Russian President Vladimir Putin met Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in Moscow amid the ongoing conflict between Tehran and Tel Aviv. Putin, reiterating Russia’s stand on the attack on Iran, said Iran has been attacked without pretext.
He added that the Iranian people will decide to change the regime, not any other country as the US repeatedly asked Iran to surrender. Putin also lashed out at the US and said Russia deeply regrets and condemns the US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
He also said that Russia is ready to help the Iranian people.
“Dear Mr. Minister, I am very glad to see you. You are visiting Russia at a difficult time, at a time of sharp aggravation of the situation in the region and around your country,” Putin said.
Russia has extended support to Iran and openly condemned US strikes on its nuclear sites. Speaking on the same, Putin reiterated that there is no justification for the “aggression provoked against Iran”.
“Our position on the current events is well known. It is clearly stated, articulated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on behalf of Russia and, you know, the opposition that we have taken in the Security Council of the United Nations. The aggression provoked against Iran has absolutely no basis and no justification. We have long-standing good, reliable relations with Iran. We, for our part, are making efforts to provide assistance to the Iranian people,” Putin added.
The Iranian minister thanked Russia for its stand in condemning the assault.
“We appreciate Russia’s stance in condemning this assault. The attack carried out by the United States is, first and foremost, an attack on the UN Charter, as it is entirely in violation of it,” he said.
“It is an attack on international law, an attack on legal norms and frameworks, and most importantly, an attack on the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the non-proliferation regime as a whole,” he added.
Before Saturday’s US strikes, Russia had warned that US military intervention could destabilise the entire region and plunge it into the “abyss”.
Asked what Russia was ready to do to help Tehran, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, “It all depends on what Iran needs”. He said the fact that Moscow had offered to mediate in the crisis was itself a form of support.
Peskov condemned the US attacks.
“An increase in the number of participants in this conflict is happening – or rather, has happened. A new spiral of escalation of tension in the region. And, of course, we condemn this and express regret in this regard, deep regret. In addition, of course, it remains to be seen what happened to (Iran’s) nuclear facilities, whether there is a radiation hazard,” he told reporters.
