Military strike on Iran 'catastrophic' - Russia

CATASTROPHIC EFFECT: An Iranian missile in front of a large portrait of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Russia has warned of dire consequences for the region if Iran is attacked. (AFP)

Any military attack on Iran would have a "catastrophic" effect on the Middle East, a Russian foreign ministry official said Wednesday after reports that Israel might launch such an attack.

"All this is very dangerous. If force is used it will be catastrophic for the whole Middle East," the official told journalists on condition of anonymity.

The official also said Iran was "ready to look seriously at proposals" presented on June 14 by six world powers aimed at getting the Islamic republic to suspend uranium enrichment. He called Iran's attitude a "positive signal".

The comments came after US media reported on June 20 that Israeli jet pilots had trained for a possible strike on Iranian nuclear sites.

Western powers fear Russia is developing a nuclear weapons programme under cover of its stated aim of developing civilian nuclear energy. However Tehran denies such claims.

Russia, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, has a section of border close to northern Iran in the Caucasus mountains and has been cautious about Western efforts to punish Iran over its nuclear activities.

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