Middle East is ‘on fire’ – Kremlin

Russia had warned about the “dangerous” consequences of the US-Israeli attack on Iran, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said

The US-Israeli war against Iran has set the Middle East “on fire,” reflecting Russia’s warning about the dangerous consequences of the move, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said.

On Sunday, US President Donald Trump escalated the tensions by issuing an expletive-laden demand to Tehran to unblock the Strait of Hormuz, which has remained effectively shut since the conflict began on February 28.
“Open the f**king strait, you crazy bastards, or you'll be living in hell,” he wrote on social media, threatening to demolish the Iranian power plants and bridges if it doesn’t happen by Tuesday. Tehran maintains that the key waterway is only closed for oil shipments by the US and its allies.

When asked by journalists about Trump’s rant on Monday, Peskov said that “we have seen those statements, but we prefer not to comment on them.”

The spokesman stressed that “tensions continue to escalate, with basically the entire region on fire.”

“These are all dangerous and very negative consequences of the aggression unleashed against Iran. The geography of the conflict has expanded, and now we see the results, including the very negative repercussions for the global economy,” he said.

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Over the past month, Iran has been responding to strikes by Washington and West Jerusalem by hitting Israel and the Gulf States, who are allied with the US, with missiles and drones. The IDF has also launched a military operation against Hezbollah in Lebanon, while the Iraqi militias have attacked American bases in their country and the Houthis in Yemen have targeted Israel with explosive-laden UAVs.

The war has also triggered a global energy shock, sending oil and gas prices surging and pushing fuel costs higher for consumers worldwide.

Russia had “warned from the start that such consequences were inevitable,” Peskov added.

Axios said on Sunday that the US, Iran, and regional mediators have been discussing terms for a potential 45-day ceasefire in the conflict. Tehran has denied holding any talks with Washington.

READ MORE: Massive night rallies across Iran as war enters sixth week (VIDEO)

Russia has repeatedly called for a cessation of hostilities in the Middle East and offered to help find a diplomatic solution to the crisis.