Description: Russian foreign ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova and Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, stated that potential direct attacks on Iran by the US were unacceptable and illegal. They also added that military confrontation between Iran and the US could cause a global catastrophe and plunge the Middle East into a revolving war with devastating consequences. The statements were a response to the recent mounting tensions between the US and Iran and continuous threats by US President Donald Trump to bomb Iran if the latter doesn’t agree to negotiations regarding their nuclear program. Iran has also constantly refused to negotiate with the US directly, citing diplomatic trust issues and blaming the US for imposing insurmountable sanctions which crippled the Islamic Republic’s economy.
Impact: Russia’s response to US threats towards Iran was largely expected as a complementary answer and reaffirmation of their recently developed strategic partnership. Russia and Iran signed a comprehensive strategic partnership in Jan although without mutual defense clause, which hasn’t impacted their political and diplomatic posturing towards the US on Iran’s nuclear program issue. China and Russia have recently launched a diplomatic campaign to defuse tensions between the US and Iran with so far little to no success. The US military posturing in the Middle East although initially as a defensive deterrence indicates high readiness for a military intervention. Tensions in the short to mid-term are expected to be on the rise as both Iran and the US aren’t backing out of their hard lined positions. Russia has positioned itself as a mediator between the conflicting countries similar to the US positioning regarding the war in Ukraine, which stipulates potential diplomatic transactions in further negotiations.