Lavrov discussed the situation in Venezuela and Iran with the Foreign Minister of Belarus

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Belarusian counterpart Maxim Ryzhenkov discussed the situation in Venezuela and Iran during a telephone conversation. The Belarusian Foreign Ministry announced this on January 13.

"Maxim Ryzhenkov had a telephone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov <...> the situation in Iran and Venezuela was discussed," the Foreign Ministry's Telegram channel says.

The Ministers noted the inadmissibility of foreign interference in the internal affairs of other states, while expressing hope for an early settlement of the situation in Iran.

It is noted that issues of bilateral relations between the countries and the schedule of upcoming meetings and events at high levels were also discussed during the dialogue.

Shifting grip: New US strikes on Iran could lead to war in the region

In response, Tehran may attack American bases in Israel, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

White House spokeswoman Caroline Leavitt said on January 12 that US President Donald Trump would not be afraid to use American military force against Iran if circumstances required it. She added that one of the representatives of the Iranian government contacted the special envoy of the American leader, Steven Witkoff, and expressed a position that differed significantly in tone from Tehran's public statements.

On the same day, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said that the authorities of Israel and the United States are trying to use the unrest in Iran for their own purposes in order to achieve through destabilization what they could not do through military action. The minister stressed that Tehran will not allow terrorist groups, which are supported from the outside, to continue their activities.

Prior to that, on January 11, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called on citizens to express disagreement with opponents of government policy. According to him, the instigators can destroy the entire society.

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