“Don’t intervene” – Russia warns US over Iran-Israel war

Russia has issued a stern warning to the United States (US) against any form of military intervention in the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel, cautioning that such action could lead to dire and unpredictable consequences.

The warning came from Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Thursday, following heightened speculation over potential U.S. involvement after President Donald Trump hinted at the possibility of joining Israel’s offensive.

“We would like to particularly warn Washington against military intervention in the situation,” Zakharova said. “Such a move would be an extremely dangerous step with truly unpredictable negative consequences.”

The remarks follow a phone conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, during which both leaders strongly condemned Israel’s attacks on Iran and called for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict.

Tensions in the Middle East have reached new highs following Israel’s unprecedented airstrikes on Iranian military and nuclear targets last week.

Tehran retaliated with missile and drone attacks, further fueling fears of a wider regional war.

During a press briefing, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed that both Putin and Xi agreed the conflict “should be resolved exclusively through political and diplomatic means.”

Xi, in a statement carried by China’s Xinhua news agency, emphasized that “armed force is not the correct way to resolve international disputes,” urging Israel to halt its attacks and warning against a dangerous spiral of escalation.

“Promoting a ceasefire and cessation of hostilities is the top priority,” Xi said. “All parties, especially Israel, should cease hostilities as soon as possible to avoid spillover of the war.”

While Russia maintains close ties with Iran particularly in the context of military cooperation during the Ukraine conflict, it also seeks to preserve its relationship with Israel.

In a bid to position himself as a mediator, Putin has held separate phone conversations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, offering to broker peace between the two sides.

China has supported the idea of Russia playing a mediating role, with Xi reportedly encouraging Putin to pursue this path as a means of de-escalating the conflict.

However, skepticism remains among Western leaders. U.S. President Donald Trump dismissed Putin’s offer, referencing Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.

“He actually offered to help mediate,” Trump told reporters. “I said: ‘Do me a favor, mediate your own.’ Let’s mediate Russia first, okay? You can worry about this later.”