Russia issues 'Pandora's box' warning to US over potential assassination of Iranian leader
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has provided a rare interview for foreign media
Russia has issued a 'Pandora's box' warning to the US based on reports the Trump administration is plotting to assassinate Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Israel has been conducting strikes in Tehran, the Iranian capital, since June 13, which so far has gone on without any involvement from the US.
In retaliation, Iran has fired back its own missiles, with some even getting through the country’s Iron Dome defenses in Tel Aviv.
Israel was hit by a new round of Iranian strikes on Friday (June 20) after a hospital in Beersheba in southern Israel was attacked earlier this week. However, Iranian state media report the missile strike targeted a military site next to the hospital rather than the actual medical site itself.
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Donald Trump was asked by press earlier this week whether the US could get involved and fire missiles on Iran.
"I may do it, I may not do it. Nobody knows what I'm gonna do," Trump said, as per Garrett Haake.
Trump said he will decide within two weeks whether America will hep Israel, while the president speculated on social media about killing the Iranian leader Khamenei.
Now, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has issued a warning to the US amid Trump's cryptic comments this week.
Speaking to Sky News, he said: "The situation is extremely tense and is dangerous not only for the region but globally.
"An enlargement of the composition of the participants of the conflict is potentially even more dangerous. It will lead only to another circle of confrontation and escalation of tension in the region."
Russia and Iran have close ties having signed a strategic partnership back in January.
Peskov added: "[Regime change in Iran] is unimaginable. It should be unacceptable, even talking about that should be unacceptable for everyone."
The Kremlin spokesperson refused to comment on what action Russia would take if the Iranian leader was killed, though did state what would occur in the middle eastern country.
"It would lead to the birth of extremist moods inside Iran and those who are speaking about [killing Khamenei], they should keep it in mind. They will open the Pandora's box," Peskov added to Sky News.
Since returning to the White House, Trump has failed in his efforts to put a stop to the war between Russia and Ukraine, despite having peace talks with both sides.
And it appears an end is still not in sight, as Peskov added: "Now we have a strategic advantage. Why should we lose it? We are not going to lose it. We are going further. We're advancing and we'll continue to advance."
Callum Jones