St. Petersburg: Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed readiness to help mediate a resolution to the ongoing tensions between Iran and Israel, proposing a settlement that would enable Iran to pursue a peaceful nuclear programme while addressing Israel’s security concerns.
Speaking to senior editors of global news agencies on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin described the issue as "delicate" but said, “In my view, a solution could be found.” He added that Russia had already shared its proposals with Iran, Israel, and the United States. “We are not imposing anything on anyone; we are simply talking about how we see a possible way out of the situation. But the decision, of course, is up to the political leadership of all these countries, primarily Iran and Israel.”
When asked how Russia would respond if Israel were to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Putin refused to speculate, stating, “I don’t even want to discuss such a possibility.” Khamenei has rejected American calls to yield in the face of Israeli military action, warning that any U.S. involvement would cause "irreparable damage" to the United States.
Russia has long maintained a delicate balancing act in the Middle East, preserving warm relations with Israel while simultaneously developing strong economic and military ties with Iran. This dual approach allows Moscow to position itself as a credible mediator. Putin’s latest comments come after a recent phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump, in which he offered Russia’s mediation services. However, Trump appeared dismissive of the idea, saying he told Putin, “Do me a favour, mediate your own,” and advised him to focus on resolving the Ukraine conflict first.
During the discussion, Putin highlighted Russia’s ongoing cooperation with Iran, especially in nuclear development. He noted that over 200 Russian workers are currently involved in building two new reactors at Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant, adding to the first reactor previously completed by Moscow. He reiterated that Iran has not requested military assistance from Russia and that the strategic partnership treaty signed in January does not include provisions for military aid.
Putin added that Russia had in the past offered to help Iran build a comprehensive air defence system, rather than just supply individual missile systems, but Tehran had shown little interest. Notably, Israel had claimed it destroyed Iranian S-300 air defence systems—supplied by Russia—during last year’s strikes.
He also assured that Israel's security concerns were acknowledged, stating, “We agreed with the Israeli leadership that their security will be ensured.”
Turning to Ukraine, Putin praised former U.S. President Trump’s push for peace, supporting Trump's repeated claims that the conflict, which began in 2022, would not have started under his leadership. “If Trump had been the president, the conflict indeed might not have erupted,” Putin said.
Despite recent intensified Russian aerial and ground campaigns in Ukraine, Putin has declined Trump's offer for an immediate 30-day ceasefire, making it conditional on Ukraine halting mobilisation and Western nations freezing arms supplies. While expressing openness to negotiations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, he reiterated his stance that Zelenskyy’s legitimacy expired last year—an assertion dismissed by Kyiv and its allies.
“We are ready for substantive talks on the principles of a settlement,” Putin said, referencing past negotiations that led to prisoner exchanges and the return of fallen soldiers’ bodies.
When questioned by the Associated Press about Russia condemning Israeli airstrikes on Iran while simultaneously launching fatal attacks on Ukrainian civilians, Putin insisted that Russian strikes were aimed at military industrial sites, not residential areas. However, AP journalists have documented civilian casualties and damage to homes, including a deadly strike on a nine-storey residential building in Kyiv earlier this week that killed 28 people.
Putin reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to its military objectives in Ukraine, vowing, “We will not allow Ukraine to have armed forces that would threaten the Russian Federation and its people.” He warned that if no settlement is reached, Russia would achieve its aims through military means.
He also cautioned Germany against supplying long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine, warning that doing so could pull Berlin into direct conflict with Russia but would not stop Russian advances. “Our troops are advancing along the entire line of contact,” he said, adding that if Ukraine refused to agree to Russia’s terms, conditions for peace in the future would become even tougher.
Dismissing Western fears of a Russian attack on NATO countries as “ravings,” Putin noted that NATO’s military budget far surpasses that of Russia.
As part of the St. Petersburg forum, Putin continued efforts to project Russia’s economic resilience and attract foreign investment. While Western business leaders have largely shunned the event since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, the forum drew participation from delegates and companies across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Putin met with former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, who currently heads the New Development Bank established by BRICS nations, and is scheduled to meet leaders from Indonesia, China, South Africa, Bahrain, and representatives from the OPEC alliance.
With PTI inputs