MOSCOW — Russia has warned that strikes against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure would have “catastrophic” consequences, after US President Donald Trump threatened to bomb Iran unless it came to an agreement with Washington over its nuclear programme.
“Threats are indeed being heard, ultimatums are also being heard,” Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the Russian journal “International Affairs” in an interview, extracts of which were published on Tuesday.
“We consider such methods inappropriate, we condemn them, we consider them a way for (the US) to impose its own will on the Iranian side,” Ryabkov added according to Reuters.
The Kremlin has offered to mediate between the Trump administration and Iran, with which it signed a strategic partnership treaty in January.
Trump, in his first remarks since Iran rejected direct negotiations with Washington, told NBC News over the weekend that Tehran could face bombing and secondary tariffs if it did not reach an agreement over its nuclear program.
“If they don’t make a deal, there will be bombing,” he said. “It will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before.”
