NEW DELHI: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday held separate telephone conversations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian as tensions escalated sharply across West Asia and fears mounted over a possible US military strike on Tehran.
“The situation in the region is highly tense, and the president continues his efforts to facilitate de-escalation,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, describing conditions in Iran and the wider region as “extremely tense.”
The Kremlin said Putin reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to strengthening its “strategic partnership” with Iran. Moscow has previously offered to mediate in regional conflicts, including during the brief Iran-Israel confrontation in June.
During his call with Pezeshkian, both leaders called for the swift normalisation of the situation in and around Iran. “Russia and Iran consistently share a common position in favour of the earliest possible de-escalation of tensions around Iran and in the region as a whole,” the Kremlin said, adding that both sides supported resolving all disputes through political and diplomatic means.
The statement also alleged that the “role and direct involvement of the United States and the Zionist regime” — a reference to Israel — was evident in recent developments affecting Iran.
Independent observers have reported that Iranian security forces have killed thousands while responding to widespread anti-government protests, raising concerns about the risk of a broader regional conflict. Iran has repeatedly accused the United States and Israel of fuelling the unrest in an effort to destabilise the country.
Tensions have remained high since a brief conflict between Iran and Israel in June, during which Israel launched unprecedented strikes on Iranian military and nuclear facilities. The United States also briefly joined the campaign, carrying out strikes on three major Iranian nuclear sites.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said on Sunday that he hoped Iran would soon be freed from what he described as the “yoke of tyranny,” as protests continued. However, demonstrations appear to have subsided in recent days amid a heavy security crackdown and a week-long internet shutdown.
