Russia issued a warning on Saturday about an “explosive escalation” in hostilities between Iran and Israel, cautioning that the situation risked spiraling out of control after Israel conducted airstrikes on military targets in Iran.
Following the strikes, Israel warned that Tehran would “pay a heavy price” if it attempted any retaliatory actions. Both the United States and the United Kingdom called on Iran to avoid further escalation.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova voiced her concern regarding “the ongoing explosive escalation” in the region.
“We urge all parties involved to exercise restraint, stop the violence, and prevent events from developing into a catastrophic scenario,” Zakharova stated. “It is necessary to stop provoking Iran into retaliatory actions and to break the cycle of uncontrolled escalation,” she added.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, addressing a recent BRICS summit, highlighted the heightened tensions between Israel and Iran, warning that the confrontation could lead to a full-scale war in the Middle East.
“The level of confrontation between Israel and Iran has sharply risen. This resembles a chain reaction and places the entire Middle East on the verge of full-scale war,” Putin noted.
Moscow, which maintains close relations with Iran, has expressed serious concerns about a potential regional conflict, citing its own security and economic interests in the area.