Russia warns US against military intervention in Iran-Israel conflict Criticises Western role in IAEA

Russia has issued a strong warning to the United States against military involvement in the escalating Iran-Israel conflict, cautioning that such actions could trigger unpredictable consequences, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on June 19.

“We would particularly like to warn Washington against military intervention in the situation, which would be an extremely dangerous step with truly unpredictable negative consequences,” Zakharova said during a briefing, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

Speaking on the sidelines of St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), Zakharova also criticised Western countries for what she described as a destructive role within the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), accusing them of politicising the organisation amid the rising tensions.

“We see the destructive stance and role that Western countries are playing, particularly within the IAEA. It is yet another platform they seek to turn from a professional, issue-focused body into a politicised one, to once again use it as a tool for their geopolitical goals,” Zakharova told reporters.

She stressed that Moscow is actively working to counter Western influence over the IAEA leadership and to maintain the organsation’s neutrality.

“This is yielding results,” the diplomat noted. “Indeed, the IAEA and its leadership are under very strong pressure aimed at turning the organisation into an echo chamber, into simply a mouthpiece for Western countries. But we are doing everything possible to ensure that the organisation remains focused on its core mission.”

By Sabina Mammadli