Russia has issued a strong warning to the United States against any type of military intervention in the deepening Iran-Israel conflict.
The warning, as reported by AFP, was issued by Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova on Thursday. Zakharova emphasized the catastrophic consequences of such an intervention.
"We would specifically urge Washington not to use military means in the conflict, which would be a very risky move with really unpredictable adverse effects," Zakharova said in a statement to journalists.
As tensions mount, Russian nuclear authorities voiced serious concern over the safety of Iran's nuclear complex. Russia's state nuclear energy agency chief warned that an Israeli attack on Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant had the potential to cause a disaster as devastating as the Chernobyl meltdown.
An early declaration by an Israeli military official stated that the facility had been attacked. A senior Israeli defense official later characterized that statement as a "mistake" and refused to say whether the nuclear facility on the Gulf coast had actually been hit.
Bushehr is Iran's only working nuclear power station and was built with Russian help, Reuters reported.
Tensions Rise as Trump Considers U.S. Action
Adding to the already tense situation, former American President Donald Trump declared on Wednesday that he was thinking of joining forces with Israel in military action against Iran. "I may do it, I may not do it," Trump declared, leaving his position willfully ambiguous.
Earlier yesterday, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov had directed a stern warning against any U.S. military aid to Israel. "We warn Washington against even hypothetical, speculative options of this sort. It would be a move that would drastically destabilize the whole situation," Ryabkov said.
Zakharova: "World Is Millimetres from Catastrophe"
Talking again on Thursday, Zakharova underlined the possible global catastrophe looming because of continuous attacks on nuclear installations in the region. "Nuclear installations are being hit," she said to Reuters, pointing out that the U.N.'s nuclear monitor had already confirmed damage.
"Where is the (world community concern)? Where are all the greens? I don't know if they believe they are somewhere far away and that this (radiation) wave will not travel there. Let them read what happened in Fukushima," Zakharova concluded, recalling the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan.
Russia and UAE Urge Diplomacy Amid Ratcheting Up
In a larger diplomatic effort, Russia and the United Arab Emirates called on Wednesday for a ceasefire to the Iran-Israel hostilities immediately. Both countries emphasized the importance of resumed political and diplomatic efforts, especially with regard to Iran's nuclear program.
After a telephone call made between Russian President Vladimir Putin and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Kremlin made a statement emphasizing "the imperative of an early cessation of hostilities and intensification of political and diplomatic efforts" to settle issues outstanding related to Tehran's nuclear program.
In recent days, Putin also approached both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian directly, and extended an offer to mediate the escalating conflict.
Trump Rejects Putin's Mediation Offer
But Trump was scoffing at Russia's role as a peacemaker. Addressing the media, he disclosed that Putin had offered to mediate between the two Middle Eastern rivals. "He actually offered to help mediate, I said: 'do me a favour, mediate your own'," Trump said.
"Let's negotiate Russia first, okay? I said, Vladimir, let's negotiate Russia first, you can think about this afterwards," he said, indicating doubt regarding Russia's participation in the resolution of a crisis outside its own borders.
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