Putin offers Moscow as mediator in Iran crisis amid tensions with Israel, Trump threat

Amid rising tensions between Iran, Israel, and the United States, Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered Moscow as a mediator in the crisis. Following calls with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Friday, the Kremlin stated Putin expressed Russia's willingness to facilitate constructive dialogue among all involved parties to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East. Putin briefed Pezeshkian on Tehran’s efforts to normalize the situation within Iran. Russia, an ally of Iran, has condemned potential US military strikes and emphasized the importance of resolving issues through political and diplomatic means. Both Russia and Iran expressed their support for de-escalating tensions surrounding Iran and within the region.

According to a former Russian diplomat and analysts, Russia believes the mass protests in Iran, which began in late December 2025 over economic hardships, have subsided due to Iranian law enforcement. Despite condemning "illegal Western pressure" and external forces allegedly destabilizing Iran, the Kremlin has remained relatively muted on the situation. A Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman accused the West of using "colour revolution" tactics to incite unrest, echoing past claims. The Ministry also condemned threats from then US President Trump to interfere in the protests. Despite Iran being a key ally, Russian President Putin has not commented publicly on the unrest, mirroring his silence on other international incidents involving allies.