Russian President Vladimir Putin held separate phone discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Friday, offering Russia’s assistance to mediate tensions in the Middle East, the Kremlin said.
The calls come as Iran faces nationwide protests following a crackdown late last month. The unrest has drawn international attention, with U.S. President Donald Trump warning that Washington could intervene. Last year, Israel and the United States carried out strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, and Iran fought a brief 12-day conflict with Israel.
During the conversation with Netanyahu, the Kremlin said Putin outlined ideas to bolster stability in the Middle East and reaffirmed Russia’s willingness to continue mediation efforts, promoting “constructive dialogue with the participation of all interested states.”
As reported in Reuters, details of the call with Pezeshkian were not immediately released, though the Kremlin said a readout would follow. Putin has strengthened ties with Iran in recent years, signing a 20-year strategic partnership pact with Pezeshkian last year.
Any threat to Iran’s leadership is of serious concern to Moscow, particularly after the fall of other Russian allies in the region, including Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and, more recently, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who was captured by U.S. authorities earlier this month.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia is providing support not only to Iran but across the region to promote stability and peace. “This is partly thanks to the president’s efforts to help de-escalate tensions,” Peskov added.
Western nations have long accused Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons, a claim Tehran denies. Russia maintains that Iran has the right to peaceful nuclear energy, and Putin emphasized in his conversation with Netanyahu the need for intensified political and diplomatic efforts to ensure regional stability and security.
The discussions signal Russia’s continued ambition to position itself as a key mediator in Middle East conflicts, balancing relations with both Tehran and Tel Aviv amid escalating regional tensions.
