Russian President Vladimir Putin has intervened in the escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, urging restraint during a phone call with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. The call comes as Israel contemplates its response to Iran’s recent drone and missile attack, which has raised concerns about a potential new conflict in the Middle East.
Putin’s call for restraint underscores the seriousness of the situation, with the Kremlin warning of catastrophic consequences for the entire region if the conflict escalates further. The conversation between Putin and Raisi focused on Iran’s retaliatory measures following an Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus earlier this month.
Iran’s actions, characterized by the Kremlin as “forced and limited in nature,” have sparked fears of a broader conflict. Raisi emphasized Iran’s disinterest in further escalating tensions but reiterated that any action against Iran’s interests would demand a larger-scale response.
The root cause of the current instability in the Middle East, according to Putin, is the unresolved Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Both leaders reaffirmed their support for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and called for efforts to ease the humanitarian situation and seek a diplomatic resolution to the crisis.
Putin’s intervention comes against the backdrop of Russia’s close ties with Iran and its efforts to maintain stability in the region. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Iran has provided Russia with military support, including surface-to-surface ballistic missiles and drones.
As tensions continue to simmer between Iran and Israel, Putin’s call for restraint offers a glimmer of hope for de-escalation. The international community is closely monitoring the situation, with hopes pinned on diplomatic efforts to prevent further conflict in the volatile Middle East region.
