Russia on Monday called for a “political and diplomatic” settlement to the ongoing Middle East war, following an ultimatum from Donald Trump demanding that Iran reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Trump had threatened to “obliterate” Iran’s power plants if the waterway was not reopened within 48 hours, with the deadline set to expire late Monday. The strait has been effectively closed since the conflict began on February 28, triggered by US-Israeli bombardments in Iran.
Speaking at a briefing, Dmitry Peskov stated, “We believe that the situation should have transitioned to a political and diplomatic settlement. This is the only thing that can effectively contribute to defusing the catastrophically tense situation that has now developed in the region.”
Russia, which assisted in constructing Iran’s only operational nuclear facility at Bushehr, warned against strikes that could endanger the plant, noting that the UN’s nuclear watchdog recently confirmed the site was struck by a projectile.
“Of course, this poses a very serious security threat if this trend continues,” Peskov said. “We consider strikes on nuclear facilities to be potentially extremely dangerous and fraught with, perhaps even irreversible, consequences.”
He added that Russia remains in “constant dialogue” with the International Atomic Energy Agency regarding the Bushehr plant. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi has similarly urged restraint during the conflict to prevent the risk of a nuclear accident.
The Kremlin’s statement underscores Russia’s call for diplomacy over escalation as tensions in the region continue to rise.
