Russia suggests 'political and diplomatic settlement' after Trump’s Iran ultimatum amid escalating Middle East war

The ongoing hostilities are now raising alarm over global energy stability.

• Russia urges diplomatic talks amid rising Middle East tensions
• Israel expands strikes on Iran, prepares for more operations
• Global energy stability threatened by ongoing hostilities

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Russia on Monday pressed for a shift toward negotiations as tensions surged across the Middle East following US President Donald Trump’s ultimatum to Iran over the Strait of Hormuz. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the situation must move away from military confrontation.

"We believe that the situation should have transitioned to a political and diplomatic settlement," Peskov told reporters, stressing that "this is the only thing that can effectively contribute to defusing the catastrophically tense situation that has now developed in the region."

Warnings of wider escalation

Concerns about a broader conflict deepened as China cautioned against further deterioration. Responding to threats by Trump to "obliterate" Iran’s power plants, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian warned that "If the war expands further and the situation deteriorates again, the entire region could be plunged into an uncontrollable situation."

Meanwhile, Israel reported continued missile fire from Iran, with its defence systems activated to intercept incoming attacks. Authorities urged civilians to seek shelter. Earlier strikes had already caused injuries in southern areas near a sensitive desert nuclear site.

Gulf tensions and regional fallout

Across the Gulf, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates said they had intercepted new attacks, while air raid sirens were heard in Bahrain. In Abu Dhabi, officials confirmed that an Indian national was injured by debris from a downed ballistic missile.

The conflict’s ripple effects have also reached Iraq, where multiple strikes targeted a pro-Iran armed faction south of Baghdad. The attacks followed an earlier incident involving a US-linked facility at Baghdad International Airport. At the same time, an Iran-backed group announced it would prolong a temporary halt on assaults against the US embassy in Baghdad.

Economic shock fears intensify

The ongoing hostilities are now raising alarm over global energy stability. International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol warned that "the global economy is facing a major, major threat," likening the situation to past oil crises and the disruption caused by Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

"This crisis as things stand is now two oil crises and one gas crash put all together," he said, cautioning that the consequences would be felt worldwide.

Israel expands operations

On the military front, Israel confirmed it had carried out "a wide-scale wave of strikes" targeting Tehran, with explosions reported across the Iranian capital and plumes of smoke visible hours later. Israeli officials also signalled an expansion of ground operations in Lebanon against Hezbollah.

The army said it was preparing to advance operations under an "organised plan," while a senior military spokesman indicated that the country could face "weeks" of continued fighting on multiple fronts.

Political divisions widen

In Lebanon, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam criticised Hezbollah, accusing it of drawing the country deeper into conflict and alleging involvement by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in directing operations. Separately, France expressed support for Saudi Arabia’s defence efforts, with President Emmanuel Macron reaffirming cooperation against missile and drone threats.

Elsewhere, violence persisted in the West Bank, where Palestinian residents reported arson attacks on homes and vehicles. Israel’s military also said it was examining whether its own fire may have caused a civilian death near the Lebanese border.