Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov cautioned that any additional American military action against Iran would trigger serious repercussions, urging all sides to exercise restraint and pursue a diplomatic outcome that would allow Tehran to maintain what he described as a peaceful nuclear program.

Lavrov made the remarks in an interview with Saudi broadcaster Al-Arabiya that was released Wednesday. The comments came one day after U.S. and Iranian representatives engaged in indirect negotiations in Geneva aimed at preventing a further escalation between Washington and Tehran.

“The consequences are not good. There have already been strikes on Iran on nuclear sites under the control of the International Atomic Energy Agency. From what we can judge there were real risks of a nuclear incident,” Lavrov said in the interview, which was posted on his ministry’s website.

“I am carefully watching reactions in the region from Arab countries, Gulf monarchies. No one wants an increase in tension. Everyone understands this is playing with fire.”

Lavrov argued that heightened hostilities could jeopardize diplomatic progress achieved in recent years, including improved ties between Iran and neighboring states, particularly Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, a senior U.S. official told Reuters on Wednesday that Iran is anticipated to present a written plan outlining how it intends to resolve the ongoing dispute with the United States following the Geneva discussions.

According to the same official, U.S. national security advisers convened at the White House on Wednesday and were informed that all American military assets assigned to the region are expected to be fully positioned by mid-March.

Washington has been pressing Iran to dismantle its nuclear program. Tehran has firmly rejected those demands and insists it is not seeking to build a nuclear weapon.

Lavrov said governments across the Arab world have been communicating with Washington, “clearly calling for restraint and a search for an agreement that will not infringe on Iran’s lawful rights and … guarantee that Iran has a purely peaceful nuclear enrichment program.”

He added that Moscow continues to maintain consistent and close dialogue with Iranian leadership, saying Russia remains confident that Tehran is committed to resolving the dispute within the framework of international agreements.

Russia, he said, remained in close, regular contact with Iran’s leaders “and we have no reason to doubt that Iran sincerely wants to resolve this problem on the basis of observing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.”