Russia on Thursday called on the United States and Israel to halt their military actions against Iran and return to diplomatic negotiations, warning that continued escalation could worsen the humanitarian situation and destabilize the Middle East.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova made the remarks during a briefing in Moscow, urging both Washington and Tel Aviv to resolve the conflict through dialogue rather than military force.

“Russia will continue to take steps to end the escalation in the Middle East as soon as possible and resolve any contradictions by peaceful means,” Zakharova told reporters.

Her comments came amid ongoing hostilities between Iran and the United States–Israel alliance, which have sharply raised tensions across the region and drawn concern from global powers.

Zakharova criticised what she described as “illegal military action” carried out by Washington and Tel Aviv, claiming that the attacks have resulted in significant civilian casualties inside Iran.

“The number of victims of the illegal military action of Washington and Tel Aviv among the civilian population of Iran, according to the authorities, is in the thousands,” she said.

Russia has repeatedly called for restraint and diplomatic engagement since the conflict intensified, positioning itself as an advocate for negotiations to prevent a broader regional war.

Moscow has also warned that continued military escalation could destabilize the wider Middle East and trigger further humanitarian consequences.

While Russia has maintained close ties with Iran in recent years, it has also sought to present itself as a diplomatic mediator capable of engaging with multiple sides in the conflict.

The Kremlin has previously emphasized that political dialogue and international mediation remain the only viable path toward reducing tensions and preventing further violence in the region.

Analysts note that Russia’s call for negotiations reflects broader international concerns that the conflict could spread beyond Iran and Israel, potentially drawing in additional regional actors and disrupting global energy markets.

As the war continues, diplomatic pressure from major powers and international organizations is expected to increase in an effort to prevent a wider regional confrontation.