Russia says Iran has not requested any assistance

ISTANBUL

The Kremlin said on Thursday that Russia has not received any requests for assistance from Iran, including military support.

“In this case, there were no appeals from the Iranian side,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters during a press briefing, when asked whether Russia plans to provide Iran with assistance, such as arms supplies.

Peskov’s remarks come as Israel and the US have continued a large-scale offensive against Iran since Saturday, killing at least 926 people, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and senior military officials.

Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and Gulf countries hosting US military assets.

Asked if Moscow is making any efforts to end the conflict, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said only those who started it can finish it.

Russia is focused on minimizing the consequences of the crisis in the Middle East for its economy, he said.

Russia has called the strikes on Iran an “act of armed aggression” and an attempt to “overthrow the legitimate government in Iran,” according to a Foreign Ministry statement Thursday.

It said Iran has been “deliberately provoked” into retaliatory strikes against targets in several Arab countries, which the Russian side “deeply regrets.”

Reaffirming Moscow’s call on all parties to immediately cease hostilities, the statement said Russia considers “attacks on civilians and on any civilian objects,” in both Iran and Gulf countries, to be “completely unacceptable.”

“At the same time, it is clear that the only way to prevent the region from sliding further into destabilization is to end the US and Israeli aggression, which has triggered a chain reaction of suffering for Arabs,” the ministry's statement added.

Peskov also said Moscow is open to continuing peace talks with Ukraine and is awaiting the next round.

"We continue to be open for the talks, we are interested in them, we are waiting for the next round," he said.

Peskov reiterated Russia's gratitude to the US, praising its role in efforts toward a settlement in Ukraine and noting that the pause appeared due to “obvious reasons.”

“It is clear that, as mediators whose role we value very highly, the Americans are busy with other affairs now,” he said.

In the meantime, Russia “is full of patience,” he said, adding: “Let’s see how everything develops.”