Russia: Attack on Iran a ‘Direct Threat to Our Security’

Russian Officials Oppose Iran Embargo, War

Speaking today at a press conference in Brussels, outgoing Russian Ambassador to NATO Dmitry Rogozin warned against a NATO attack on Iran, saying that Russia would view any military attacks as a “direct threat to our security.”

Rogozin’s position int he government is growing, and he is leaving his current position to become Deputy Prime Minister in charge of Russia’s defense sector. Other Russian officials have expressed opposition both to efforts at an oil embargo and continued Israeli calls for a US-led war.

Experts have said in the past that if either Russia or China were to make it clear that they viewed an attack on Iran as an attack on them it would basically end the option of “preemptive” war on the nation, and while Rogozin’s comments fall somewhat short of this they do seem to be in this same general vein.

At the same time, the genuine threat to attack Iran may be illusory, as French officials are saying that they don’t believe war is being considered as a serious option.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.