Moscow, Jan 14 (AP) Russia's Foreign Ministry has said the US threats to strike Iran are “categorically unacceptable”.

The ministry on Tuesday warned in a statement that any such strikes would have “disastrous consequences” for the situation in the Middle East and global security.

It also criticised what it called “brazen attempts to blackmail Iran's foreign partners by raising trade tariffs.” The statement noted that the protests in Iran had been triggered by social and economic problems resulting from Western sanctions.

It also denounced “hostile external forces” for trying to “exploit the resulting growing social tension to destabilise and destroy the Iranian state” and charged that “specially trained and armed provocateurs acting on instructions from abroad” sought to provoke violence.

The ministry voiced hope that the situation in Iran will gradually stabilize and advised Russian citizens in the Islamic Republic not to visit crowded places. (AP) SCY SCY

Russia condemns US threats to strike Iran and warns such action would have disastrous consequences for regional and global security. Russia condemns reported US threats to strike Iran as categorically unacceptable and warns such strikes would have disastrous consequences for regional and global security; it criticises raised trade tariffs as economic blackmail, attributes Iranian protests to social and economic problems from Western sanctions, accuses external actors of exploiting unrest to destabilise Iran, and advises Russian citizens in Iran to avoid crowded places.