MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that further escalation in the Middle East could have “catastrophic consequences,” during a phone call with his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi, the Kremlin said Tuesday.
According to a statement released by the Kremlin, Putin cautioned against further escalation in the region, warning of “catastrophic consequences” should tensions continue to rise unchecked. He expressed hope that all parties involved would exercise rational restraint to avert a potentially devastating conflict that could impact the entire region.
“Vladimir Putin expressed hope that all sides would show reasonable restraint and prevent a new round of confrontation fraught with catastrophic consequences for the entire region,” the Kremlin stated.
The phone call comes against the backdrop of heightened tensions in the Middle East, particularly following a series of events over the weekend. Iran launched a barrage of more than 300 missiles, drones, and rockets towards Israel, in a retaliatory act of self-defense. This attack was in response to a deadly Israeli airstrike on Iran’s consulate in Syria.
The Kremlin emphasized the close military and political ties between Russia and Iran, noting that the call was initiated at the request of the Iranian side. Discussions during the call reportedly delved into the escalating situation in the Middle East, focusing on the Israeli airstrike on the Iranian diplomatic mission in Damascus and Iran’s subsequent retaliatory measures.
