Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke to both his Iranian and Israeli counterparts today, according to statements posted on the Russian President’s website. During the one call, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian briefed Putin “on the Iranian government’s sustained efforts to normalize the situation in the country,” one readout from the President’s website reported. “It was noted that Russia and Iran unanimously and consistently support deescalating the tensions—both surrounding Iran and in the region as a whole—as soon as possible and resolving any emerging issues via exclusively political and diplomatic means.”
According to the Iranian side, Pezeshkian flagged the direct U.S.-Israeli role in the recent terrorist riots in Iran, as Russian President Vladimir Putin said the million-strong rallies held afterward demonstrated the country’s “real conditions,” reported PressTV.
Putin, for his part, said Russia is closely and carefully following developments in Iran, the PressTV report continued. He described the recent unrest as resembling “color revolution” scenarios, while acknowledging that long-term sanctions have contributed to economic and social challenges in the country. “We fully understand that economic and social problems may arise due to the impact of long-term unjust sanctions,” Putin said, adding, however, that riots and violent disorder have no connection to peaceful and civil protest
