Russian President Vladimir Putin met with top Iranian officials on Monday amid growing concerns about a wider middle east conflict. The interaction came a day after the US made a surprise entry into the conflict by bombing three nuclear sites in Iran. Both US President Donald Trump and Israeli officials have publicly speculated about killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and ensuring a regime change — a step Russia fears could further destabilize the region.
“The absolutely unprovoked aggression against Iran has no basis and no justification. For our part, we are making efforts to assist the Iranian people. I am very glad that you are in Moscow today. This will give us the opportunity to discuss all these pressing issues and think together about how we could get out of today’s situation,” Putin told Araqchi in televised comments.
Russian authorities have no clarified on what they might do to support Iran — with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov suggesting it would depend on what Tehran required. He also noted that Russia had openly declared its stance on the Iran-Israel war, calling it an important form of support for Tehran. The two countries had signed a strategic cooperation treaty in January, but it does not include a mutual defence clause.
“Everything depends on what Iran needs. We have offered our mediation efforts. This is concrete,” Peskov said in response to a question at a briefing.
According to a Reuters report, Khamenei had sent his foreign minister to Moscow on Monday to seek additional help from Putin after the biggest US military action against the Islamic Republic since the 1979 revolution. Sources told the publication that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi was due to deliver a letter from Khamenei to Putin, seeking the latter’s backing.
(With inputs from agencies)