Both US allies and Russia lambast US-Poland conference on Iran that kicks off today

Warsaw, Feb 13: Both the US's western allies and foe Russia have criticised its conference with Poland on West Asia in Warsaw to be held on Wednesday and Thursday (Feb 13-14).

Officials from France, Germany and Britain feel that the conference is an "unhelpful sideshow" that was announced without having any consultation with the US's traditional allies, West Asia-based 'The National' reported on Tuesday, February 12.

One of the officials based at the United Nations even said with regard to the summit that "it's a series of chaotic decisions being made at random".

Counterproductive, says Russia

Russia too criticised the conference with its ambassador to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, saying that the event will only prove to be "counterproductive".

"Attempts to create some kind of military alliances in the region, holding different conferences and focusing on having a simplified unilateral approach to the region that is clearly linked just to Iran, is counterproductive," Nebenzya was quoted as saying by Big News Network while he addressed the Security Council on Tuesday.

The Russian diplomat also said the conference will make little contribution towards bolstering security in West Asia because of its "one-country aspect" and shortfall in addressing the Israel-Palestine conflict.

European officials were also upset that the US had one meeting with Poles and straightaway decided to hold a meeting. They said it showed the American side's "lack of thinking things through".

On January 11, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that the Polish capital will host a conference that "includes an important element of making sure that Iran is not a destablilizing influence" in West Asia.

Two days later, Iran called Poland's envoy to Tehran to express its objection to Warsaw's big to co-host the conference meant to be against Iran.