America’s intervention in the conflict between Israel and Iran would lead to “another terrible spiral of escalation”, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has told Russian state news agency TASS.
The US and Russia are supporting different sides in the conflict.
While Donald Trump is demanding an “unconditional surrender” from Iran and is reportedly considering strikes against it, Moscow sees Tehran as a key ally.
Earlier this year, Vladimir Putin signed a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty with his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, Article One of which says they are keen to develop defence and security cooperation.
Iran has also supplied Moscow with Shahed drones that have played a key part in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The Russian foreign ministry has condemned Israel’s strikes as “cynical” and “unprovoked”, and just yesterday Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov warned the US not to provide military assistance to Israel.
“This would dramatically destabilise the whole situation,” he said.
All this sets Moscow and Washington on a collision course over the Israel-Iran crisis, and could prove to be a major hurdle in the Russia-US relationship that has been improving since Donald Trump’s re-election.
Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque
