Iran says Ukraine crisis is 'rooted in NATO'

Iran has also spoken out regarding the current conflict occurring in Ukraine as Russian leader Vladimir Putin ordered an invasion into the democratic country. Tehran has said it opposes war but has pinned the blame on NATO for the conflict.

In an initial response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian says the invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces is “rooted in NATO” provocations. Despite pinning the blame on the alliance, Iran has opposed the war that has taken place.

Amirabdollahian posted on Twitter that Iran does not view war as a solution and called for an immediate ceasefire to come to a “political and diplomatic solution.” The Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson also issued a longer statement but echoed that of Amirabdollahian’s comments. Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said that due to the US and NATO’s movements, “the Eurasia region is on the verge of entering a pervasive crisis.”

While the Iranian foreign ministry has released similar statements in the past, the country’s President Ebrahim Raisi along with other top officials has steered clear of commenting. It is likely due to Iran’s ties with Russia, the strained relations with the US, and the developments occurring in the Middle East.

Iran’s ties with Russia have strengthened in recent years, and according to the German Institute for International and Security Affairs visiting fellow Hamidreza Azizi, while Iran does not condemn Russia’s foreign aggressions, it also does not recognize the territories that Moscow seizes. Azizi explained that this was the case during the Georgian war in 2008 and Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014.

This week, Iran also signed 14 major deals with Qatar during Raisi’s visit. The agreements ranged from trade, energy, culture, the economy, and diplomatic cooperation. According to Iranian state media outlet IRNA, Raisi also met and spoke with businesspeople and investors during his two-day visit to Doha.

In the meeting with the Qatari emir, Raisi also discussed the ongoing nuclear talks between the country and the West in an effort to revive the 2015 nuclear deal. Other regional issues were on the agenda in the meeting between the two leaders.