Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov warned on Wednesday that direct US military assistance to Israel could radically destabilise the situation in the Middle East.

Ryabkov was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying that Russia cautions the US against supplying such assistance to Israel, or even considering it.

He said Moscow was in contact with both Israel and Iran.

In separate comments, the head of Russia’s SVR foreign intelligence service, Sergei Naryshkin, was quoted as saying that the situation between Iran and Israel was now critical.

Ryabkov warned the US against direct military assistance to Israel or even considering such “speculative options,” according to Russia’s Interfax news agency.

Earlier, a source familiar with US internal discussions said Donald Trump and his team were considering a number of options, including joining Israel in strikes against Iranian nuclear sites.

“We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding,” he wrote on Truth Social on Tuesday. “We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now…Our patience is wearing thin.”