MOSCOW, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Russia welcomes the ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, but a final resolution of the conflict requires serious negotiations, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Wednesday.
At a regular briefing, Zakharova said Russia has advocated a ceasefire since the early days of the Middle East conflict and has called for resolving the issue through political and diplomatic means with other responsible members of the international community.
Zakharova noted that a lasting settlement must be achieved through serious negotiations based on respect for the legitimate rights and interests of all countries in the region to prevent similar military crises from recurring.
She added that long-term peace and security in the Middle East must be ensured and Russia will continue to actively promote these goals.
Iran and the United States on Tuesday agreed to a two-week ceasefire, a move that has been widely hailed by the international community. ■
