Israel-Iran LIVE: Putin's mouthpiece issues thinly-veiled WW3 warning as it backs Tehran
Vladimir Putin's mouthpiece has issued a thinly-veiled warning about a new global war as Russia backs the regime in Iran amid escalating tensions. The Russian president's press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, described the situation in the Middle East as "extremely tense". He said in an interview at the Constantine Palace in Saint Petersburg: "The situation is extremely tense and is dangerous not only for the region but globally."
Speaking to Sky News, he also said: "An enlargement of the composition of the participants of the conflict is potentially even more dangerous. It will lead only to another circle of confrontation and escalation of tension in the region." Peskov's words could be viewed as a suggestion Russia may enter the conflict or be considered a response to the prospect of the United States joining the Israelis to attack Iran. However, Russia and China have both previously called for a de-escalation of the conflict. Peskov also backed the current regime's leader, saying Moscow would react "very negatively" if Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed.
This week has seen much speculation as to whether the US will get involved militarily in the conflict, which erupted a week ago when Israel launched missile strikes at Iran to prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon. Iran maintains its nuclear programme is only for peaceful purposes. Donald Trump said on Wednesday the United States may or may not join Israel. But on Thursday, the White House announced that the US president will decide whether to join Israel’s campaign against Iran’s military and nuclear programme within two weeks, saying that he still sees a window for diplomacy to address Israeli and US demands over Iran’s nuclear programme.
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Australia has closed its embassy in Tehran and evacuated staff and their families due to the "deteriorating security environment", the Foreign Ministry said in a statement today.
The Ministry also urged Australians still in Iran to leave quickly.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said she spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and they agreed to work "closely" to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon and to pursue peace.
Ms Wong said: "There is an opportunity … over the next two weeks for de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy."
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy flies to Geneva today for talks with his Iranian counterpart (see post below) and top diplomats from Germany, France and the EU.
Mr Lammy's meeting comes after his meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff in Washington DC.
The British Foreign Secretary said on X that now is the time to put an end to the grave scenes and prevent a regional escalation, which he said will help no one.
The situation in the Middle East remains perilous. We are determined that Iran must never have a nuclear weapon. Meeting with @SecRubio and @SteveWitkoff in the White House today, we discussed how a deal could avoid a deepening conflict. A window now exists within the next two\u2026 pic.twitter.com/UKAOsnDAm8
\u2014 David Lammy (@DavidLammy) June 19, 2025
A week of Israeli strikes on Iran have killed at least 657 people and wounded 2,037 others, according to a human rights group.
The figures from the Washington-based group Human Rights Activists covers the whole of Iran. It said of the dead, 263 were civilians and 164 were military personnel.
Human Rights Activists crosschecks local reports in the Islamic Republic against a network of sources it has developed in the country.
Iran has not been offering regular death tolls during the conflict and has minimised casualties in the past.
Its last update, issued on Monday, put the death toll at 224 people being killed and 1,277 others wounded.
Israel has said at least 24 people have been killed since the conflict started.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is due in Geneva today to negotiate with European diplomats. It will be Iran's first face-to-face talks in the crisis.
Israel and Iran continued to attack each other overnight as the conflict enters its second week.
Six people were injured in Iranian strikes on Beer Sheba in southern Israel, according to Israeli emergency services.
This is the same part of the country where Iranian missiles hit a hospital on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Israel Defence Forces said "the heart of Tehran" was the target of strikes, including on sites used to develop "Iran's nuclear weapons". Iran denies pursuing such weapons and maintains its nuclear project is peaceful.
The Israeli Air Force also shot down four drones, according to reports.
Daily Express
