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.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
Will Iran give US a 'political grenade'?
THE United States' strikes on Iranian nuclear sites on Sunday raised two major questions: how effective were they and what will Iran do next? US President Donald Trump said the air raids "totally obliterated" the main nuclear sites, calling them a "spectacular military success". So far, Teheran has given little away about its response, although Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the US had "crossed a very big red line". The US targeted Iran's three main nuclear sites, including Fordow, a uranium enrichment facility buried 90m underground. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the strikes "devastated the Iranian nuclear programme". The extent of the damage has not been confirmed, but there is speculation nuclear material had already been moved away. Heloise Fayet, a nuclear expert at the Institut Francais des Relations Internationales, said satellite images showing activity around Fordow "suggests enriched uranium stock may therefore have been transferred to sites not monitored by the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency)". "We previously had knowledge, albeit imperfect, of the programme thanks to the agency's inspections; now no inspections are possible," she said. "As for Iran's technical expertise, it cannot be destroyed, knowing that thousands of people have participated in Iran's nuclear programme." Andreas Krieg, a senior lecturer at King's College London, called the US action a "high-risk operation that delivers unpredictable outcomes", given the facility was deep underground. "Trump has been using OSINT (open-source intelligence) accounts to say Fordow is gone while the Iranians claim there is only surface-level destruction." Ali Vaez, Iran project director for the International Crisis Group, said destroying Fordow "won't necessarily end Iran's nuclear programme". "Teheran has produced hundreds of advanced centrifuges in the past few years that are stored in unknown locations," he said. According to Krieg, Iran will seek a "calibrated response — loud enough to resonate, but measured enough to contain". Michael A. Horowitz, a geopolitics and security analyst, said its options included attacking US assets, closing the Strait of Hormuz — a vital conduit for the world oil trade — or even attacking energy facilities in the Gulf, which hosts several US military bases. "None of those are good options that achieve anything — this is mostly about saving face," he posted on X. "The risks, on the other hand, are great." However, Horowitz said there were other ways to respond, including a limited retaliation against the US before returning to strikes against Israel and finally negotiating a settlement. The Iranian government now realised its very existence was at stake, said Renad Mansour, senior research fellow at the Chatham House think tank, casting it back to the days of the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war. "It's survival mode," he said, predicting "more violence" in the short term with the prospect of a "managed de-escalation" and eventual negotiations. Hamidreza Azizi, visiting fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, said Iran might allow Trump a "symbolic win" and retaliate against Israeli targets instead. "This keeps Washington out of the war while intensifying pressure on Tel Aviv. The risk of drawing the US further in would now rest on Trump's next move," he posted on X. "If Trump continues to strike Iran without new provocation, it looks more like going to war on Israel's behalf. That's politically costly, given domestic opposition to war with Iran." Meanwhile, Iran could deny knowledge of what happened to its enriched uranium, avoiding IAEA inspections, and later leave the Nuclear Non-Profiferation Treaty. "Trump may have scored a tactical win but if Iran plays this smart, they hand him a political grenade, all while shifting the nuclear game into murkier, more dangerous territory," wrote Hamidreza.
The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
Premier urges China's Jiangsu to embrace ‘higher development expectations'
As Beijing looks to shore up China's economic growth amid mounting challenges, Premier Li Qiang has called on Jiangsu province, a key manufacturing hub on the country's east coast, to step up its efforts in technology, trade and consumption. During a three-day visit to the province from Monday, Li emphasised the importance of embracing innovative development, stimulating effective demand, fostering entrepreneurship, and deepening reform and opening up to support China's sustained economic growth. 'Jiangsu has a solid economic foundation and strong capabilities, but it also faces higher development expectations,' Li said, calling on the province's officials and residents to stay focused on economic growth and shoulder greater responsibility in meeting the challenges facing the broader economy, Xinhua reported on Wednesday. In the first quarter of this year, Jiangsu's gross domestic product rose 5.9 per cent year on year to 3.31 trillion yuan (US$460.5 billion), closely trailing top-ranked Guangdong's 3.35 trillion yuan, which was up 4.1 per cent. One of China's most advanced manufacturing provinces, Jiangsu has been tasked by Beijing with playing a leading role in stabilising growth amid sluggish domestic demand and growing external pressure from increased US tariffs. At a factory that makes machinery, Li highlighted the need to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence and clean energy technologies to upgrade traditional industries and keep pace with global manufacturing trends. At a home appliance manufacturer involved in a government-backed consumer goods trade-in scheme, Li encouraged the development of more high-quality, customised products to unlock consumer potential. 'China has a vast and growing market, and we welcome businesses from around the world to invest and operate here,' Li said, pledging more policy support and services to ensure a favourable environment for foreign companies. While inspecting the Jiangsu-Central Asia Centre, a regional service platform for the Belt and Road Initiative trade development strategy, the premier called for better use of China-Europe freight trains and cross-border e-commerce to deepen trade ties with Central Asia. Wrapping up his trip at the construction site for the 11.5 billion yuan Nanjing North Station project – which will be the provincial capital's largest railway station when it is completed – Li urged more use of advanced materials and technologies and better industrial planning to maximise its long-term impact. His remarks echoed comments made by President Xi Jinping in March during a meeting with deputies from Jiangsu at the annual meeting of China's top legislature. Xi urged the province to take on a leading role in innovation, regional cooperation and the pursuit of common prosperity. - SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
Free Malaysia Today
4 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
US urges China to dissuade Iran from closing Strait of Hormuz
US secretary of state Marco Rubio said that Beijing heavily depends on the Strait of Hormuz for its oil. (AP pic) WASHINGTON : US secretary of state Marco Rubio on Sunday called on China to encourage Iran to not shut down the Strait of Hormuz after Washington carried out strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. Rubio's comments on Fox News' 'Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo' show came after Iran's Press TV reported that the Iranian parliament approved a measure to close the Strait of Hormuz, through which around 20% of global oil and gas flows. 'I encourage the Chinese government in Beijing to call them about that, because they heavily depend on the Strait of Hormuz for their oil,' said Rubio, who also serves as national security adviser. 'If they do that, it will be another terrible mistake. It's economic suicide for them if they do it. And we retain options to deal with that, but other countries should be looking at that as well. It would hurt other countries' economies a lot worse than ours.' Rubio said a move to close the strait would be a massive escalation that would merit a response from the US and others. The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately provide comment. US officials said it 'obliterated' Iran's main nuclear sites using 14 bunker-buster bombs, more than two dozen Tomahawk missiles and over 125 military aircraft. The strikes mark an escalation in the ongoing Middle Eastern conflict. Tehran has vowed to defend itself. Rubio on Sunday warned against retaliation, saying such an action would be 'the worst mistake they've ever made'. He added that the US is prepared to talk with Iran.
