The Russian government has issued a stark warning against U.S. threats to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities, cautioning that such military action could lead to ‘catastrophic’ consequences for the entire region.
The warning follows remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, who, in a recent interview with NBC News, vowed to bomb Iran unless it agrees to a new nuclear deal with Washington.
“If they don’t make a deal, there will be bombing,” Trump stated. “It will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before.”
Moscow, which has deepened its ties with Tehran in recent years, swiftly condemned Trump’s comments. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, in an interview with the journal International Affairs, denounced Washington’s approach, calling it reckless and destabilizing.
“Threats are indeed being heard, ultimatums are also being heard,” Ryabkov said.
“We consider such methods inappropriate, we condemn them, and we see them as an attempt by the U.S. to impose its will on Iran.”
The Kremlin’s response underscores the growing tensions between Russia and the U.S., despite President Vladimir Putin’s previous efforts to maintain diplomatic relations with Trump.
Ryabkov made it clear that Moscow sees the U.S. president’s rhetoric as dangerously escalating the situation.
“The consequences of this, especially if the strikes are on nuclear infrastructure, could be catastrophic for the entire region,” he warned.
Trump’s renewed hardline stance follows his withdrawal from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which had imposed strict limits on Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.
Since then, tensions between the U.S. and Iran have escalated, with Washington expressing concerns over Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Tehran, however, insists its nuclear activities are solely for peaceful purposes.
Ryabkov stressed the need for diplomatic engagement to prevent further escalation, stating that Russia is prepared to mediate between Washington and Tehran.
“While there is still time and the ‘train has not left,’ we need to redouble our efforts to reach an agreement on a reasonable basis,” he said.
“Russia is ready to offer its good services to Washington, Tehran, and all interested parties to seek a peaceful resolution.”