Russia is advising the United States against launching an attack on Iran, as it would greatly disrupt the stability of the Middle East, according to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov. Moscow also warned that Israeli strikes could potentially lead to a nuclear catastrophe.

Having signed a strategic partnership with Iran earlier this year, Russia has a complex relationship with Israel, which has been strained due to Moscow's involvement in Ukraine. Despite offering to mediate in the Israel-Iran conflict, Russia's proposal has not been accepted.

Ryabkov, speaking at an economic forum in St Petersburg, emphasized that Moscow is urging Washington to avoid direct engagement. He cautioned that such actions could have severe consequences and criticized any speculative or conjectural approaches.

The head of Russia's SVR foreign intelligence service, Sergei Naryshkin, described the situation between Iran and Israel as critical. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova expressed concerns over Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, warning that the world is on the brink of a catastrophe.

Zakharova highlighted that nuclear facilities have been targeted, with specific damage already noted by the UN nuclear safety watchdog. She questioned the lack of response from the global community and environmentalists, drawing parallels to the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011.

Israel claims it has conducted strikes on Iranian nuclear sites to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons, a claim that Iran denies. Despite their close military ties, Russia, under a 20-year strategic partnership pact signed in January, is not obligated to provide military assistance to Iran.

Following a conversation between President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian earlier this year, Putin offered to mediate the conflict to US President Donald Trump. While Trump initially expressed openness to the idea, he later demanded Iran's unconditional surrender.

Sources familiar with US internal discussions revealed that Trump and his team are exploring various options, including potentially supporting Israel in strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities. Despite Russia's opposition to the conflict, some experts believe it could benefit Moscow by leading to higher oil prices, increased demand for Russian oil from China, and a shift in US military focus away from Ukraine.