Russia Offers To Mediate Iran-Israel Conflict, Warns US to Stay Out of It

Russia warned the United States against military intervention in the escalating Iran-Israel conflict, with President Vladimir Putin offering to mediate between the two sides even as diplomatic efforts gained traction in Europe amid continuing strikes and mounting casualties, Agence France-Presse reported. 

On Thursday, Kremlin officials said Putin spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping in a call that led to both leaders “strongly condemning Israel’s actions” and demanding an immediate ceasefire.  

The two leaders emphasized that the end to the hostilities “should be achieved exclusively by political and diplomatic means.” 

Separately, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned that any US military involvement would be “an extremely dangerous step with truly unpredictable negative consequences.”  

In recent days, US President Donald Trump has given mixed signals about joining Israel’s strikes against Iran. 

The conflict began a week ago after Israel launched surprise airstrikes targeting Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure, which widened to include other targets. Iran responded by bombarding Israeli cities with hundreds of missiles and drones.  

Amid the fears of escalation, Putin has presented himself in recent days as a possible mediator for the warring parties.  

The Russian president has spoken to both Israeli and Iranian leaders, emphasizing that a peaceful resolution would need to ensure Iran’s “peaceful nuclear activities” and the “interests of Israel from the point of view of the unconditional security of the Jewish state,” Al Jazeera wrote. 

Putin insisted that despite Russia’s close ties with Iran – including cooperation on Iran’s civilian nuclear program – it has not supplied Tehran with weapons but continues to support operations at the Russian-built Bushehr nuclear plant, where more than 200 Russian personnel remain stationed. 

However, many Western leaders have rebuffed Putin’s overtures, with Trump saying, “Let’s mediate Russia first,” referring to Moscow’s ongoing war in Ukraine. 

The diplomatic efforts come as Iranian missiles struck Israeli territory on Thursday, including one that damaged the old surgical wing of Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba. No fatalities were reported, but Israeli authorities said at least 42 civilians were wounded in the latest barrage, NPR added. 

Israeli officials condemned the strike as “a war crime,” while Prime Minister Netanyahu vowed to “exact the full price from the tyrants in Tehran.” 

In response, Israel said it intensified strikes on “strategic and government targets” in Iran, including a reported hit on the Arak heavy-water reactor.  

Meanwhile, the foreign ministers of Germany, France, and the United Kingdom are scheduled to meet Iranian counterparts in Switzerland on Friday, aiming to extract guarantees that Tehran’s nuclear activities remain civilian. 

Some analysts remained skeptical that the meeting would yield any results. 

As the fighting continues, questions have emerged over the longevity of the Iranian regime and the fate of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. 

The Israeli strikes have targeted senior military leaders and nuclear scientists, with Netanyahu not ruling out plans to assassinate Khamenei and Trump telling him, “we know where you are,” according to Newsweek. 

On Thursday, Putin refused to comment on the Iranian leader’s potential assassination when asked by reporters, Al Jazeera added. 

Elsewhere in Lebanon, Iran-backed Hezbollah has so far refrained from entering the conflict, citing internal pressure and battlefield losses from last year’s war with Israel, wrote the Washington Post. 

While praising Iran’s “steadfastness,” Hezbollah’s leadership has stopped short of direct involvement but warned that “nothing is off limits” if the situation deteriorates.