Lavrov accuses US of abandoning diplomatic conventions, pursuing energy dominance

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused the United States of abandoning internationally recognised diplomatic conventions in pursuit of its own interests, particularly in dominating energy markets, in an interview broadcast on Friday. Lavrov, interviewed by Russian state television, said Washington, in its dealings with Latin America and the Middle East, was "taking us back to a world where nothing existed" in international law. "The United States has officially declared that no one can dictate to it," he said in the interview, the text of which was posted on the foreign ministry's website. "It cares only about its own well-being and is ready to defend that well-being by any means – coups, kidnappings or assassinations of leaders of countries that possess natural resources the Americans need. "Venezuela, Iran, our American colleagues do not hide that this is about oil. They have a doctrine of dominance in global energy markets." Lavrov was alluding to the capture of Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro in a January US military operation and the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in joint US-Israeli air strikes at the end of February.