‘Extremely dangerous step': Russia warns US against taking military action in Israel-Iran war
Israel-Iran conflict: The Russian foreign ministry warned on Thursday that it will be 'dangerous' if the United States takes a military action against Iran amid speculations of Washington mulling to enter the conflict alongside Israel.
'We would like to particularly warn Washington against military intervention in the situation, which would be an extremely dangerous step with truly unpredictable negative consequences,' Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters.
The Russian foreign ministry further urged Israel to immediately halt air attacks on the Bushehr nuclear plant in Iran where Russian specialists work.
Bushehr, Iran's only operating nuclear power plant, uses Russian fuel that Russia then takes back when it is spent in order to reduce nuclear proliferation risk.
(This is a developing story. Check back for updates)
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Time of India
31 minutes ago
- Time of India
Khamenei and Netanyahu are waging a war of symbols too
The gloves are off and the tweets are on in the Israel-Iran conflict that has entered its seventh day. Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei , and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are leading the digital charge across social media with evocative symbols from their religious traditions to challenge each other. Khamenei declared 'the battle begins' in a warning post on Tuesday, hours after US President Donald Trump called for Iran's 'unconditional surrender.' 'In the name of #Haider, the battle begins. Ali returns to #Khaybar with his Zulfiqar,' the 86-year-old Khamenei posted to his 1.5 million followers on X in Farsi, referring to Shia Islam 's revered figure and the first imam, Ali, who won the Battle of Khaybar with his sword, Zulfiqar. Khamenei's post framed Iran's attacks as part of a broader religious struggle against Israel. On the other hand, Israel has called its military operation against Iran "Rising Lion", taking the name from a biblical verse that promises a victorious future for a powerful Israel, and also obliquely referring to the pre-Islamic Revolution Iran. Live Events In a post dedicated to the people of Iran, Netanyahu said, 'We are in the midst of one of the greatest military operations in history, Operation Rising Lion . The Islamic regime, which has oppressed you for almost 50 years, threatens to destroy our country, the State of Israel." Both Khamenei and Netanyahu have shared several posts on Twitter (now X), but what stands out is their deliberate use of religious references drawn from history. Khamenei's Khaybar citation Khamenei's declaration of battle on Twitter included a reference to Khaybar that was later used by multiple users in their posts as a hashtag. Khaybar, in the north of Medina, was once home to thousands of Jews who were defeated in a decisive 7th-century battle against the army of Prophet Muhammad. The turning point in the battle came when the Prophet, after earlier attempts to break the stronghold, said, 'Tomorrow I will give the banner to a man who loves God and His Messenger, and God and His Messenger love him. He will conquer it.' The next day, the Prophet gave the banner to Ali ibn Abi Talib, the first Shia Imam. Ali then led the assault on the fortress of Qamus, Khaybar's most fortified stronghold. Ali defeated the Jewish commander Marhab using a door as a shield after losing his own. His leadership resulted in the fall of the fort, effectively ending resistance in Khaybar. The victory marked a strategic and symbolic success for the early Muslim community. In Shia Islam, Ali's role at Khaybar is celebrated as a sign of his divine support. Netanyahu's lion reference Khamenei isn't the only one reaching back to religious history. Netanyahu also flipped through holy pages for symbolism, citing phrases – 'Rising Lion' and 'Cyrus the Great' in his posts. In his message to the Iranian people, Netanyahu said that Israel's conflict was with Iran's Islamic regime, not its people, adding that 'the people of Iran and the people of Israel have been friends since the time of Cyrus the Great .' Cyrus the Great, founder of the first Persian Empire, after conquering Babylon and other cities, allowed the exiled jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple. Netanyahu also used the phrase 'Rising Lion,' drawn from the biblical line 'the people shall rise up as a lion,' in a note placed into a crack of Jerusalem's Western Wall — a gesture that, in hindsight, appeared to signal the impending strikes on Iran. The phrase comes from Numbers 23:24 in the Bible: 'Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion: he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain.' This verse is part of the first oracle of Balaam, a non-Israelite prophet and diviner, where he foretells the strength and power of Israel, comparing it to a lion that will not rest until it has satisfied its hunger. The Book of Numbers is the fourth book in the Bible. In this part of the story, the diviner named Balaam, who was a kind of prophet or seer known for his ability to bless as well as curse, is being asked by Balak, a king of Moab, to curse the people of Israel, God's chosen people, because Balak sees them as a threat. Instead of cursing them, Balaam ends up blessing them, because God tells him only to speak what He commands. This verse is part of one of those blessings, where Balaam describes the strength and power of Israel in poetic, symbolic language. The verse means that Israel will be strong, fearless, and ready for action, just like a lion rising to hunt. Balaam gives more prophetic speeches, continuing to bless Israel instead of cursing it. He also predicts the downfall of Israel's enemies, including Moab (Balak's people), Edom and others. Most famously, he delivers a prophecy that is often seen as messianic by Jews and Christians: 'A star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel…' The phrase "Rising Lion' is also linked to the flag of Iran's pre-Islamic Revolution Shah regime. The flag of the Pahlavi dynasty of the Shah had an emblem of a sword-wielding lion and a sun, both drawn from pre-Islamic past of Iran. The clash on Twitter between Netanyahu and Khamenei makes it plain: this isn't just a military conflict, but an ideological tug-of-war with no end in sight.
