Putin speaks to Iran's Pezeshkian, calls for 'immediate cessation' of hostilities

Russian President Vladimir Putin has spoken to his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, calling for an “immediate cessation” of fighting amid rising tensions in West Asia.

In a statement released on Friday, the Kremlin said that Putin once again expressed condolences over the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and members of his family.

“Russia’s principled position on the need for an immediate cessation of hostilities, the abandonment of forceful solutions to problems around Iran and throughout the Middle East, and a swift return to the path of political and diplomatic resolution was reaffirmed,” the statement said.

The statement added that Putin stays in regular contact with leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

Meanwhile, Pezeshkian thanked Putin for Russia’s “solidarity with the Iranian people defending the sovereignty and independence of their homeland.” He also provided the Russian leader with a detailed update on developments amid the ongoing escalation in the region.

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‘Cynical murder’

Putin condemned the killing of Khamenei and members of his family as a “cynical murder” that violated human morality and international law, expressing condolences to Iran’s leadership.

Putin slammed the United States and Israel for their military operation in Iran. Last weekend, the Kremlin published a letter that Putin sent to Pezeshkian, in which the Russian leader expressed his deepest condolences for the assassination of Khamenei.

“Please accept my deep condolences in connection with the murder of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Syed Ali Khamenei, and members of his family, committed in cynical violation of all norms of human morality and international law,” Putin says in a note to Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian.

Lavrov-Araghchi call

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke by phone with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, to discuss recent developments in West Asia. The two ministers noted that the attacks by the US and Israel against Iran “undermine the fundamental norms of international law”.

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Lavrov told Araghchi about Russia’s stance in favour of de-escalation of the conflict and a return to a political and diplomatic settlement, adding that Moscow is ready to mediate between the three sides to deter escalation.