MOSCOW: The Kremlin refused to confirm or deny on Wednesday if Russia had been forewarned of Iran’s strikes against Israel, but urged the conflicting parties in the Middle East to avoid further escalation of conflict.
President Vladimir Putin issued a plea on Tuesday for restraint, cautioning against actions that could escalate a new confrontation with catastrophic consequences for the region.
In response to inquiries regarding whether Tehran had alerted Moscow ahead of Saturday’s strikes on Israel, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment, stating, “We don’t even want to talk about the escalation of this conflict.” Peskov stressed that such escalation would be detrimental to the interests of Israel, Iran, and the wider region.
While acknowledging Russia’s close ties with Iran, Peskov emphasized the Kremlin’s constructive working contacts with both Iran and Israel. He reiterated Russia’s commitment to dialogue and the promotion of de-escalation efforts, urging all countries in the region to exercise restraint.
Acknowledging the seriousness of the situation, Peskov rejected the notion that the current conflict between Israel and Iran could be considered indirect. He highlighted the destruction of an Iranian consulate, stating, “When the consulate of one country is destroyed, it can hardly be called an indirect conflict.”
