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The Kremlin reacted strongly to the U.S. military operation against Iran's nuclear facilities, describing the offensive as a unilateral action that exacerbates instability in the Middle East and undermines diplomatic efforts.
High-ranking Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, expressed their rejection of the attack and denounced that Washington ignored a specific mediation proposal put forward by Moscow days before the bombing.
The criticism arose following the destruction of the Iranian nuclear plant at Fordow and the attacks on other key facilities in Natanz and Isfahan.
The offensive, carried out by B-2 bombers and Tomahawk cruise missiles, was confirmed by President Donald Trump, who celebrated the outcome of the operation by stating that “Fordow has disappeared.”
From Moscow, the Kremlin spokesperson, Dimitri Peskov, warned that the Middle East is "on the brink of the abyss" and that such actions could trigger unpredictable consequences.
"What the United States has done is an unprecedented escalation. It is not just about Iran, but the risk of a regional and even global expansion of the conflict," Peskov declared at a press conference, according to Reuters.
On his part, the Vice President of the Russian Security Council, Dimitri Medvedev, was even more emphatic: “Trump has just started a new war for the United States.”
In a publication disseminated by Russian state media, and picked up by the Reuters agency, Medvedev accused the U.S. president of seeking political gains through military intervention that, he claimed, "endangers the security of the entire West Asia."
These statements come in a context where President Putin himself had offered to Washington and Tehran to act as a mediator to prevent precisely this scenario.
During the St. Petersburg Economic Forum held last week, Putin publicly proposed a tripartite dialogue mechanism between Iran, Israel, and the United States, in which Russia would act as a facilitator.
"We are prepared to mediate. We can talk with Iran, with Israel, and with the United States. We know there are legitimate concerns on both sides, but they cannot be resolved through bombings," Putin stated on that occasion, according to AP.
According to Russian diplomatic sources quoted by the agency TASS, Moscow conveyed this proposal through official channels, but never received a formal response from Washington.
Trump, for his part, publicly dismissed the Kremlin's initiative during an interview on Fox News. “Putin offered to mediate. I told him: do me a favor, start by resolving your issues in Ukraine,” the president remarked, in a clearly derisive tone.
In addition to rejecting mediation, the Kremlin also expressed its concern over the possibility that the United States is considering the use of tactical nuclear weapons in future attacks.
"It would be a catastrophe for humanity," warned Peskov. Although there are no concrete indications that the Pentagon is considering this option, Russia believes that the destruction of Fordow sets a dangerous precedent.
In this regard, Moscow reiterated its support for Iran's right to develop a nuclear program for peaceful purposes under international supervision, and that any action against those facilities must be endorsed by the UN Security Council.
Putin also warned that "the use of military force as a political solution is condemning the region to an endless cycle of violence" and expressed regret that his proposal had not been considered. "Russia offered dialogue, others offered bombs," he concluded.
As Iran assesses its response to the attacks and tensions rise in the region, Russia has intensified its diplomatic contacts with countries like China and Turkey to prevent a broader regional conflict. However, the Kremlin's message was clear: “The United States has crossed a dangerous line,” stated Medvedev.
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