The Kremlin announced on Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin held separate phone calls with the leaders of Israel and Iran, offering mediation as internal protests in Iran spark fears of a wider military confrontation in the region.
The calls come after a forceful crackdown by Iranian security forces on widespread anti-government protests, in which independent monitors report thousands have been killed. The situation has drawn threats of military action from the United States, a key ally of Israel.
Tehran has consistently accused both the United States and Israel of instigating the domestic unrest to undermine the country’s stability. Tensions remain high following a brief war in June between Iran and Israel, which included Israeli attacks on Iranian military and nuclear facilities, with limited U.S. participation.
On Friday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed Putin’s diplomatic outreach to both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, stating, “The situation in the region is highly tense, and the president continues his efforts to facilitate de-escalation.”
During the call with President Pezeshkian, Putin affirmed their countries’ “strategic partnership,” according to the Kremlin. The Iranian presidency noted that Pezeshkian thanked Putin for Russia’s diplomatic support for Iran at the United Nations.
Russia, a strategic partner to Iran, is concerned that a regional conflict could threaten the leadership in Tehran and diminish Moscow’s influence. This marks Putin’s first public comment and direct outreach to his key Middle Eastern ally since the protests began.
Simultaneously, Russia has worked to maintain relations with Israel, though ties have been strained following Russian criticism of Israel’s military actions in Gaza since October 7, 2023. In its summary of the call with Prime Minister Netanyahu, the Kremlin said Russia expressed its “readiness to continue its mediation efforts,” without providing details on current initiatives.
