Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that he is not aiming to mediate between Iran and Israel but is merely offering suggestions to help de-escalate the growing conflict.
Throughout the week, the Kremlin has positioned itself as a possible peacemaker following Israel’s strikes on Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory missile and drone attacks. However, Western leaders have pushed back against any such role for Moscow, and the Kremlin acknowledged earlier that Israel showed little interest in its proposals.
“We are by no means seeking to act as a mediator, we are simply suggesting ideas,” Putin said during an economic forum in Saint Petersburg. “If they turn out to be attractive to both sides, we will only be happy.”
Despite condemning Israel’s military actions, Russia has neither offered military assistance to Iran—its strategic partner—nor emphasized obligations under their recent wide-ranging cooperation agreement.
On Thursday, Russia’s foreign ministry warned the United States against military intervention in the conflict, as Washington considers joining Israel in its strikes on Iran.
When asked repeatedly about Israel’s apparent threats to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Putin said, “I really hope that the things you mention remain at the level of rhetoric.”
Putin has spoken with both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iran’s newly elected President Masoud Pezeshkian since the conflict escalated last week. However, the Kremlin said earlier that Israel appeared unwilling to embrace mediation or pursue a peaceful solution.
U.S. President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron have both rejected the notion of a mediation role for Putin.
“He actually offered to help mediate,” Trump told reporters. “I said: ‘Do me a favor, mediate your own. Let’s mediate Russia first, okay?’”
