Putin and Xi discuss Middle East crisis

The Russian president has affirmed Moscow’s willingness to mediate between Israel and Iran, according to the Kremlin

Russian President Vladimir Putin has told his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping that Moscow is ready to help mediate between Iran and Israel, the Kremlin said after their phone call on Thursday, which focused on the worsening conflict in the Middle East.

The conversation, which lasted about an hour, was described as “friendly and constructive” by Putin’s foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov.

Moscow and Beijing share “identical approaches” to the crisis, Ushakov told reporters, adding that both leaders “strongly condemn Israel’s actions, which violate the UN Charter and other norms of international law.”

Putin briefed Xi on his recent phone conversations with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held in the aftermath of Israel’s strike on Iran last week.

The Russian leader reaffirmed Moscow’s “readiness to carry out possible mediation efforts, if necessary,” Ushakov said, adding that Xi welcomed the initiative, calling it a step that could help defuse the conflict.

“Both Moscow and Beijing fundamentally believe that there is no military solution to the current situation or to issues related to Iran’s nuclear program. This must be resolved exclusively through political and diplomatic means,” the presidential aide stressed.

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The two leaders agreed to instruct their respective ministries and agencies to stay in close contact and exchange information in the coming days, he added.

Israel launched a major attack on Iran last Friday, targeting nuclear facilities and military sites in airstrikes. Tehran responded with its own attacks on the Jewish state. The escalating conflict has since left at least 639 people dead in Iran and 24 in Israel, according to the Washington-based Human Rights Activists group and Israeli officials.

Russia condemned Israel’s initial airstrikes and called for de-escalation. Putin also spoke with US President Donald Trump by phone over the weekend, with the two discussing the possibility of reviving negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program.

Trump reportedly has not ruled out direct military intervention in the conflict. According to CBS, he has approved a potential plan to attack Iran, though no final decision has been made.