Kremlin rejects charge it did little to help Iran
FILE PHOTO: The Russian flag flies on the dome of the Kremlin Senate building behind Spasskaya Tower in Moscow, Russia June 2, 2025. REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina/File photo
Kremlin rejects charge it did little to help Iran
MOSCOW - The Kremlin on Tuesday pushed back against criticism that it had not done enough to back Iran, saying it had taken a "clear position" by condemning U.S. and Israeli strikes on the Islamic Republic.
President Vladimir Putin has condemned what he called "unjustified" U.S. attacks on nuclear sites in Iran, with which he signed a strategic cooperation treaty in January. He said on Monday that Russia would try to help the Iranian people, although he gave no specifics.
Iranian sources told Reuters earlier this week that Tehran had not been impressed with Russia's support so far.
Asked about comparisons to the toppling last year of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, when Moscow refused to send troops or more air power to keep its ally in power, the Kremlin said some people were trying to spoil the Russian-Iranian partnership.
"Russia actually supported Iran with its clear position," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, adding that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi had appreciated Moscow's stance when he met Putin on Monday.
It was still too early to assess the extent of the damage to Iran's nuclear facilities, Peskov said.
"Some information is coming through the appropriate channels, but it is still too early," Peskov said. "Hardly anyone has a clear understanding right now."
Asked about a Reuters report that Araqchi had brought a letter to Putin from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Peskov said there had been no written document handed over.
"The fact that there were certain messages from the Iranian leadership is true. But this Reuters report is not true," Peskov said.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday a complete ceasefire between Israel and Iran, potentially ending the 12-day war that saw millions flee Tehran and prompted fears of further escalation in the war-torn region.
"If it has really been possible to achieve a ceasefire, then this can only be welcomed," Peskov said, adding that Qatar had helped to broker the ceasefire.
"This is what the Russian Federation has been calling for since the very beginning of this conflict. Therefore, yes, this can and should be welcomed, and we hope that this will be a sustainable ceasefire." REUTERS
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Seven charged in London after protest in support of Palestine Action group
FILE PHOTO: Police officers block a street as pro-Palestinian demonstrators gather in protest against Britain's Home Secretary Yvette Cooper's plans to proscribe the \"Palestine Action\" group in the coming weeks, in London, Britain, June 23, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy/File Photo Seven charged in London after protest in support of Palestine Action group LONDON - Seven people have been charged on Tuesday following a protest in London in support of Palestine Action, a campaign organisation the British government has proposed to ban under anti-terrorism laws. The ban, which was announced on Monday and will be laid before parliament next week, would make it a criminal offence to belong to the group after its activists damaged two UK military planes in protest at London's support for Israel. Palestine Action, which called the ban "an unhinged reaction", on Monday was forced to change the location of a planned protest to London's Trafalgar Square after police banned it from staging a demonstration outside parliament. The Metropolitan Police said although the protest began peacefully, there were clashes between officers and people in the crowd, with 13 arrests made. Of those, seven people have been charged. One was cautioned while the remainder were bailed or released under investigation to allow further enquiries to take place, the police said. Charges include assaulting emergency workers and a racially aggravated offence. Palestine Action has regularly targeted British sites connected to Israeli defence firm Elbit Systems as well as other companies in Britain linked to Israel since the start of the conflict in Gaza in 2023. In its latest and most high-profile action, two Palestine Action members entered a Royal Air Force base in central England on Friday. The ban would put Palestine Action on a par with Hamas, al-Qaeda or ISIS under British law. Condemning the ban, Amnesty International UK said that "government embarrassment at security breaches is no excuse for interfering with human rights". REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Israel lifts domestic restrictions linked to war with Iran
A man posing next to the apparent remains of a ballistic missile, in northern Israel on June 24. PHOTO: REUTERS JERUSALEM - Israel's military said on June 24 it was lifting restrictions on public gatherings, workplaces and schools it imposed during its 12-day war with Iran after a ceasefire took effect. 'All areas of the country will shift to full activity' from 8pm (3am on June 25 in Singapore) on June 24 on the orders of Defence Minister Israel Katz, the military said in a statement. The guidelines will be effective until the evening of June 26, when they will be reviewed. Israel's airport authority also announced that all flights to and from the country would resume. According to the transport ministry, between 100,000 and 150,000 Israelis were stranded abroad when Israel closed its airspace after launching a massive bombing campaign against Iran on June 13. Tens of thousands of them have since been repatriated by air or sea. The country has been under tight restrictions since the start of the war, with schools closed and non-essential businesses shut. Israel and Iran both said on June 24 they would abide by a ceasefire deal first announced by US President Donald Trump. Israel, in announcing it had agreed to Mr Trump's plan, said it had achieved all its military objectives. Iran initially stopped short of officially accepting the proposal, but President Masoud Pezeshkian later said that if 'the Zionist regime does not violate the ceasefire, Iran will not violate it either'. Israel hit Iranian military and nuclear facilities as well as key commanders and scientists, prompting waves of retaliatory Iranian missile fire at Israel. The full extent of the damage in Israel is still not known due to military censorship rules, but at least 50 impacts have been acknowledged nationwide and the official death toll stands at 28. At least four people died in the southern city of Beersheba on June 24 in a missile attack launched by Iran shortly before the ceasefire entered force, the emergency services said. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
US tests radar that could link into Golden Dome to detect China, Russia threats
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth speaking about the planned Golden Dome missile defence shield, on May 20. PHOTO: REUTERS US tests radar that could link into Golden Dome to detect China, Russia threats WASHINGTON - The Pentagon has successfully tested a long-range radar in Alaska that can detect missile threats from Russia or China, and could someday serve as a sensor in the Golden Dome missile defence shield. The Long Range Discrimination Radar successfully acquired, tracked, and reported missile target data, the Pentagon said on June 24. These are key tasks for Golden Dome, a US$175 billion (S$223 billion) programme aimed at protecting the US and possibly allies from ballistic missiles. The US Defence Department's long-range radar in Central Alaska was built by Lockheed Martin as part of the existing Ground-Based Midcourse Defence missile defence system. The system is designed to increase the effectiveness of interceptors based in Alaska and California that are currently on standby to knock down incoming missiles launched by Iran or North Korea. The US Missile Defence Agency (MDA), alongside the US Space Force and US Northern Command, conducted the flight test at Clear Space Force Station, Alaska, on June 23. During this test, a target developed by MDA was air-launched over the Northern Pacific Ocean and flew over 2,000 kilometres off the southern coast of Alaska where it was tracked by LRDR. The Golden Dome missile defence shield aims to create a network of satellites to detect, track and intercept incoming missiles. Inspired by Israel's Iron Dome, the Golden Dome programme faces political scrutiny and funding uncertainty due to its projected cost. The shield is expected to be operational by January 2029, though experts question the timeline and budget feasibility. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
