Russia concerned about confrontation between US and Iran

Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo: Getty

In an interview recently published on the Kremlin's official website, Mr. Putin emphasized: "This worries us because it is happening near our country's borders. This could destabilize the situation around Iran, impact a number of countries with which we have very close relations, cause an increasing wave of migration and cause significant damage to the world economy as well as the global energy sector. We would welcome any improvement in relations between the US and Iran. Escalating tensions would be detrimental to all sides."

Relations between the US and Iran have become tense since May 2018 when President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal and re-imposed sanctions on the Middle Eastern country.

Relations between the two countries have worsened over the past two months as the US has increased pressure to completely block oil exports, Iran's main economic sector.

In particular, the relationship between the US and Iran has approached the "red line" after Iran shot down a US spy drone over the Strait of Hormuz on June 20. Although he withdrew the decision to launch a retaliatory airstrike when "the missile was on the launch pad", the White House boss still imposed many sanctions on top Iranian officials.

Tehran responded to the US by withdrawing from some of its most important nuclear commitments and exceeding the permitted uranium enrichment threshold./.