MOSCOW — The Kremlin announced on Monday that Russia stands ready to assist Iran amid intensifying hostilities with Israel, though the nature of any support will depend on Tehran’s specific requests.
“We have offered our mediation efforts — this is tangible. We’ve also clearly expressed our position, which itself is an important gesture of support for Iran,” said Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov during a press briefing.
His remarks come amid a sharp spike in regional tensions following Israel’s surprise aerial assault on multiple Iranian military and nuclear sites on June 13. In retaliation, Tehran launched counterstrikes, marking one of the most serious confrontations between the two countries in recent years.
The crisis deepened further after U.S. forces launched airstrikes on three major Iranian nuclear facilities early Sunday. President Donald Trump later claimed the attacks had caused “severe damage” and amounted to “obliteration” of those sites.
Peskov confirmed that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is in Moscow for consultations. “This visit is a crucial opportunity to exchange views and for the Iranian side to share its proposals and vision for resolving the current situation,” he said.
The Kremlin spokesperson warned of growing international involvement in the conflict. “We’re witnessing an increase in the number of parties involved in this escalation — something we strongly condemn and deeply regret,” Peskov said.
He also noted that Iran had been a recurring topic of discussion between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump during recent communications, though Moscow was not notified in advance about the latest U.S. strikes.
Asked about Trump’s comments hinting at possible regime change in Iran, Peskov responded firmly: “The future of any nation’s leadership should be determined solely by its own people, not by external actors or foreign governments.”
Despite the deteriorating situation, Peskov emphasized that the U.S. airstrikes will not derail Moscow’s ongoing dialogue with Washington, describing both processes as “independent tracks.”
Addressing concerns over potential environmental fallout from the strikes on nuclear sites, he noted, “The IAEA has stated there’s no current indication of radiation leakage, but this issue understandably remains a serious concern.”
Russia, a key ally of Iran in regional and international forums, has repeatedly called for restraint and a diplomatic resolution to the Iran-Israel crisis.
