Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the U.S. airstrike on Iran's nuclear facilities and expressed his intention to support Iran.
According to Russian media including the Kremlin and TASS, President Putin met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi at the Kremlin in Moscow on the 23rd (local time) and emphasized that the U.S. attack on Iran was "an unjustified act of aggression" with "no basis or legitimacy."
He noted, "Our position on this incident is well known," and stated, "The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has clearly expressed this on behalf of Russia." Previously, the Russian Foreign Ministry criticized the U.S., stating in a statement the previous day that "attacking the territory of a sovereign nation with missiles and bombs is an irresponsible decision that clearly violates international law."
President Putin told Minister Araghchi, "We have maintained a good and trustworthy relationship with Iran for a long time," adding, "We are working hard to help the Iranians."
Minister Araghchi reportedly replied, "The actions of the U.S. and Israel are illegal, and Iran is exercising its legitimate right to self-defense," and expressed gratitude for Russia condemning the actions against Iran.
Earlier that day, during his welcoming speech at the international academic forum "Primakov Readings," President Putin criticized the West’s unilateral globalization efforts as the root cause of tensions in the Middle East. He asserted that the attempts by the West to maintain a globalization model favorable to itself have not only increased regional security threats but have also made the global situation very unstable, stating, "This can only be guaranteed based on principles of genuine equality and respect for each other's legitimate interests."
On the same day, Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin Spokesperson, stated during a regular briefing regarding the recent bombing, "The number of parties involved in this conflict has increased. New tensions have arisen in this region," adding, "We express our deep regrets."
Regarding what measures Russia will take for Iran, he stated, "Moscow has proposed a mediation role; the next steps depend on Iran’s requests."
Meanwhile, Yuri Ushakov, an aide to the Kremlin on foreign policy, explained that while there are no plans for a phone call between the U.S. and Russian leaders, contacts between the two countries on issues related to Iran are ongoing.