Putin slams Israeli strikes on Iran, offers to mediate

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday condemned Israel’s military strikes on Iran and offered to mediate between the two sides to prevent further escalation, the Kremlin said.

In separate phone calls with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Putin said Israel’s actions violated the UN Charter and international law. The Kremlin warned the situation risked “disastrous consequences for the entire region.”

Russia, a close ally of Iran, has deepened military ties with Tehran amid its war in Ukraine, while trying to maintain relations with Israel.

Earlier Friday, Russia’s foreign ministry called the Israeli attacks “unprovoked military strikes” on a sovereign UN member and condemned them as “atrocities.” The ministry also criticized the timing of the attacks as “especially cynical” given ongoing U.S.-Iran nuclear talks.

Moscow reiterated its support for Iran’s right to pursue a peaceful nuclear energy program and urged restraint from all sides.