MOSCOW: Russia said Tuesday it was ready to act as a peace broker between Israel and Iran, but that Israel was showing reluctance to accept outside mediation.
Israel began launching strikes across Iran on Friday, saying it aimed to prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon — a charge Iran denies.
Iran has responded with retaliatory strikes on Israel.
“President Putin has said that Russia is ready to provide mediation services if necessary,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in a daily briefing.
“At present, we see a reluctance, at least on the part of Israel, to resort to any mediation services or to embark on a peaceful path towards a settlement.”
Israeli strikes on Iran have killed at least 224 people, including military commanders, nuclear scientists and civilians, Iran said Sunday. It has not issued an updated toll since then.
At least 24 people have been killed in Israel and hundreds wounded, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.
Russia has deepened its economic and military ties with Iran in recent years but has a close working relationship with Israel, positioning itself as a potential mediator.
US President Donald Trump on Sunday cited the possibility that Russia’s Vladimir Putin could help mediate between Iran and Israel.
In an interview with ABC News, Trump said he was open to Putin serving as a mediator.
Trump seeks ‘Real End’
Trump said Tuesday he was aiming for a “real end” to the conflict between Israel and Iran, and not just a ceasefire.
“I’m not looking for a ceasefire, we’re looking at better than a ceasefire,” Trump told reporters on board Air Force One before arriving back in the United States from a G7 summit in Canada, AFP reported.
The president said he was looking for “an end, a real end, not a ceasefire,” adding that he wanted a “complete give-up” by Iran.
Trump again warned Iran against targeting US troops and assets in the Middle East, saying, “We’ll come down so hard, it’d be gloves off”.
The US leader departed the G7 gathering a day early, as ally Israel and Iran traded fire for a fifth straight day, with Israel hitting Iranian nuclear and military sites, and Tehran responding with missile strikes.
