Iran has blamed NATO for the recent escalation in the Ukraine crisis, calling for restraint from both sides, as Russia has moved to dismember the country.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said on Tuesday that provocative measures and interventions by the United States led to drastic escalation of tensions.

"Unfortunately, NATO's provocative measures and interventions, led by the US, have further complicated the situation in the region”, he said.

The Islamic Republic is monitoring the developments with sensitivity and urges all sides of the conflict to exercise restraint and avoid any actions that could aggravate the tensions, Khatibzadeh said.

President Vladimir Putin announced late Monday that Russia recognized the independence of two breakaway regions of Donetsk and Lugansk in eastern Ukraine held by separatists, practically paving the way for the deployment of Russian troops.

Hours after Putin’s move, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his countrymen “are not afraid” announcing that it would deploy troops there to “maintain peace”.

The decision by Moscow has triggered international condemnation and a promise of targeted sanctions and a promise of targeted by the United States and the European Union.

An urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) was held on the deepening crisis as the United States said the announcement by Putin was an “unprovoked violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”.