Russia calls for diplomacy after Trump issues Iran ultimatum on Strait of Hormuz
Russia has called for a “political and diplomatic” settlement to the US-Israeli war with Iran after the United States President Donald Trump issued the Iranian regime a 48-hour ultimatum to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump had threatened to obliterate Iran’s power plants if the strategic waterway was not reopened within 48 hours.
Since the war began on February 28 by US-Israeli bombardment of Iran, the sea route had been closed strategically.
Russian spokesman Dmitry Peskov speaking to journalists at a briefing said they had hoped the situation transitioned to a diplomatic settlement.
“We believe that the situation should have transitioned to a political and diplomatic settlement.
“This is the only thing that can effectively contribute to defusing the catastrophically tense situation that has now developed in the region,” Peskov said.
Russia warned against strikes that could endanger the only Russian-built operational nuclear power plant at Bushehr, which the IAEA announced was hit by a projectile last week.
“Of course, this poses a very serious security threat if this trend continues.
“We consider strikes on nuclear facilities to be potentially extremely dangerous and fraught with, perhaps even irreversible, consequences,” Peskov said.
While Russia is in “constant dialogue” with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on the Bushehr plant, the head of the Agency Rafael Grossi, last week, called “for restraint during the conflict to avoid any risk of a nuclear accident”.
