Russia Urges Iran and Regional Actors to Exercise Restraint Amid Middle‑East Escalation
Date: Thursday, 19 February 2026
During a press conference held today, Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov called on Iran and all other parties in the region to act with moderation. He stressed that political and diplomatic avenues must be the top priority for resolving the current disputes.
Key Points from the Briefing
- Call for restraint: Russia invites every regional actor to exercise self‑control as tensions in the Middle East reach unprecedented levels.
- Political solutions first: Peskov reiterated that Moscow continues to hope that political, diplomatic and negotiation channels will lead to a lasting settlement, including any potential agreement involving Iran.
- Joint naval drills: The spokesperson clarified that the Iran‑Russia joint naval exercises have been scheduled for a long time and are not linked to the present flare‑up.
- U.S. pressure on Iran: For weeks, the United States has threatened to use force to halt Iran’s nuclear program.
- Recent diplomatic progress: Multi‑party interventions have brought Tehran and Washington to the negotiating table in Muscat (Oman) and Geneva earlier this week, where some advances were announced.
“We observe an escalation of tensions unlike any we have seen before,” Peskov warned, urging that political dialogue remain the cornerstone of any conflict‑resolution strategy.
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Keywords: Middle East escalation, Russia, Iran, Dmitri Peskov, political diplomacy, joint naval exercises, US threats, Muscat negotiations, Geneva talks.
