Space Travel News
SUPERPOWERS
Russia warns US against 'military intervention' in Iran-Israel war
Russia warns US against 'military intervention' in Iran-Israel war
by AFP Staff Writers
Moscow (AFP) June 19, 2025

Russia on Thursday warned the United States not to take military action against Iran, amid speculation over whether Washington would enter the war alongside Israel.

Israel launched an unprecedented wave of strikes at Iran last week, to which Tehran responded with missile and drone attacks.

Moscow is one of Iran's most important allies, with the two deepening military cooperation and inking a strategic partnership agreement just months ago.

But the Kremlin has not provided military support to Iran in the face of Israeli air strikes, and President Vladimir Putin is pitching himself as a possible mediator even as he condemns Israel.

"We would like to particularly warn Washington against military intervention in the situation," Russian foreign ministry's spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters.

US President Donald Trump had said Wednesday he was considering join Israel's strikes on Iran.

"I may do it, I may not do it," he said.

He also rejected Russia's offer to broker peace, saying he told Putin to resolve the Ukraine conflict first.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that it was not up to Trump to reject Putin's offer.

"These services can be accepted by countries that are currently directly involved in the conflict," he said.

- 'Not asked' -

Zakharova warned any US military action "would be an extremely dangerous step with truly unpredictable negative consequences".

Moscow issued its warning after Putin spoke with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, with the pair blasting Israel.

Putin and Xi "strongly condemn Israel's actions," the Kremlin said after the call.

Putin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters that Moscow and Beijing believed the end to the hostilities "should be achieved exclusively by political and diplomatic means".

Russia has for years been a key actor in the Middle East, managing to maintain warm relations with all major players in the region.

But the fall of key ally Bashar al-Assad in Syria last year, and Israel's war in Gaza -- which Putin has repeatedly raised concerns about -- have threatened to dent that position.

Despite their close military ties, Putin said Iran had not requested military help in the week since Israel launched its attacks.

"Our Iranian friends have not asked us about this," Putin said in response to a question from an AFP reporter at a late-night televised press conference in Saint Petersburg.

He also pointed out that the treaty signed in January was not a mutual defence pact and did not oblige either side to provide arms or assistance.

Asked what steps Russia would take if Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was assassinated, Putin said: "I don't even want to discuss such a possibility."

His spokesman said later Thursday that Russia would be prepared to send humanitarian aid, if requested to by Tehran.

- 'Mediate your own' -

In their phone call, Xi told Putin that a ceasefire was "top priority" and also criticised Israel.

"Promoting a ceasefire and cessation of hostilities is the top priority. Armed force is not the correct way to resolve international disputes," Xi said, according to China's state news agency Xinhua.

"Parties to the conflict, especially Israel, should cease hostilities as soon as possible to prevent a cyclical escalation and resolutely avoid the spillover of the war," he added.

Last week, Putin held phone calls with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, offering himself as a peacemaker.

The Kremlin said that Xi had spoken "in favour of such mediation, since he believes that it could serve to de-escalate the current situation", Ushakov said.

But Western leaders, including Trump and France's Emmanuel Macron have pushed back against the idea of Putin trying to mediate the conflict amid his own Ukraine offensive.

"He actually offered to help mediate, I said: 'do me a favour, mediate your own'," Trump told reporters on Wednesday about Putin's efforts.

"Let's mediate Russia first, okay? I said, Vladimir, let's mediate Russia first, you can worry about this later."

Related Links
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com
Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
SUPERPOWERS
Iran strikes Israel as Trump weighs US involvement
Tehran (AFP) June 19, 2025
Iran launched a fresh salvo of missiles at Israel on Thursday, with a hospital reported hit, as President Donald Trump warned he was weighing US military action in the conflict. AFP journalists heard violent, sustained explosions in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, and sirens sounded in several parts of the country to warn of incoming Iranian missiles. Shortly afterwards, the army said citizens could leave their shelters, while the foreign minister said the Soroka hospital in southern Israel's Beersheba ... read more

SUPERPOWERS
SUPERPOWERS
Volcanic discovery at Jezero Crater could reshape timeline of Mars

Renowned Mars expert says Trump-Musk axis risks dooming mission

The promise and peril of a crewed Mars mission

NASA's MAVEN Makes First Observation of Atmospheric Sputtering at Mars

SUPERPOWERS
Japanese company aborts Moon mission after assumed crash-landing

ESA supports Moon mission carrying first European rover

Sierra Space Wins NASA Contract to Advance Lunar Logistics Solutions

High-definition Moon landing videos set to transform lunar exploration

SUPERPOWERS
SwRI study shows Europa's icy surface constantly reshaping

The hunt for mysterious 'Planet Nine' offers up a surprise

Jupiter Was Formerly Twice Its Current Size and Had a Much Stronger Magnetic Field

SwRI Gathers First Ultraviolet Data from NASA's Europa Clipper Mission

SUPERPOWERS
Space pebbles and rocks play pivotal role in giant planet's formation

Huge planet discovered orbiting tiny star puzzles scientists

Super-Earth discovered in habitable zone of Sun-like star via TTV technique, paving way for 'Earth 2.0' searches

How does life rebound from mass extinctions

SUPERPOWERS
Kinetica 2 engine test hits milestone with successful multi-engine trial

China testing orbital refueling procedures for satellite missions

In row with Trump, Musk says will end critical US spaceship program

Rocket Lab Schedules Third Electron Launch in 24 Days to Deploy Next Mission for iQPS

SUPERPOWERS
Chinese rocket delivers e-commerce packages in sea recovery test

China Establishes UN-SPIDER Regional Support Office at Wuhan University

Tiangong returns largest sample set yet for biological and materials science research

Space is a place to found a community not a colony

SUPERPOWERS
Ethical and legal clarity urged as planetary defense faces asteroid threats

Millions of new solar system objects to be found and 'filmed in technicolor'

China launches Tianwen-2 asteroid and comet study mission

China launches space probe seeking asteroid samples: Xinhua

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.