Moscow has issued a stern warning against President Trump’s recent threats of military action against Iran, calling such rhetoric “unacceptable” and cautioning that strikes on nuclear facilities could trigger a catastrophic regional crisis.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova made Moscow’s position clear during a Thursday press briefing, stating, “The use of military force by Iran’s opponents in the context of the settlement is illegal and unacceptable.”

The diplomatic tensions escalated after President Trump threatened Iran on Sunday with bombing and secondary tariffs if Tehran failed to reach an agreement with Washington regarding its nuclear program. The U.S. has also deployed additional warplanes to the Middle East region.

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Concerns Over Nuclear Facilities

“Threats from outside to bomb Iran’s nuclear infrastructure facilities will inevitably lead to an irreversible global catastrophe. These threats are simply unacceptable,” Zakharova emphasized.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov echoed these concerns in comments to Life magazine, warning that military action could spark a wider conflict. “The consequences of this, especially if there are strikes on the nuclear infrastructure, could be catastrophic for the entire region,” Ryabkov said.

The dispute centers on Iran’s uranium enrichment activities, which Western powers claim exceed levels necessary for civilian purposes and indicate a covert weapons program. Tehran maintains its nuclear program is exclusively for peaceful energy production.

Russia-Iran Strategic Partnership

Russia and Iran strengthened their alliance in January by signing a “comprehensive strategic partnership agreement.” While the pact doesn’t include a mutual defense clause, it stipulates that if one party is attacked, the other will not assist the aggressor.

Read more at Reuters.