Putin tells Iran’s president that Russia will ‘do everything’ to help end war with U.S., Israel

Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian on Thursday and promised to “do everything” to help end the Middle East conflict, Russian news agencies reported.

“We are ready to do everything that is in our power to contribute to the settlement of this situation,” said Putin ahead of a regional summit in the Central Asian nation of Turkmenistan, adding that Iran had made “real efforts to end the war” since U.S.-Israeli attacks started on February 28.

Putin noted the “positive evolution” in relations between Iran and Russia.

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The two have reinforced diplomatic and military links since Russia launched its offensive in Ukraine in February 2022, becoming increasingly reliant on each other.

Both leaders arrived Thursday evening ahead of the summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) — a grouping of former Soviet nations — in the resort of Avaza on the Caspian Sea.

The presidents last met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Kyrgyzstan in September.

Ukraine and Western countries have accused Iran of supplying Russia with Shahed drones and short-range missiles for use in the military campaign.

Russia has been accused of supplying targetting data to Iran for its strikes on U.S. interests in the Middle East.

The meeting came as talks between Tehran and Washington appear to be at an impasse. Pezeshkian said this week that negotiations with Washington were “meaningless.”

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump said in a social media post on Thursday that the U.S. would “not be attacking Iran” before November’s midterm elections, citing what he said were “productive discussions” with the Islamic Republic.