Russia will not stand idle over Iran crisis, says foreign minister

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has warned that escalating tensions surrounding Iran could trigger a broader explosion across the Middle East, signalling that Moscow will not remain passive in the face of mounting instability.

Speaking on Thursday, Lavrov described Iran as a close partner of Russia and said Moscow would not “stand idly by” amid “growing regional complexities”.

He added that Russia is prepared to contribute to efforts aimed at de-escalating tensions between Israel, the United States and Iran.

At the same time, Lavrov clarified that Moscow is not currently positioning itself as a formal mediator between Tel Aviv, Tehran and Washington, but is instead maintaining discussions and monitoring developments.