Russian Ambassador Warns of Imminent US-Israel Strikes on Iran

Russia’s top envoy to international organizations in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov, has cautioned that American and Israeli forces may soon launch renewed attacks on Iran. In a series of social media posts, Ulyanov supported China’s insistence on an immediate and permanent ceasefire around the Strait of Hormuz. He argued that only such a step can prevent further escalation in the already volatile region. Ulyanov referenced Western intelligence assessments indicating that strikes could occur within hours or days. He criticized the United States and Israel for repeating previous mistakes instead of pursuing diplomatic solutions. His comments follow recent remarks by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who emphasized that force cannot resolve the crisis and called for direct talks between Washington and Tehran. The warning coincides with efforts by Bahrain and the United States to secure United Nations backing for a resolution demanding that Iran cease mining and attacking vessels in the strait. Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Reza Arif declared that Tehran will no longer permit enemy military equipment to pass through the waterway, reversing previous policy. U.S. President Donald Trump stated that his patience with Iran is running out. He shared an AI-generated image showing himself amid warships on stormy seas, accompanied by the phrase “the calm before the storm.” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed receiving signals from Washington about resuming negotiations but expressed deep skepticism about American reliability. Observers fear that renewed hostilities could disrupt global oil flows and trigger wider instability across the Middle East. Diplomatic efforts remain under intense pressure as both sides maintain hardline positions.