Russian President Vladimir Putin held calls with Israeli and Iranian leaders, offering Moscow’s mediation amid regional tensions and protests in Iran.
MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin held telephone calls with the leaders of Israel and Iran on Friday.
The Kremlin stated the talks were part of efforts to mediate and cool tensions between the regional rivals.
This diplomatic outreach follows large-scale anti-government protests in Iran and fears of a wider military confrontation.
Independent monitors report Iranian security forces have killed thousands during a forceful crackdown on nationwide protests.
The United States, Israel’s key ally, has issued threats of military action in response to Iran’s domestic crackdown.
Iran and Israel fought a brief war in June involving unprecedented Israeli strikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites.
The United States briefly joined those strikes, targeting three major Iranian nuclear facilities.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the regional situation remains highly tense.
“The president continues his efforts to facilitate de-escalation,” Peskov stated.
Russia is a close ally of Iran but has also sought good relations with Israel.
Those ties have been strained recently by Russian criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza.
In the call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Russia expressed its “readiness to continue its mediation efforts.”
The Kremlin did not clarify the nature of current mediation efforts or comment directly on the Iranian protests.
Moscow had previously offered to mediate during the June war between Iran and Israel.
Peskov added that details from the call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian would be announced soon.
Netanyahu said on Sunday he hoped Iran would soon be freed from what he called the “yoke of tyranny.”
The protests in Iran have diminished recently following repression and a week-long internet blackout.
Iran has repeatedly accused the United States and Israel of inciting the unrest to undermine national unity.
A senior Saudi official said Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman urged US President Donald Trump not to attack Iran.
They feared “grave blowbacks in the region” from a US strike amid the crackdown on protesters.
