Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned that any new U.S. military strike on Iran could have serious consequences and urged Washington to exercise restraint and prioritize diplomacy to resolve tensions over Tehran’s nuclear program.

Axar.az, citing Reuters, reports that his comments, made in an interview aired after indirect U.S.–Iran talks in Geneva, stressed that past strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, even those monitored by the International Atomic Energy Agency, posed real risks of a nuclear incident and risked escalating regional instability.

Lavrov noted that Arab and Gulf states are watching closely and prefer de-escalation, and he cautioned that heightened tension could undermine recent diplomatic breakthroughs, including improved relations between Iran and neighboring countries like Saudi Arabia. Moscow maintains regular contact with Iranian leaders and believes Iran genuinely seeks a peaceful resolution within the framework of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Separately, a senior U.S. official said Iran is expected to submit a written proposal after the Geneva talks to address the standoff, and U.S. military forces in the region are being prepared for potential action by mid-March. The United States continues to demand Iran curb its nuclear program, which Tehran insists is peaceful.