Moscow: Russia has expressed serious concern over statements made during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the United States regarding potential new military strikes against Iran, urging Israeli ‘hotheads’ to refrain from escalating tensions with Iran.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated that the ideological anti-Iranian undertone of such statements is nothing new; moreover, the international community has repeatedly rejected such approaches. She emphasized that these positions contravene international law and the UN Charter and could expose the West Asia region to potentially dangerous humanitarian and radiological consequences.

Zakharova further warned against attempts to convey to the international community that Iran’s nuclear program can be resolved through military force, including attacks on facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards. She said that Israel’s threats to strike Iran have a detrimental effect on the global nuclear non-proliferation regime.

The Russian spokesperson pointed out that Israel is not a party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) while Iran is a committed member that regularly reports compliance with its obligations. ‘We call on hotheads to recognize the full perniciousness of their destructive course, to refrain from escalating tensions around Iran and its nuclear program, and not to repeat the fatal mistakes they made in June 2025, which led to the serious undermining of the IAEA’s verification activities in Iran,’ Zakharova added.

Zakharova added that confrontation only produces catastrophic consequences, threatens international peace and security, and moves parties further from viable solutions. She stressed that the correct path remains continued diplomacy and dialogue to achieve sustainable, long-term solutions regarding Iran’s peaceful nuclear program within the framework of international law and legitimate Iranian interests.

Russian officials, including Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, have consistently urged restraint. Peskov warned against actions that could escalate regional tensions, while Lavrov described Israeli statements about readiness to use force against Iran as highly concerning. These warnings come amid repeated US rhetoric against Iran following Netanyahu’s meeting with President Donald Trump, highlighting continued tensions in the region over nuclear issues.