Russia and Turkey are pushing for negotiations in the standoff between Tehran and Washington after US President Donald Trump threatened new military strikes on Iran.

“It is clear that the potential for negotiations is not exhausted,” spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Thursday, adding: “Any use of force can only create chaos in the region and lead to very dangerous consequences.”

Peskov’s comments came a day after Trump urged Iran to come to the table and make a deal on nuclear weapons or face a possible US attack.

Trump has threatened military intervention against Iran over its crackdown on protests, which rights groups say killed thousands. However, rhetoric on the issue has shifted in recent days so that the threat of military action is hanging over Tehran unless it returns to the talks on the issue of its contentious nuclear program.

A US naval strike group arrived in Middle East waters on Monday with Trump warning it was “ready, willing and able” to hit Iran “if necessary.”

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Iran and Russia have deepened ties, with Western countries accusing Iran of providing missiles and drones for Russian attacks, though Tehran denies that.

The two countries also signed a “strategic partnership” treaty last........

© The Times of Israel