Russia urges citizens to leave Iran amid US-Israeli ‘aggression’

Moscow: Moscow's embassy in Tehran on Saturday condemned the "aggression of the United States and Israel" towards Iran, urging Russians to leave the Islamic republic if they could.

"We strongly recommend that Russian citizens and their compatriots residing in Iran leave the country if they have the possibility to do so," the embassy said in a statement, urging those staying behind "to be vigilant" and not approach "military and government facilities".

Russia's former president Dmitry Medvedev criticised the United States on Saturday for striking Iran, casting doubt on whether Washington entered negotiations to avert the conflict in good faith.

"The peacemaker has shown its true face once again," Medvedev, an ally of President Vladimir Putin currently serving as the deputy chairman of Russia's security council, said in a post on Telegram.

"All the talks with Iran were just a cover. No one ever doubted that. Nobody was interested in negotiating anything in particular."

The United States and Israel launched an attack Saturday on Iran, with the first apparent strike happening near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iranian media reported strikes nationwide, and smoke could be seen rising from the capital.

President Donald Trump said in a video posted on social media that the U.S. had begun “major combat operations in Iran.” He claimed Iran has continued to develop its nuclear program and plans to develop missiles to reach U.S.