Russia warned of an "unprecedented" escalation of tensions around Iran as the US deployed warships to the region. The Kremlin urged Tehran and other parties to exercise restraint and prioritize diplomatic solutions. Moscow noted it has a strategic partnership with Iran—without a mutual defence clause—and said a Russian corvette conducted joint manoeuvres with the Iranian navy in the Gulf of Oman.
Russia Warns Of 'Unprecedented' Escalation Around Iran As US Deploys Warships
FILE PHOTO: Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov attends a meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, January 22, 2026. REUTERS/Ramil Sitdikov/Pool/File Photo
MOSCOW, Feb 19 — Russia on Thursday warned of an "unprecedented" rise in tensions around Iran as the United States moved military assets into the Middle East, and the Kremlin urged Tehran and other regional actors to exercise restraint and prioritize diplomatic channels.
Washington has deployed warships to waters near Iran while continuing diplomatic talks with Tehran aimed at limiting Iran’s nuclear programme. At the same time, Moscow said it had carried out coordinated naval manoeuvres with Iran this week.
Moscow and Tehran maintain a strategic partnership treaty, though the pact does not include a mutual defence clause. According to Russia’s Defence Ministry, a Russian corvette conducted joint exercises with the Iranian navy in the Gulf of Oman.
Kremlin Calls For Restraint
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the exercises were planned and coordinated in advance and that Russia continues to develop its relations with Iran. He urged all parties in the region to act with caution and to favour political and diplomatic means to resolve disputes.
"These are planned exercises; they are coordinated in advance. Russia continues to develop relations with Iran, and in doing so, we call on our Iranian friends and all parties in the region to exercise restraint and caution, and we urge them to prioritize political and diplomatic means in resolving any problems," Peskov said.
He added: "Right now, we are indeed seeing an unprecedented escalation of tensions in the region. But we still expect that political and diplomatic means and negotiations will continue to prevail in the search for a settlement."
Moscow reiterated that diplomacy and negotiations should remain the primary route for resolving disputes and warned against actions that could further inflame the situation.
Reporting by Dmitry Antonov; Writing by Lucy Papachristou and Mark Trevelyan; Editing by Philippa Fletcher.
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