials indicating that the retaliatory strikes were directed solely at US military infrastructure in the region.
When strikes result in damage to civilian facilities, it warrants condemnation. Targeted attacks on civilian infrastructure, regardless of the country in which it is located – be that Iran or the Arab Gulf States – are unacceptable. Russia has repeatedly underscored this position in various international fora, including at the Security Council.
Mr. President,
We should bear in mind that the root cause of the current flare-ups of escalation in the Middle East lies in one thing alone – that is, the US-Israeli aggression against Iran, which is not only a gross violation of Iran’s sovereignty but which has also jeopardized the security of many other countries in the region. Against this backdrop, we regret that our Arab friends have once again become hostages to yet another exchange of strikes between Washington and Tehran. Thus, the problem, in our view, stems from the fact that the instigators of the military escapade against Iran did not care about the security of their partners in the region. And even if they did think about it, it was only as an afterthought.
At the same time, it is encouraging that, despite what transpired, the parties to the Islamabad Memorandum have reasserted that the ceasefire is in place and they are proceeding with technical consultations on various provisions of the agreements reached on June 17. We stand convinced that during this sensitive period, laden with responsibility, it is essential to strictly adhere to the understandings crafted by Washington and Tehran while preventing new bursts of conflict throughout the entire Middle East, including in Lebanon. We expect that work towards a comprehensive agreement will facilitate not only the restoration of lasting peace but also the rebuilding of trust between our friends on both sides of the Persian Gulf. We also expect that these efforts will result in the resumption of safe and unimpeded navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, which would benefit the energy and food security of the countries of the Global South.
Russia is willing to assist in the development of a comprehensive, long-term agreement between the United States and Iran, as well as a broader regional agreement, should our assistance be requested. In this context, we would like to once again draw your attention to the updated version of Russia’s Concept for Collective Security in the Persian Gulf Area, which we circulated to our Arab and Iranian partners at the end of May. This document provides for a phased approach to resolving conflict situations, stipulates the need to uphold the principle of common and indivisible security, and calls for developing confidence-building measures and safeguarding the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz in accordance with international law. We hope that this initiative will provide fresh impetus to a substantive discussion on how to shape a post-conflict regional security architecture. We stand ready to continue providing diplomatic support for efforts to stabilize the situation in the Middle East.
Mr. President,
On a separate note, we would like to emphasize that the Security Council bears a special responsibility for sustaining the negotiation process and creating conditions conducive thereto. The UN Security Council needs to maintain a balanced and objective stance. We should avoid further tensions that could be stirred up through some “abrupt moves,” politicized accusations, and disregard for the broader context of the situation. Any potential initiatives must be equidistant and aimed at prompting a comprehensive settlement. Our country stands ready, as always, to engage constructively in shaping the Council’s shared position on this issue.
Thank you.