India.com
43 minutes ago
- India.com
Iran-Israel Conflict: আমেরিকার আকাশে 'ডুমস ডে' বিমান, তাহলে কী ইরান আক্রমণ সমাগত?
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India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
What Happens To Russia If Iran Weakens? Putin's Dilemma In West Asia
New Delhi: As fighting between Israel and Iran intensifies, questions are being raised over what a weakened Iran might mean for Russia – both strategically and geopolitically. With Iran under direct military assault from Israel and facing increasing international isolation, many analysts believe that a shift in power dynamics could leave Russia more vulnerable in West Asia – a region where it has long struggled to maintain influence. The backdrop to this concern lies in the end of 2024, when Syria's President Bashar al-Assad was forced to step down and seek refuge in Moscow. Assad had been a key ally for Russia in West Asia for over a decade. His departure not only marked the collapse of one of Russia's closest partnerships in the region but also raised concerns over the future of Russian influence, particularly in the face of growing Israeli-American alignment. Now, with Iran facing sustained Israeli attacks and no direct military support from Moscow, some observers are asking, 'Why is Russia staying on the sidelines?' Russia officially has taken a cautious and neutral stance. President Vladimir Putin condemned Israel's strikes on Iran but also urged diplomacy when speaking to both Israeli and Iranian leaders shortly after the conflict erupted on June 13. According to Kremlin readouts, Putin emphasised that the Iranian nuclear issue must be resolved through dialogue, not force. Putin later told the UAE's President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan that Russia was willing to mediate between the warring sides. While these efforts suggest Russia wants to be seen as a peacemaker, its lack of concrete support for Iran has raised eyebrows – especially since Tehran is considered a strategic partner in Moscow's broader regional ambitions. Analysts said the answer lies in Moscow's own limitations. Russia is deeply entangled in the Ukraine conflict and cannot afford to open another front. It also does not want to push the United States into taking a harder line. They pointed out that if Russia were not bogged down in Ukraine, it might have taken a stronger stand with Iran. But the situation today is reversed. Iran, which previously supplied drones to Russia, is now the one in need of weapons. Moscow is unlikely to supply advanced military aid when it is struggling to replenish its own stockpiles. In addition, backchannel negotiations between Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump may also be shaping Russia's muted response. 'Russia is trying to preserve its ability to talk to Washington. Openly siding with Iran could shut that door,' they explained. A Strategic, Economic Risk for Moscow Despite its neutral posture, Russia has a lot to lose if Iran falls. If Iran is weakened, the experts warned, the United States and Israel could consolidate their dominance over West Asia. 'That is not a scenario Russia, China, Turkey or many Islamic nations would be comfortable with,' they argued. Iran's loss could mark the end of multipolar influence in West Asia. Moscow has already lost Assad in Syria. If Iran's government were to collapse under military pressure, Russia would lose another key regional ally. The prospect raises further complications for the balance of power in the Middle East and for Russia's long-term ambitions in the region. There are, however, some potential benefits. A prolonged conflict in West Asia could spike global oil prices, giving a boost to Russian revenues. Still, economic gain cannot compensate for the loss of strategic depth in the Middle East. Moscow is also reportedly trying to position itself as a potential peacemaker in the region, but Trump's recent comments suggest the United States may be uninterested in any diplomatic role for Russia. 'Trump's strategy appears to be one of maximum pressure. That leaves little room for Russia to mediate,' said the analysts. The Limitations of BRICS and SCO Iran is a member of both the BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), but these groupings have remained silent. The observers say that is because these are economic and political alliances, not military ones. 'These platforms are not designed to provide collective security. Also, many of their members, like India and China, do not want to antagonize the West,' they said. Countries like China and Russia are also wary of U.S. secondary sanctions. If Washington imposes punitive measures, it could hurt their economies and force them to rethink how far they can go in supporting Iran. The analysts have warned that a defeat for Iran would tip the scales further in Israel's favour. They highlighted that with Assad gone, Hamas and Hezbollah weakened and Gaza devastated, Iran is the last significant counterweight to Israeli power in the region. If Iran is neutralised, Russia's remaining influence in West Asia could collapse. China, too, would become more reliant on pro-U.S. Gulf states for energy. This would also deal a blow to the idea of a 'multipolar world', an idea frequently promoted by Russia, China and India. A unipolar dominance led by the United States could again become the defining feature of global geopolitics. However, the observers add a note of caution – 'Even if Iran falls, it does not guarantee U.S. victory. Look at Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria – Western interventions often produce instability, not resolution.' The fear is that Iran's defeat could trigger a repeat of the cycle – regime change, refugee crises, rising extremism and a prolonged state of chaos. Russia's silence may be a tactical choice, but it could come at a significant strategic cost.
