Amid escalating hostilities following Israeli strikes on Iranian territory, Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered to mediate between Iran and Israel to avert a full-scale conflict.
According to international news agency Reuters, President Putin held separate phone calls with his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Peshkerian, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging both sides to exercise restraint and return to diplomatic engagement.
In his conversation with President Peshkerian, Putin strongly condemned what he described as “unprovoked” Israeli actions, asserting that they violated the United Nations Charter. He also extended condolences for the lives lost during the Israeli attacks on Tehran.
“The Russian Federation condemns Israel’s actions, which run counter to the principles of international law,” the Kremlin quoted Putin as stating.
Meanwhile, in a separate call with Netanyahu, the Russian president emphasized the necessity of diplomatic engagement regarding Iran’s nuclear program. He stressed that a political solution was the sole viable path forward.
“Resolving issues related to Iran’s nuclear activities is possible only through dialogue and political means,” Putin reportedly told the Israeli prime minister, according to a Kremlin readout.
The Russian leader’s intervention comes amidst a dangerous escalation in regional tensions that analysts fear could spiral into direct conflict between Tehran and Tel Aviv.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, in an earlier statement, voiced grave concern over the situation, cautioning that further escalation could jeopardize ongoing international efforts to address Iran’s nuclear file.
“These strikes from Israel were unprovoked and have undermined diplomatic initiatives led by the West to reduce concerns over Iran’s nuclear programme,” Peskov remarked.
Moscow has positioned itself as a potential broker between the two rivals, maintaining close ties with both Tehran and Tel Aviv, despite their adversarial relationship. The Kremlin confirmed its intention to remain in contact with both sides in the coming days.
As of now, there has been no immediate official response from either the Israeli or Iranian governments regarding Russia’s mediation offer. However, diplomatic sources have indicated that backchannel communications are already underway in an effort to prevent further escalation.
