Russia
On Thursday, Russia and Germany urged caution in the Middle East amidst escalating tensions. Israel vowed to meet its security requirements in the face of an Iranian threat. Lufthansa, one of the few Western airlines serving Tehran, extended its flight suspension to the Iranian capital. Additionally, Russia advised against travel to the Middle East.”
On Thursday, Tehran’s mission to the United Nations suggested that the imperative for Iran to retaliate against the “rogue regime” responsible for the April 1 airstrike on its embassy in Damascus could have been avoided if the U.N. Security Council had condemned the attack and brought the perpetrators to justice.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed that Israel was continuing its military operations in Gaza while also bolstering security measures elsewhere. “Whoever harms us, we will retaliate. We are prepared to address all the security needs of the State of Israel, both defensively and offensively,” he stated in remarks released after a visit to an air force base.
Russia’s foreign ministry told citizens they should refrain from traveling to the Middle East, especially to Israel, Lebanon and the Palestinian territories. “We strongly recommend that Russian citizens refrain from traveling to the region, especially to Israel, Lebanon and the Palestinian territories, except in cases of extreme necessity,” it said.
“Since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict, tensions have escalated throughout the region. Iranian-backed groups have voiced solidarity with Palestinians and launched attacks from Lebanon, Yemen, and Iraq. Despite expressing support for its allies, Tehran has refrained from direct confrontation with Israel or the United States.”
“Biden Warns of Potential ‘Significant Attack in Israel’ by Iran”
U.S. President Joe Biden stated on Wednesday that Iran was posing a threat of launching a major attack in Israel. He assured Prime Minister Netanyahu of America’s steadfast commitment to Israel’s security against such threats from Iran and its proxies.
Iran, as the third-largest oil producer in the OPEC group, contributed to keeping oil prices near six-month highs on Thursday.
Late Wednesday, an Iranian news agency briefly reported on the closure of Tehran’s airspace for military drills on the X platform. However, the report was later retracted, with the agency denying its issuance.
Lufthansa announced its suspension of flights to Tehran, likely extending until April 13. Meanwhile, Austrian Airlines adjusted flight timings to avoid overnight layovers for crew members.
Iranian airspace serves as a crucial overflight route for airlines like Emirates, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, and Aeroflot, facilitating flights between Europe and North America.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz swiftly riposted, in a Persian-language statement on social media site X, “If Iran attacks from its territory, Israel will respond and attack Iran.”
Iran’s clerical state supports Hamas, which on October 7 launched the deadliest attack against Israel in the country’s history, triggering a relentless six-month Israeli military operation inside the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.