The Kremlin on Monday said it “deeply regrets” U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities over the weekend, adding that it had not been informed in advance and expressing support for Tehran.
Russian President Vladimir Putin called the strikes an “unprovoked aggression that has no justification” in his first public remarks on the incident, delivered during talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
“We, of course, condemn the growing number of participants in this conflict and the renewed escalation of tensions in the region, and we express deep regret in this regard,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
Neither Putin nor Peskov explicitly named the United States in their comments.
Peskov referred to the Russian Foreign Ministry’s earlier statement on Sunday, which strongly condemned the strikes as “irresponsible” and a “gross violation of international law” that could destabilize both regional and global security.
He added that, while Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump had discussed Iran’s nuclear program in recent phone calls, Washington had not provided Moscow with “detailed information” about its planned operation.
His remarks followed a Reuters report citing unnamed Iranian officials who said Tehran had been “unimpressed” with Moscow’s support and was seeking further backing in its standoff with the U.S. and Israel.
Araghchi met with Putin on Monday, telling the Kremlin leader that Russia has been a “partner and companion” to Tehran and hailed ties between the two countries as “very close and longstanding.”
“Iran is exercising legitimate defense against these aggressions,” he added, referring to Israeli and U.S. air strikes.
According to Reuters, Araghchi was expected to deliver a letter from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei requesting Russia’s support, though it did not specify what kind of support Iran is seeking.
Peskov on Monday said Russia’s offer to mediate in the conflict with Israel, along with its condemnation of the U.S. strikes, amounted to “a form of support” for Iran, adding that any additional assistance would “depend on what Iran needs.”
AFP contributed reporting.
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