Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has issued a stark warning to the United States against launching any new military strikes on Iran, insisting such moves would have “serious consequences” and risk destabilizing the already tense Middle East. In an interview aired on Saudi television, Lavrov cautioned that past strikes on Iranian nuclear sites—some conducted by the U.S. and Israel—carried real risks, including potential nuclear incidents, and undermined international treaties monitored by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). He stressed that regional powers, especially Arab and Gulf states, do not want escalating conflict and are urging restraint in a period of heightened tension.

Lavrov’s comments came shortly after indirect talks between U.S. and Iranian negotiators in Geneva aimed at averting a new crisis over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. While Washington demands Tehran abandon its nuclear program, Iran insists it seeks only peaceful enrichment and has continued negotiations on submitting proposals to resolve the standoff. Meanwhile, the U.S. has reportedly positioned additional military forces in the region in preparation for possible escalation if diplomacy fails. Russia says it remains in close contact with Iranian leaders and believes a diplomatic solution that respects Iran’s rights under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty is preferable to military confrontation.

SOURCE: Reuters