Azernews.Az

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who stands the biggest chance to win the March 4 presidential elections, has said Moscow is staunchly opposed to a potential strike on Iran, warning it would cause an inflow of refugees into neighboring Azerbaijan that would also have adverse ramifications for Russia.

"A large part of Iran’s population – about 20 million people - is ethnic Azerbaijani. It goes without saying that this [military action against Iran] would cause exodus of refugees into Azerbaijan," Putin said in an interview with the editors of leading Western media.

"We maintain special relations with Azerbaijan, a former Soviet republic. Moreover, more than a million Azerbaijanis live in Russia. Undoubtedly, conflict in Iran could have negative social, economic and political consequences for us."

Putin said Russia would do its best to prevent a war in Iran.

"Iran is our neighbor, and tensions there would undoubtedly affect the whole region. I think no one is interested in the situation spiraling out of control," the Russian prime minister said.

The West suspects Iran is building nuclear weapons, a charge Tehran denies, saying its nuclear program is purely aimed to generate electricity.