Russian President Vladimir Putin has strongly criticised the recent U.S. military offensive against Iran, declaring the airstrikes “baseless” and a dangerous act of escalation. He made the remarks during a meeting with Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi, in Moscow on Monday.
The diplomatic visit followed swiftly after U.S. President Donald Trump authorised strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities. Putin, speaking in a televised address during the meeting, insisted there was “no justification” for Washington’s actions and underscored Russia’s ongoing efforts to support the Iranian populace amid rising tensions in the Middle East.
“This unprovoked aggression has no legal or moral basis,” Putin said. “Russia is working to assist the people of Iran, and your visit gives us a critical opportunity to jointly address the current crisis.”
Minister Araqchi responded by defending Tehran’s actions as an exercise in self-defence and thanked Russia for its stance against the U.S. offensive. He relayed greetings from Iran’s top leadership, praising Russia for its adherence to international law.
Despite Moscow’s vocal condemnation, questions remain about the extent of Russia’s potential involvement. The strategic partnership agreement signed between Russia and Iran earlier this year does not include provisions for mutual defence. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that any Russian assistance would depend on Iran’s requests and highlighted Russia’s readiness to mediate.
Peskov further expressed concern over the possible fallout from the strikes, including risks to nuclear safety, and confirmed that President Trump had not given Putin advance notice of the military action. “The presidents have previously discussed Iran in broader terms, but no detailed warning of these strikes was given,” he said.
