The Russian presidency has issued a stark warning to the United States over the possible use of tactical nuclear weapons in Iran, calling such a move "catastrophic." This warning comes amid increasing speculation that Washington may intervene militarily to support Israel in its ongoing conflict with Iran.
According to the Russian state news agency TASS, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that the potential U.S. use of tactical nuclear weapons in Iran would represent a disastrous escalation.
Peskov made the remarks in response to media reports speculating about this scenario. His statement is part of a series of strong Russian positions cautioning Washington against even considering military support for Israel against Iran.
In a related statement, Peskov also condemned recent discussions in Western media about the potential assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He called such discourse “unacceptable,” stressing that Russia would react “extremely negatively” to any attempt on Khamenei’s life. “Russia will not accept such an act,” he warned, adding, “Such a move could lead to uncontrollable consequences.”
On Thursday, the Russian Foreign Ministry also warned the United States against any military intervention in favor of Israel. Spokesperson Maria Zakharova told reporters, “We specifically want to warn Washington: any military involvement would be a highly dangerous step with unforeseeable negative consequences.”
While U.S. President Donald Trump has not ruled out military action to undermine Iran’s nuclear program, he has rejected Russia’s offer to mediate the crisis. Trump reportedly told Russian President Vladimir Putin that he should first resolve the war in Ukraine before attempting to broker peace in the Middle East.
Commenting on Trump’s rejection, Peskov said it was not up to him to decide which nations should accept mediation. “These services can be accepted by countries directly involved in the conflict,” he stated.
On Thursday, the Kremlin revealed that President Putin had a nearly hour-long phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Both leaders strongly condemned Israel’s strikes on Iranian territory.
Since the early hours of June 13, Israel—backed by U.S. support—has launched a major military offensive against Iran. The campaign has included targeted airstrikes on nuclear facilities, missile bases, and the assassination of military commanders and nuclear scientists. So far, the conflict has claimed 224 lives and injured nearly 2,000 people in Iran. In response, Tehran has fired ballistic missiles and drones, resulting in at least 24 Israeli deaths and hundreds of injuries.
As the violence escalates, there are growing concerns over a wider regional war. Western and Israeli media have reported the possibility that the United States could join Israel in a full-scale assault on Iran.
