MOSCOW, March 16 (Xinhua) -- The United States and Israel may have misjudged the prospect of a quick military operation against Iran, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday.
The war was staged during negotiations on Iran's nuclear program, said Lavrov. If the planners expected to "completely subdue" Iran within a day or even hours, they may now realize how mistaken that assumption was, he told a press conference.
Reiterating Russia's call for an immediate cessation of hostilities, Lavrov urged the parties involved to return to negotiations and avoid actions that damage civilian infrastructure and cause civilian casualties.
He added that Russia is ready to play a mediating role in the political process if needed. ■