Burc Eruygur
23 June 2025•Update: 23 June 2025
ISTANBUL
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday described strikes against Iran as an “ unprovoked aggression” without any justification.
“The absolutely unprovoked aggression against Iran has no basis and no justification,” Putin said during a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Moscow.
Israel and Iran have been engaged in aerial combat since June 13 when Tel Aviv launched a surprise attack on several sites across Iran, including military and nuclear facilities, prompting Tehran to launch retaliatory strikes.
The US, meanwhile, struck three Iranian nuclear sites early Sunday, with President Donald Trump claiming significant damage and "obliteration."
Putin said Russia and Iran have “long-standing, good, reliable” relations, and Moscow’s position on the recent tensions is well known.
“For our part, we are making efforts to provide assistance to the Iranian people,” Putin said, asking the Iranian foreign minister to convey his best wishes to his counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
"I am very glad that you are in Moscow today. This will give us the opportunity to discuss all these sensitive issues and think together about how we can get out of today's situation," he added.
For his part, Araghchi said the escalation in the Middle East was growing every day due to the US and Israel’s decision to strike its nuclear facilities.
“Our relations are very close and kind. In recent years, they have become strategic,” Araghchi said, adding that Moscow is on the “right side of history and international law."
He thanked Russia for condemning the "aggressive actions by Israel and the United States."
