On the 24th (local time), Russia expressed its welcoming stance on the ceasefire announcement between Iran and Israel. However, it maintained a cautious attitude regarding whether the actual ceasefire could be upheld.
Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesperson, said during a briefing that "if a ceasefire has indeed been achieved, we cannot help but welcome it," adding that "Russia has been calling for a political and diplomatic resolution to the issues in the Middle East since the start of the conflict." He added, "I hope this ceasefire is sustainable."
Sergey Lavrov, Russia's Foreign Minister, also noted during a speech at the international academic forum "Primakov Readings" held on the same day, "If such an agreement exists, it would naturally be welcomed." However, he warned that "reports have emerged of clashes between Israel and Iran even after the ceasefire was announced," and that "it is now difficult to draw conclusions, and one should not hastily judge based on fragmented reports."
Minister Lavrov stated that Russia has had confidential contacts with the United States, Israel, and Iran, and has communicated proposals for resolving Middle Eastern issues. He explained, "All three countries have shown positive responses, but no specific measures have been taken yet."
Meanwhile, Peskov, the spokesperson, reported that the issue of retaliation against the U.S. military base in Qatar, located in Iran, was not discussed during the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi the day before in Moscow.
Additionally, regarding a report by Reuters that "Minister Araghchi delivered a personal letter from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei of Iran to President Putin," he refuted it by saying, "There was no written document, but it is true that a message from the Iranian leadership was conveyed," stating that the article's content was partially inaccurate.
On the issue of whether information was gathered regarding the attack on Iran's nuclear facilities by the U.S., he said, "We are receiving information through appropriate channels, but since it has only been shortly after the attack occurred, time is needed to assess the damage," adding, "Currently, no one can clearly know the situation."
He emphasized, "There are many seeking to exacerbate the relationship between Russia and Iran, but Russia supports Iran and plans to further develop the relationship moving forward."