Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, in a surprise statement issued an ultimatum to Iran to withdraw its forces from southern Syria, away from the Israeli border. The statement communicated Russia’s apparent intent to rein in Iran with regard to armed conflict with Israel.
WATCH: Russia restrains its Iranian allies
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, left, and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. (Sergei Karpukhin/Pool photo via AP)