Russia tells Israel to not even consider attacking Iranian nuclear facilities

Russia is warning Israel to not even consider striking Iranian nuclear facilities, state news agency TASS quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov as saying on Thursday.

After Iran’s missile attack on Israel on Oct. 1, there has been speculation that Israel could strike Iran’s nuclear facilities, as it has long threatened to do.

“We have repeatedly warned and continue to warn, to caution (Israel) against even hypothetically considering the possibility of a strike on (Iranian) nuclear facilities and nuclear infrastructure,” Ryabkov was quoted by TASS as saying.

“This would be a catastrophic development and a complete negation of all existing principles in the area of ensuring nuclear safety.”

It was not clear in what form Moscow had conveyed such a message to Israel.

Israel and Western countries have long feared that Iran is developing a nuclear bomb under the cover of a civilian nuclear energy program, something Tehran denies.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement on Tuesday that Israel would listen to the United States, which has also cautioned against striking nuclear facilities in Iran, but would determine its actions according to its own national interest.