Russia Warns U.S. Against Military Aid to Israel Amid Escalating Iran-Israel Strikes
Deputy FM Ryabkov cautions that U.S. intervention could destabilize the Middle East, as Putin offers to mediate and condemns Israeli attacks on Iran.
Watan-Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov warned on Wednesday that direct U.S. military assistance to Israel could radically destabilize the situation in the Middle East, as Iran and Israel continue exchanging airstrikes for a sixth consecutive day.
According to Interfax News Agency, Ryabkov stated that Russia warns the United States against offering such assistance or even considering it. He added that Moscow is maintaining contact with both Israel and Iran.
On Tuesday, the Kremlin noted that Israel is showing “restraint” regarding foreign mediation in its confrontation with Iran. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, “At the moment, we observe that Israel is reluctant to engage in mediation or peaceful settlement efforts.” In a press conference, Peskov urged both parties to exercise restraint, adding that the current level of uncertainty is “boundless.”
Last Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a phone call that Russia is ready to mediate between Tel Aviv and Tehran, emphasizing that issues related to Iran’s nuclear program should be resolved through diplomacy. He expressed his “readiness to act as a mediator to avoid further escalation.”
On Monday, in a separate call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Putin called for an immediate end to the Iran-Israel conflict. The Russian presidency said both leaders agreed on the need to resolve disputes—including those surrounding Iran’s nuclear activities—through political and diplomatic means only.
On Saturday, Putin also held a phone call with newly elected Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, during which he condemned Israel’s attacks on Iran, expressed condolences for the assassination of Iranian citizens, military leaders, and nuclear scientists, and pledged Russia’s solidarity with Iran. According to Iranian state TV, Putin informed Israeli leaders of his concerns, stating that “Israel’s strikes are condemnable and a clear violation of international norms.”
Since early Friday, Israel—with U.S. support—has launched a wide-scale assault on Iran, targeting nuclear facilities, missile bases, and assassinating senior Iranian commanders and scientists. The attacks have killed 224 people and injured 1,277, while Iran has responded with ballistic missiles and drones, leaving around 24 dead and hundreds injured.
