Vladimir Putin‘s mouthpiece has issued a thinly-veiled warning about a new global war as Russia backs the regime in Iran amid escalating tensions. The Russian president’s press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, described the situation in the Middle East as “extremely tense”. He said in an interview at the Constantine Palace in Saint Petersburg: “The situation is extremely tense and is dangerous not only for the region but globally.”
Speaking to Sky News, he also said: “An enlargement of the composition of the participants of the conflict is potentially even more dangerous. It will lead only to another circle of confrontation and escalation of tension in the region.” Peskov’s words could be viewed as a suggestion Russia may enter the conflict or be considered a response to the prospect of the United States joining the Israelis to attack Iran. Peskov also backed the current regime’s leader, saying Moscow would react “very negatively” if Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed.
This week has seen much speculation as to whether the US will get involved militarily in the conflict, which erupted a week ago when Israel launched missile strikes at Iran to prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon. Iran maintains its nuclear programme is only for peaceful purposes. Donald Trump said on Wednesday the United States may or may not join Israel. But on Thursday, the White House announced that the US president will decide whether to join Israel’s campaign against Iran’s military and nuclear programme within two weeks, saying that he still sees a window for diplomacy to address Israeli and US demands over Iran’s nuclear programme.
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