Russia says US threats of military strikes against Iran are unacceptable

Russia said on Thursday that US threats of military strikes against its ally Iran were unacceptable and warned that attacking the Islamic Republic could lead to potentially catastrophic results if nuclear installations were bombed, Reuters has reported.

US President Donald Trump threatened Iran on Sunday with bombing and secondary tariffs if Tehran did not come to an agreement with Washington over its nuclear programme. Moreover, the US has deployed additional warplanes into the region.

Asked about Iran’s nuclear programme and the dangers in the current situation, Russia’s foreign ministry said that Moscow was committed to finding solutions to the programme which respected Tehran’s rights to peaceful nuclear energy.

“The use of military force by Iran’s opponents in the context of the settlement is illegal and unacceptable,” ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters. “Threats from outside to bomb Iran’s nuclear infrastructure facilities will inevitably lead to an irreversible global catastrophe. These threats are simply unacceptable.”

Western powers accuse Iran of having a clandestine agenda to develop nuclear weapons capability by enriching uranium to a high level of fissile purity, above what they say is justifiable for a civilian atomic energy programme. Tehran insists that its nuclear programme is solely for civilian energy purposes.

Russia and Iran signed a “comprehensive strategic partnership agreement” in January, although there is no mutual defence clause. Under the agreement, if one party is attacked, the other will not help the aggressor.

Russia condemns US threats, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told Life magazine. Ryabkov said an attack on Iran could unfurl a broader open conflict in the Middle East. “The consequences of this, especially if there are strikes on the nuclear infrastructure, could be catastrophic for the entire region,” he added.

READ: Iran raises alert level amid fear of war with Israel