As the dust settles from U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, Russia’s top diplomat delivered a dire warning: World War III might be near.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov declared this week that escalating tensions in the Middle East—combined with Washington’s direct involvement—have brought the globe dangerously close to a third world war. Speaking just after the U.S. struck Iranian facilities over the weekend, Lavrov called the Trump-authorized B-2 bomber attacks “irresponsible” and claimed they violated international law.

“This will be not peace and order, but complete chaos,” Lavrov warned. “As President Putin said today, the third world war may be very close.”

Lavrov’s comments followed President Trump’s announcement of a ceasefire between Iran and Israel—an agreement that Iran has denied but one that could soon be enforced through a binding U.N. Security Council resolution. Despite Trump’s diplomatic maneuvering, Lavrov made it clear that Moscow views Washington’s involvement as dangerously destabilizing.

A Closer Axis?

Russia has been strengthening ties with Tehran since the Ukraine conflict began, relying on Iranian drones like the Shahed-136 and promising support to Iran “upon request.” Although Moscow has stopped short of direct military involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict, Lavrov’s language signals a sharp increase in geopolitical tension.

He also took the opportunity to link instability in the Middle East with the ongoing war in Ukraine, blaming the U.S. for stirring chaos in both regions. “The intention to use Ukraine against Russia is no longer hidden,” Lavrov said. “Russia is demonized… some kind of beastly aggression in rhetoric and actions.”

This isn’t Lavrov’s first WW3 warning. In 2024, he accused the West of “playing with fire” after talk of Ukraine using Western-supplied missiles to strike deep into Russian territory. But now, the fire appears to be spreading, with Lavrov implying that U.S. strikes on Iran represent another dangerous provocation.

Global Implications

Lavrov’s remarks come as China and Russia appear to be aligning more closely with Iran, forming what many see as a new “Axis of Resistance” against U.S. influence. While neither Moscow nor Beijing has stepped into the military fray, both are watching Trump’s next move carefully.

And Trump—once hailed for his “peace through strength” doctrine—is now walking a diplomatic tightrope. Critics argue his aggressive posture could push adversaries like Russia and China into deeper cooperation with Iran, while supporters claim his boldness has already neutered Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Lavrov made clear that in Russia’s eyes, the U.S. is fanning flames worldwide. “Chaos in the Middle East, chaos in Eastern Europe,” he said. “It’s all coming from the same place.”

Whether this is mere saber-rattling or a prelude to a larger geopolitical clash remains to be seen. But with U.S. bombers flying over Iran and Russian officials talking about world war, the line between rhetoric and reality may be thinner than ever.