Russian President Vladimir Putin has urged Israel to resolve its disputes with Iran through diplomacy, not military aggression, as the deadly conflict between the two countries escalates, Reuters reports citing a Kremlin statement.
In separate phone calls on Friday, Putin spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling for restraint and a return to negotiations regarding Iran`s nuclear programme.
According to a Kremlin statement, Putin strongly condemned Israel`s recent attacks on Iranian territory, describing them as a violation of the United Nations Charter.
He expressed condolences to Iran for the casualties resulting from the strikes and emphasized Russia`s opposition to the use of force.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov earlier told Russian state media that Moscow was "deeply concerned" by the sharp escalation in tensions.
Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported that hundreds of ballistic missiles were fired at Israel in retaliation for what is believed to be Israel`s largest-ever military operation against Iran, which targeted multiple sites, though initial reports suggested the Russian-built Bushehr nuclear power plant was not hit.
In his conversation with Netanyahu, Putin stressed that "the only sustainable solution" to the concerns surrounding Iran`s nuclear activities is through political and diplomatic channels.
The Kremlin affirmed that Russia will continue close contact with both Tehran and Tel Aviv to prevent further escalation.
Moscow, which has historically sought to play a mediator’s role in the Middle East, reiterated its willingness to help the United States and Iran reach an agreement over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.
Russia recently offered to remove Iran’s highly enriched uranium and convert it into civilian reactor fuel, aiming to bridge gaps between Washington and Tehran.
Despite Russia’s growing military and economic ties with Iran, including a 20-year strategic partnership signed earlier this year, Moscow is wary of becoming entangled in a broader Middle Eastern war. Notably, the bilateral pact with Iran does not include mutual defense commitments.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry released a strong statement condemning Israel’s actions, calling the strikes "unprovoked" and accusing the West of fueling anti-Iranian hysteria.
Moscow warned that further escalation could push the region towards a full-scale war and urged the international community to take urgent steps to de-escalate the situation.
Talks between the U.S. and Iran on the nuclear issue are expected to resume in Oman on Sunday.
