Russia warns of escalation risks around Iran, Lavrov discusses crisis with Tehran

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed escalating tensions in the Persian Gulf with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi in a phone call initiated by Tehran, Russia’s foreign ministry said on Monday.

The two ministers reviewed what Russia described as a sharp deterioration in the region following what it said were U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iranian territory.

Lavrov said strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, including the Bushehr nuclear power plant, were “categorically unacceptable,” citing risks to Russian personnel working at the facility and warning of potentially serious environmental consequences for the entire region.

The ministry also said both sides expressed concern about what they described as the possible spillover of the conflict into the Caspian Sea.

Russia stressed the need for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a political settlement that takes into account the interests of all parties, especially Iran, adding that it would pursue this position at the United Nations Security Council.

According to the statement, Araghchi, for his part, thanked the Russian leadership for its diplomatic support and humanitarian assistance to Iran.

The call followed a strongly worded statement by Russia on Saturday condemning recent attacks on Iran’s uranium enrichment infrastructure, which it said violated international law and risked triggering broader instability in the Middle East.

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said strikes on Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility — which Moscow says is under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards — violated key legal frameworks, including the U.N. Charter.

She described the attacks as a “gross violation of international law” and warned of potential radiological and environmental risks associated with strikes on nuclear facilities.

The ministry also expressed concern over what it described as continued large-scale strikes on Iranian military, civilian and nuclear infrastructure, warning that such actions could trigger a “catastrophe affecting the entire Middle East.”

Moscow called on the international community, including the United Nations and the U.N. nuclear watchdog, to provide what it described as an “objective and uncompromising assessment” of the situation and to work to prevent further escalation.

Analysts at Turan say Moscow’s statements should be seen as a warning to Washington and its allies against further escalation, continued political backing for Tehran, and an attempt to position Russia as a key diplomatic actor while avoiding direct military involvement.