Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Tuesday said increasing anti-Iranian rhetoric could lead to a catastrophe in the Middle East.

 

A new International Atomic Energy Agency report on Iran’s nuclear program will be released on Wednesday. Its details, some of which have been leaked, have prompted speculation over a possible military strike on Iran by Israel.

 

But Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barack on Tuesday said Tel Aviv would not embark on any military operation against Iran.

"War is not a picnic. We want a picnic. We don't want a war," Barak told Israel radio.

 

“As for the belligerent statements that Israel or anyone else is ready to apply force against Iran...that’s pretty dangerous rhetoric,” Medvedev said at a joint press conference with his German counterpart Christian Wulff.

“We realize that emotions in he Middle East are running high… the peace process has reached a dead end, there is no development. But military rhetoric could have grave consequences, all the way to conflict,” Medvedev added.

He called on the Middle East to “breathe out, calm down and continue constructive discussion of the questions on the agenda, rather than threaten with strikes.”

“This all could end up as war – a catastrophe for the Middle East.”

(Source: RIA Novosti)