THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
MOSCOW, MARCH 1, 2026
Russia on Sunday urged an immediate halt to hostilities and a return to
diplomacy following a sharp escalation in West Asia, warning that the
spiralling conflict risks destabilising the wider Gulf region and threatening
global security.
The appeal came after Iran launched retaliatory strikes against Israel
and US military installations in neighbouring countries, hours after its
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in an airstrike in Tehran on
Saturday during a joint Israel–US operation. The unprecedented development has
pushed the region to the brink of a broader war, with Tehran vowing revenge and
placing its armed forces on high alert.
In a strongly worded statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry said the
situation demanded urgent de-escalation and renewed political engagement. “We
call for an immediate de-escalation, a cessation of hostilities, and a return
to the political and diplomatic process to resolve the existing problems based
on the UN Charter and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
(NPT),” the ministry said.
Moscow stressed that any sustainable resolution must take into account
what it described as the “legitimate interests of all Gulf states,” signalling
concern that the conflict could expand beyond Iran and Israel and draw in
multiple regional actors. Russian officials warned that continued military
action would undermine non-proliferation efforts and heighten the risk of a
wider confrontation involving major powers.
The Kremlin has maintained contact with several regional governments and is expected to push for an emergency discussion at the United Nations, according to diplomatic sources. Analysts say Russia’s call for restraint reflects fears of disruption to energy markets, maritime routes, and strategic stability across West Asia.
The latest escalation marks one of the most dangerous phases in the long-running shadow conflict between Iran and Israel, now compounded by direct US involvement and the killing of Iran’s top leader — an event likely to reshape the geopolitical landscape and trigger unpredictable security and economic consequences worldwide.
