MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin has urged Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to exercise restraint in responding to the Israeli assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and emphasized the importance of avoiding civilian casualties, Reuters reported citing two senior Iranian sources.
The message was delivered on Monday by Sergei Shoigu, Putin’s senior ally and former defence minister, who met with top Iranian officials in Tehran. During the discussions, Tehran also pressed Moscow for the delivery of Russian-made Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets, Reuters reported.
The Kremlin did not respond to requests for comment on the matter. However, Russia’s state-run RIA news agency reported on Tuesday that Shoigu discussed Haniyeh’s killing during his visit to Tehran. The sources said that Shoigu’s visit was part of Moscow’s broader effort to urge Iran to avoid actions that could escalate into a full-scale Middle East war.
The assassination of Haniyeh, which Tehran views as a highly provocative act, has brought the region to the brink of a major conflict. Moscow, while condemning the killing as “a very dangerous assassination,” is making efforts to prevent a broader regional war.
Russia has strengthened its ties with Iran since the start of its conflict with Ukraine and is preparing to sign a comprehensive cooperation agreement with Tehran. Iran’s Foreign Ministry has yet to comment on the specifics of the Shoigu visit but reiterated on Monday that Tehran seeks to avoid regional tensions while emphasizing the need to punish Israel to prevent further instability.
In Washington, a Biden administration official warned of the significant risks of a regional conflict, noting that Iran’s and Hezbollah’s responses would be crucial in determining the extent of any potential escalation.
