Putin believes Israel provoked US to strike Iran

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Moscow on Monday, as Israeli forces continued to strike Tehran. The Russian leader condemned US attacks on Iran and reassured the Iranian delegation that the people of Iran can count on Russia for support.

A short video released by the Kremlin shows Putin meeting the Iranian delegation in an ornate room, accompanied by his Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Yury Ushakov, a top-level aide and former Russian ambassador to Washington.

“This act of aggression against Iran has no grounds and no justification. We have long-standing, friendly and reliable relations with Iran, and we, for our part, are making efforts to support the Iranian people,” Putin said, while stating his belief that the United States was provoked by Israel to launch the attack.

Putin told Araghchi he held phone calls with US President Donald Trump, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President of the United Arab Emirates Mohammed Al Nahyan and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

He did not specify the timing of these conversations, and the Kremlin said on Sunday there was no plan for Putin to speak to Trump after the US strikes against Iran.

Araghchi thanked Putin for his support and said Russia was “on the right side of history.”

He also hailed the close relationship between Tehran and Moscow which he said, “grew even closer in recent years.”

Source: CNN live updates