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Lavrov tells top Iranian diplomat he condemns Israeli strike on Iran’s consulate in Syria

Diplomats have reaffirmed their commitment to maintain a high level of coordination on pressing international and regional issues

MOSCOW, April 13. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in their phone conversation that he strongly condemns Israel’s strike on the Iranian consulate in Syria, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"They focused attention on the situation in the Middle East. The Russian side reiterated its strong condemnation of Israel’s airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus on April 1. They emphasized that it is categorically unacceptable to encroach on any diplomatic and consular facilities, whose inviolability is enshrined in the relevant Vienna Conventions, as well as to commit any political assassinations," the ministry said.

The ministers also "reaffirmed their mutual willingness to maintain a high level of coordination on pressing international and regional issues," the ministry said.

"They emphasized the two sides’ interest in consistently enhancing political and diplomatic cooperation, as well as trade and economic interaction, including in the transport and logistics area, in particular transit shipments," the Russian Foreign Ministry added.

On April 1, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said in a statement that an Israeli strike targeting the Iranian consulate in Damascus had killed seven military advisors. Among them were two IRGC generals and five officers. Tel Aviv has not made any official statements on its involvement in the attack. However, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Spokesperson Daniel Hagari said that a military target belonging to the IRGC was hit, but not a diplomatic mission.

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