Russian President Vladimir Putin has held separate calls with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, offering to mediate as fears of a military confrontation in the Middle East intensify.
The outreach comes amid nationwide anti-government protests in Iran, which independent monitors say have been met with a brutal crackdown by security forces, leaving thousands dead. The unrest has triggered threats of military action from the United States, Israel’s key ally, while Tehran has repeatedly accused Washington and Israel of stoking unrest to undermine the Islamic Republic’s stability.
The calls also follow a brief but intense conflict in June, during which Israel conducted unprecedented strikes on Iranian military and nuclear facilities, with U.S. forces briefly joining in attacks on key nuclear sites.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, “The situation in the region is highly tense, and the president continues his efforts to facilitate de-escalation.”
In his discussion with Pezeshkian, Putin reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to strengthening the two nations’ “strategic partnership,” while the Iranian president expressed gratitude for Moscow’s support at the United Nations. Russia, a close ally of Iran, is keen to prevent any conflict that could destabilize the region and threaten its influence.
Simultaneously, Putin spoke with Netanyahu, signaling Russia’s readiness to continue mediation efforts between Israel and Iran. The Kremlin did not specify the details of these initiatives but has previously offered diplomatic mediation during the June conflict.
These contacts mark Putin’s first public engagement on the Iranian protests and his first direct outreach to Tehran’s key Middle Eastern ally since the unrest began. While Russia also maintains ties with Israel, relations have been strained following Moscow’s criticism of Israeli operations in Gaza since October 2023.
Netanyahu, meanwhile, called for Iran to be “freed from the yoke of tyranny,” reflecting Israel’s position amid the demonstrations. However, protests in Iran have reportedly declined in recent days due to a week-long internet blackout and ongoing security repression.
A senior Saudi official told AFP that Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman had previously intervened to dissuade U.S. President Donald Trump from striking Iran during the crackdown, citing concerns about “grave blowbacks in the region.”
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