Russia warned on Wednesday that the world was getting tired of constant threats against Iran and that a possible military attack on the Islamic Republic would not bring peace. Moscow stressed that Tehran was already taking precautions ahead of upcoming talks with the United States on Iran's nuclear program, Reuters reports.
The talks between the United States and Iran, scheduled for the weekend, are being viewed with suspicion by Tehran. Iranian officials told Reuters that they have serious doubts about Washington's intentions and do not expect real progress.
The talks were announced on Monday by US President Donald Trump, who returned to the White House in January and has repeatedly threatened Iran with military action if the country does not accept a new agreement.
"The world is really getting tired of the endless threats against Iran," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in response to a question from "Reuters". "It is becoming increasingly clear that bombing does not bring peace."
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, for his part, stressed that Moscow was aware of the "rather harsh rhetoric" and that Iran was already taking preventive measures. He said the emphasis should be on dialogue, not confrontation.
Iran's nuclear program, which began in the 1950s with support from then-ally the United States, has long been a source of tension between Tehran and world powers. The United States, Israel and some European countries suspect Iran of covertly seeking to develop nuclear weapons - something the Islamic Republic categorically denies.
In recent years, Iran has been building an increasingly close partnership with Russia, with which it signed a 20-year strategic agreement this year. However, relations between the two countries are not devoid of historical tensions, as the existing treaty does not contain mutual defense clauses.
Moscow, which maintains good personal relations between President Vladimir Putin and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, does not want a new arms race in the Middle East, Zakharova stressed. According to her, Russia insists on "effective negotiated solutions" that would reduce Western suspicions, restore trust and ensure a balance of interests - without a new crisis.
We recall that the US unilaterally withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) during Trump's first term, which led to the violation of restrictions on Iranian uranium enrichment and increased suspicions of a potential nuclear program for military purposes.