Moscow — Maria Zakharova on Wednesday delivered a wide-ranging briefing touching on Ukraine, escalating tensions in the Middle East, and Western nuclear policies, signaling a tougher rhetorical stance from Moscow on multiple fronts.
On Ukraine, Zakharova said information about any potential new round of negotiations would be communicated to the media and the public once concrete details become available. She also asserted that the ongoing crisis in the Middle East would not prevent Western countries from continuing to supply weapons to Kyiv.
Addressing developments surrounding Iran, Zakharova accused the United States of no longer concealing what she described as a pursuit of “regime change” in Tehran. She warned that strikes targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities pose “serious radiological risks,” raising concerns about potential environmental and humanitarian consequences.
Moscow, she said, expects the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to provide what it called an unbiased assessment of nuclear safety risks and to respond to what Russia characterizes as unlawful actions by Israel and the United States against Iran.
Zakharova criticized Western calls encouraging Iranians to “take power into their own hands,” describing such statements as cynical and inhumane. She maintained that Iran’s leadership remains in control of the domestic situation and is preventing chaos or a power vacuum.
Russia is calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities by all sides in the Middle East and has expressed readiness to help facilitate a peaceful resolution to tensions involving Iran. Zakharova also stressed that attacks near Russian diplomatic missions in Iran must be prevented.
Turning to nuclear policy in Europe, Zakharova linked recent remarks by French President Emmanuel Macron about strengthening France’s nuclear potential to what Moscow views as anti-Russian activities within NATO.
She said decisions by United Kingdom and France to expand their nuclear arsenals require increased attention in Russia’s military planning. Moscow also rejected what it described as attempts by London and Paris to deny information about alleged plans to transfer nuclear weapons to Kyiv.
In addition, Zakharova warned that if Sweden were to pursue nuclear ambitions, Russia would adjust its nuclear deterrence strategy accordingly.
The remarks underscore growing tensions between Russia and Western governments as conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East continue to reshape global security dynamics.
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