Moscow, March 23 (QNA) - Russia on Monday has urged a political and diplomatic settlement to the escalating conflict in the Middle East, emphasizing that negotiations are the only way to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

"We believe that the situation should have transitioned to a political and diplomatic settlement," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists.

"This is the only thing that can effectively contribute to defusing the catastrophically tense situation that has now developed in the region", Peskov said.

He noted that there is a serious security threat if military escalation in the region continues, stressing that strikes on nuclear facilities could be extremely dangerous and potentially lead to irreversible consequences.

Peskov added that Russia takes a highly responsible stance on this issue and remains in constant dialogue with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). (QNA)