Russia has issued a stark warning to the United States, urging restraint against military intervention in Iran, cautioning that such an action could dangerously destabilize the entire Middle East.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, speaking at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum, told Interfax:
“Any U.S. involvement in the war would drastically destabilize the entire situation.”
The warning follows Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, which Moscow has condemned, expressing serious concerns about the consequences.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova voiced alarm over the attacks on nuclear facilities, stating to Reuters:
“Nuclear sites are being hit. Where is the global community? Where are the environmentalists? I don’t know if they think they’re far away and won’t be affected. Well, let them read what happened in Fukushima.”
She noted that even the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reported specific damages. Meanwhile, Russian intelligence chief Sergei Naryshkin described the situation as critical.
While Russia and Iran signed a 20-year strategic agreement in January, no mutual defense pact exists. On the other hand, Russia-Israel relations have deteriorated significantly since the war in Ukraine.
President Vladimir Putin has offered to mediate between Iran and the U.S., a proposal not yet officially accepted. Media sources claim Putin has spoken with President Donald Trump, who reportedly remains “open” to mediation—but demands Iran’s unconditional surrender.
Inside the U.S., sources close to Trump’s administration confirm that a joint strike with Israel on Iranian nuclear facilities is being considered.
Former Kremlin advisor Sergei Markov suggested that a U.S.-Iran conflict could benefit Moscow—through rising oil prices, increased Chinese demand for Russian oil, and a shift of U.S. military focus away from Ukraine.
