Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke on the phone for 50 minutes with US President Donald Trump on Saturday and strongly condemned Israel’s recent attacks against Iran, warning of the danger of dangerous escalation in West Asia, a Kremlin statement said.
Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov stated, “President Putin denounced Israel’s military strike against Iran and voiced serious concern over the risk of a runaway escalation of the conflict in the region.”
He also noted that Trump viewed the Middle East situation as “very alarming.” As tensions mounted, both leaders agreed, however, that resuming talks on Iran’s nuclear program was still on the table.
On the war in Ukraine, Putin told Trump that Moscow was ready to return to negotiations with Kyiv after June 22, according to reports. Trump also reaffirmed that he wanted a swift end to the conflict, Ushakov said. Putin also wished Trump a happy birthday, as Trump is 79 years old today.
Tensions between Iran and Israel escalated further as both nations engaged in military exchanges. Israel made unprecedented air attacks against Iran on Friday, striking at military and nuclear sites and killing dozens, including top Revolutionary Guards commanders and civilians.
Iran returned fire overnight with waves of missiles and drones aimed at Israeli territory.
In retaliation, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian served a warning, threatening harsher retribution if Israel continues its airstrikes. “The aggression of the Zionist regime will be responded to with a tougher and more severe measure,” he stated.
He also denounced the United States for what he described as “dishonest” diplomacy backing Israeli military strikes while at the same time negotiating a nuclear deal with Tehran. Oman, as a mediator, went on to announce that a scheduled sixth round of U.S.-Iran nuclear talks scheduled for Sunday had been called off.
