Moscow: Russian Lieutenant General Apti Alaudinov has warned that the escalating conflict in West Asia could eventually threaten Israel's existence as a state, while accusing Tel Aviv of seeking to widen the confrontation and involve the US and NATO.

Alaudinov, deputy chief of the Russian Armed Forces' Main Military-Political Department and commander of the Akhmat special forces unit, made the remarks in an interview with TASS as military tensions continue across the region.

"We must realise that the war in the Middle East will only escalate," Alaudinov said.

He alleged that Israel was attempting to expand the conflict by drawing the United States and the wider NATO bloc into the confrontation. According to the Russian general, such a strategy could ultimately backfire on Israel.

"I believe that is precisely Israel's objective to ramp up the conflict as much as possible and drag both the US and the entire NATO bloc into it. They are good at this. Ultimately, they will overestimate their strength and cease to exist as a state," he added.

His comments come amid continuing hostilities in West Asia, including the confrontation involving the United States and Iran.

Meanwhile, the United States has reportedly paused further negotiations with Tehran. According to Al Jazeera, US President Donald Trump has instructed his negotiating team to hold off talks with Iran until Tehran is "ready to make a deal".

A US official told the broadcaster that Washington had been engaged in "positive talks" with Iran, but Trump had "decided to wait" before moving ahead.

"There is no conflict" in the US administration's position on negotiations with Tehran, the official added.

Trump had earlier rejected Iran's position on the Strait of Hormuz, saying the naval blockade remained in place while the strategically important waterway remained operational.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said there were no ongoing or scheduled talks with Tehran and claimed that naval mines had been removed or detonated.

"There are no talks or conversations going on, or scheduled, with the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Naval Blockade remains in full force and effect. The Hormuz Strait is open and operating," Trump said.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, meanwhile, criticised senior US officials over Washington's approach to negotiations, alleging that the US believes greater economic and military pressure would compel Tehran to accept concessions beyond the existing agreement.

In a post on X, Ghalibaf criticised US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, saying they were "way out of their league" in attempting to pressure Iran.

He argued that increased pressure would not force Tehran to accept additional concessions and called on US leaders to take responsibility for the situation.

"Americans think squeezing Iran harder will win concessions that were never part of the agreement. Bessent and Hegseth are way out of their league. Stop waiting for the clown crew to pull a rabbit out of their hat and clean up the mess you made," his post read.