PRESS RELEASE

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Russian Minister:
We Have Warned Israel
Not to Attack Iran

Dec. 9, 2011 (EIRNS)—Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, interviewed today on Vesti-24 television, stated that "We have warned the Israeli side against, as I would put it, sliding toward possibly deciding to launch a military operation" against Iran.

He was answering a question about what was discussed when Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman met in Moscow with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Dec. 7. Ryabkov added,

"We would not want a lack of progress in the negotiations area to become an incentive for moving in this direction. We believe that the negotiations resource has not been exhausted."

He also noted that Russia itself is continuing contact with the relevant parties, and that Iran's Supreme National Security Council head Saeed Jalili was in Moscow today.