MOSCOW, June 9. /TASS/. The US seeks to maintain its leading role in the Middle East settlement process; NATO kicks off a large-scale military exercise near Russia's border; and Armenia is likely to continue the same policy after parliamentary elections. These stories topped Tuesday’s newspaper headlines across Russia.
Media: US seeks to maintain leading role in Middle East settlement process
Israel and Iran are on the brink of another full-scale clash, following days of limited but painful exchange of strikes, Izvestia notes.
Political analyst Dastan Tokoldoshev points out that the latest round of tensions in the Middle East may cause political damage to the United States as it seeks the role of the chief mediator between the opposing parties. "It is a set of not-so-fortunate circumstances that the current round of escalation comes at a time when the US is actively trying to settle its own disputes with Tehran and work out a permanent guarantee framework. In this regard, the rise in violence is at least troubling for Washington, which has faced a lot of both military and financial problems, along with domestic political issues, due to its involvement in the Iran gamble," the expert specified.
