MOSCOW: The Kremlin said on Thursday there was still room for negotiations in the standoff between ally Tehran and Washington, after US President Donald Trump threatened new military strikes on Iran.
The US has not ruled out using force against Iran, with rights groups saying Tehran’s crackdown on protests left thousands dead.
“It is clear that the potential for negotiations is not exhausted,” spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists, including from AFP.
He called for “all sides to show restraint and refrain from methods of force,” saying: “Any use of force can only create chaos in the region and lead to very dangerous consequences.”
Trump warned that the US was “ready, willing and able” to hit Iran “if necessary.”
The Islamic Republic’s top diplomat Abbas Araghchi said its forces have their “fingers on the trigger” to “powerfully respond” to any US strikes.
Iran emerged as one of Russia’s main allies during the war in Ukraine.
Independent groups said Iranian security forces have killed thousands while suppressing mass protests against Tehran’s regime.