War between Iran and the U.S. would be a catastrophe for the region, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.

Axar.az reports citing Anadolu Agency.

The conflict would have "unpredictable consequences" and would lead to an outbreak of violence and to a new wave of refugees, Putin said, speaking at an annual event where he answered questions from the Russian people.

Saying that Iranians are “capable of extremities in case of their own necessity for defense and protection of their country,” Putin added: “What these extremes will result in, no one knows, and whom they will affect, it is difficult to say. It would not be desirable that events developed according to this scenario."

Tensions have been rising between the U.S. and Iran since last year, when the U.S. unilaterally withdrew from a nuclear pact between Tehran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany.

After a series of incidents including attacks against oil tankers in the Persian Gulf, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Washington is examining all options to counter Iran in the region, including the military one.