Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for an immediate halt to the ongoing conflict involving Iran and urged all sides to return to dialogue as tensions continue to rise in the Middle East.
According to the Kremlin, Putin made the appeal during a phone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. During the call, the Russian leader expressed concern over the growing violence and the loss of civilian lives in recent attacks.
Putin said the situation is becoming dangerous for the entire region and stressed that military action cannot solve the current crisis. He called for an immediate stop to the fighting and urged all parties to move towards diplomatic negotiations.
The Russian leader also conveyed condolences to the Iranian leadership over the deaths of several senior officials and civilians during the recent strikes. He said Russia supports efforts to reduce tensions and prevent further escalation in the Middle East.
Iranian President Pezeshkian thanked Russia for its support and briefed Putin on the latest developments in the conflict and Iran’s response to the attacks.
The crisis has intensified in recent days following military strikes linked to the conflict between Iran, Israel and the United States. The situation has raised international concern that the fighting could spread across the region.
Russia has said it remains in contact with several regional leaders and international partners in an effort to promote dialogue and avoid a wider war. Global leaders have also warned that continued fighting could threaten key energy routes in the region and create a major humanitarian crisis.