St. Petersburg, Russia, June 19 (AP): Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed mediating a resolution to the conflict between Israel and Iran. During discussions on Wednesday, he suggested that Moscow could facilitate negotiations aiming for a peaceful atomic program for Tehran while addressing Israel's security concerns.
In conversation with senior international news agency leaders, Putin acknowledged the complexity of the issue but expressed optimism about finding a solution. When queried about Russia's potential reaction if Israel were to assassinate Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Putin declined to comment on that scenario. Parallelly, Khamenei has dismissed U.S. calls for surrender and issued warnings about potential U.S. military involvement, describing it as potentially causing "irreparable damage to them."
Putin indicated that consultations had taken place, involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. He highlighted that while Russia is not imposing its views, it is offering a perspective on resolving the situation, with decisions resting primarily with Iran and Israel. Moscow has long maintained a nuanced approach in the Middle East, balancing relations with Israel and deepening its economic and military ties with Iran, possibly positioning itself as a mediator.
These remarks come after Putin's recent offer to mediate, communicated during a call with U.S. President Donald Trump. However, President Trump reportedly advised Putin to focus on resolving Russia’s conflict with Ukraine first, suggesting a shift in stance after being initially open to Russia's mediation offer concerning the Middle East.
Furthermore, Putin underscored Russia’s collaboration with Iran in the nuclear sector, with Russian workers actively constructing reactors in Bushehr. Despite Russia's military equipment offers, he noted that Tehran showed limited interest in establishing a comprehensive air defense system.
Regarding regional military activities, Israel claimed success in countering Iran's Russian-made S-300 missile systems in past strikes. Putin also praised Trump's attempts to facilitate peace in Ukraine, agreeing with the notion that the conflict might not have escalated if Trump had been in office earlier. Despite intensified Russian military campaigns, Putin expressed openness to dialogue with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy under conditions.
In response to questions from the Associated Press, Putin rationalized Russia's actions in Ukraine as targeting military capabilities rather than civilian structures. Nonetheless, documentation of civilian impacts remains. Putin reiterated Moscow's intentions to "demilitarize" Ukraine and cautioned Western nations against supplying advanced weaponry, warning about potential direct confrontations with Russia.
Finally, Putin used the St. Petersburg Economic Forum as a platform to spotlight Russia’s economic resilience and attract foreign investments, engaging with leaders from various regions, including former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff and officials from BRICS and OPEC nations. Western executives were notably absent this year, reflecting ongoing geopolitical tensions. (AP)
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