Beirut, Lebanon –
Former Lebanese Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour has stated that Russia is well-positioned to act as a neutral mediator between Israel and Iran, urging an end to hostilities and a return to negotiations.
Speaking to Sputnik, Mansour emphasized that Russia maintains friendly relations with both sides, unlike the United States, which he criticized for being “completely biased in favor of Israel” through military, financial, and diplomatic support.
“Russia can mediate in good faith,” Mansour said. “Its intervention could lead to positive results—but only if there is genuine political will from Washington and Tel Aviv to stop the aggression and reach a ceasefire.”
He added that a meaningful resolution must respect Iran’s right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes within regulated limits, a demand that has long been contested by Western powers.
Mansour warned that if a ceasefire bans Iran’s uranium enrichment, any deal would be short-lived:
“The ceasefire must be accompanied by talks and must not prohibit peaceful enrichment. Otherwise, we return to square one.”
His comments came after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a wide-scale offensive, Operation Rising Lion, on Friday morning, targeting Iranian military infrastructure and nuclear facilities across the country, including Tehran, Natanz, and Fordow. The strikes reportedly killed several top-ranking Iranian officials and nuclear scientists.
In retaliation, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched Operation True Promise 3, striking Israeli military targets later that night.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei condemned the Israeli attack as a “crime”, vowing a “bitter and terrible fate” for Israel.
