Putin slams attack on Iran, but offers no support to key ally
MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday slammed attacks on Iran as "unprovoked" and "unjustified" in a meeting with Tehran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, but did not announce any concrete support to his key ally in the Middle East.
Moscow is a crucial backer of Iran, but has not swung forcefully behind its partner even as the United States launched strikes on its nuclear facilities over the weekend.
"This absolutely unprovoked aggression against Iran is unjustified," Putin said in televised remarks to Araghchi at the start of their meeting.
Putin did not single out the US attacks, talking instead broadly of "strikes" against Iran, though the Kremlin had earlier Monday said it condemned and regretted the US strikes.
"There has been a new escalation of tensions in the region, and, of course, we condemn this and express our deep regret in this regard," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, shortly before Putin met Araghchi in the Kremlin.
Putin has pitched himself as a mediator between Iran and Israel, an idea rejected by US President Donald Trump last week.
Since Israel launched its wave of strikes on June 13, triggering Iran to respond with missiles and drones, Russia has not publicly offered military help to Tehran.
Putin and other officials have also downplayed Moscow's obligations under a sweeping strategic partnership agreement signed with Tehran just months ago, highlighting that it is not a mutual defence pact.
Russia was "making efforts to help Iranian people," Putin said in the meeting, without elaborating.
Asked what specific support Russia might offer, Peskov told reporters: "It all depends on what Iran needs. We have offered our mediation services."
Putin said last week that Iran had not requested any support.
Landing in Moscow on Sunday evening ahead of the meeting, Araghchi said the talks with Putin would be of "great importance," Russian state media reported. — AFP
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
35 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
Russia ready to assist Iran amid Middle East escalation
ISTANBUL: Russia is ready to assist Iran in various ways amid the ongoing escalation in the Middle East, depending on Tehran's needs, the Kremlin said on Monday. According to Anadolu Agency, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia had offered mediation, but it would depend on what Iran required. "We have stated our position; this is also a very important manifestation — a form of support for the Iranian side," he said. Israel and Iran have been engaged in aerial combat since June 13, when Tel Aviv launched a surprise attack on several sites across Iran, including military and nuclear facilities, prompting retaliatory strikes from Tehran. Meanwhile, the United States struck three main Iranian nuclear sites early Sunday, with US President Donald Trump claiming severe damage to the facilities and their "obliteration." Commenting on the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Moscow, Peskov said the talks would allow both sides to exchange views and give Tehran an opportunity to convey its proposals and position on the current situation. Peskov added that the growing number of actors involved in the conflict was deeply regrettable and condemned by Russia. "Iran was repeatedly discussed between Putin and Trump during their recent conversations, but the Russian president was not informed of Sunday's strikes. "We believe that the fate of a country's leadership should be decided by its own people — not by third countries or their leaders," he said, in response to a question about Trump's remarks regarding regime change in Iran. He added that the US strikes would not affect dialogue between Moscow and Washington, as these were "independent processes". "It remains to be seen what happened to these nuclear facilities, and whether there is a radiation hazard. Although the IAEA has said there are currently no signs of radiation contamination, these developments are, of course, cause for legitimate concern," Peskov said. — BERNAMA
New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
Russia says ready to assist Iran amid Middle East escalation
ISTANBUL: Russia is ready to assist Iran in various ways amid the ongoing escalation in the Middle East, depending on Tehran's needs, the Kremlin said on Monday. According to Anadolu Agency, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia had offered mediation, but it would depend on what Iran required. "We have stated our position; this is also a very important manifestation — a form of support for the Iranian side," he said. Israel and Iran have been engaged in aerial combat since June 13, when Tel Aviv launched a surprise attack on several sites across Iran, including military and nuclear facilities, prompting retaliatory strikes from Tehran. Meanwhile, the United States struck three main Iranian nuclear sites early Sunday, with US President Donald Trump claiming severe damage to the facilities and their "obliteration." Commenting on the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Moscow, Peskov said the talks would allow both sides to exchange views and give Tehran an opportunity to convey its proposals and position on the current situation. Peskov added that the growing number of actors involved in the conflict was deeply regrettable and condemned by Russia. "Iran was repeatedly discussed between Putin and Trump during their recent conversations, but the Russian president was not informed of Sunday's strikes. "We believe that the fate of a country's leadership should be decided by its own people — not by third countries or their leaders," he said, in response to a question about Trump's remarks regarding regime change in Iran. He added that the US strikes would not affect dialogue between Moscow and Washington, as these were "independent processes". "It remains to be seen what happened to these nuclear facilities, and whether there is a radiation hazard. Although the IAEA has said there are currently no signs of radiation contamination, these developments are, of course, cause for legitimate concern," Peskov said. — BERNAMA
Free Malaysia Today
an hour ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Putin slams attack on Iran, but offers no support to key ally
Russian President Vladimir Putin has pitched himself as a mediator between Iran and Israel. (Sputnik/AP pic) MOSCOW : Russian President Vladimir Putin today slammed attacks on Iran as 'unprovoked' and 'unjustified' in a meeting with Tehran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, but did not announce any concrete support to his key ally in the Middle East. Moscow is a crucial backer of Iran, but has not swung forcefully behind its partner even as the US launched strikes on its nuclear facilities over the weekend. 'This absolutely unprovoked aggression against Iran is unjustified,' Putin said in televised remarks to Araghchi at the start of their meeting. Putin did not single out the US attacks, talking instead broadly of 'strikes' against Iran, though the Kremlin had earlier today said it condemned and regretted the US strikes. 'There has been a new escalation of tensions in the region, and, of course, we condemn this and express our deep regret in this regard,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, shortly before Putin met Araghchi in the Kremlin. Putin has pitched himself as a mediator between Iran and Israel, an idea rejected by US President Donald Trump last week. Araghchi told Putin that Russia has been a 'partner and companion' to Tehran and hailed ties between Tehran and Moscow as 'very close and longstanding'. 'Iran is exercising legitimate defence against these aggressions,' he added. Since Israel launched its wave of strikes on June 13, triggering Iran to respond with missiles and drones, Russia has not publicly offered military help to Tehran. Putin and other officials have also downplayed Moscow's obligations under a sweeping strategic partnership agreement signed with Tehran just months ago, highlighting that it is not a mutual defence pact. Russia was 'making efforts to help the Iranian people,' Putin said in the meeting, without elaborating. Asked what specific support Russia might offer, Peskov told reporters that it 'depends on what Iran needs. We have offered our mediation services'. Peskov also said the US strikes on Iran would not affect bilateral relations between Moscow and Washington, saying they were 'different issues'. Putin said last week that Iran had not requested any support from Russia.
