Dhaka, May 28 -- Russia has urged the United States and Iran to continue diplomatic engagement and avoid a return to military conflict, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

Zakharova said Moscow is calling on both Washington and Tehran to maintain dialogue and prevent the situation from sliding back into military confrontation.

She also reiterated Russia's readiness to assist in the removal of enriched uranium from Iran, though she stressed that Moscow "is not imposing its initiative".

The remarks came as US President Donald Trump said Washington would not allow Iran to retain its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

The fate of the estimated 440 kilograms (970 pounds) of uranium enriched to 60 percent, which Iran is be...