MOSCOW, June 2. /TASS/. Israeli strikes on Lebanon bring war back to the Middle East; African countries look to Russian assistance in fighting terrorism; and the Strait of Hormuz blockade may trigger a global financial collapse. These stories topped Tuesday’s newspaper headlines across Russia.
Media: Israeli strikes on Lebanon bring war back to Middle East
Iran has announced a suspension of diplomatic communications with the United States, citing Israel’s growing military operations in Lebanon, Nezavisimaya Gazeta notes.
Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that his army would resume strikes on areas of Beirut where the Hezbollah movement still maintains a presence. Notably, an end to attacks on Lebanon’s capital region was one of the key demands put forward by Iranian diplomats in talks with the US.
Another reason behind the tough move by Iran could be radical changes in the country's political system. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which has always been highly influential, now seems to have effectively usurped power. The US hoped to deal with more flexible Iranian politicians but now has encountered a hardline stance by the IRGC, political scientist Yelena Suponina, an expert with the Russian International Affairs Council, told Izvestia. However, it is Washington’s actions that have created a new balance of power in Tehran. The killing of Ali Khamenei, the country’s powerful supreme leader, triggered profound changes within Iran’s leadership.
