'It all depends on what Iran needs. We have offered our mediation efforts,' says Kremlin spokesman
Russia is ready to help Iran in various ways amid the ongoing escalation in the Middle East but it depends on Tehran's needs, the Kremlin said on Monday.
“It all depends on what Iran needs. We have offered our mediation efforts. This is specific. We have stated our position, this is also a very important manifestation, a form of support for the Iranian side,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists in a press briefing.
Israel and Iran have been engaged in aerial combat since June 13 when Tel Aviv launched a surprise attack on several sites across Iran, including military and nuclear facilities, prompting Tehran to launch retaliatory strikes.
The US, meanwhile, struck three main Iranian nuclear sites early Sunday, with US President Donald Trump claiming severe damage to the facilities and "obliteration."
About contacts between President Vladimir Putin and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Moscow, Peskov said the talks will provide the chance to exchange opinions and will give Tehran the chance to inform Moscow of its proposals and vision concerning the current situation.
Peskov said there has been an increase in the number of actors in the current escalation witnessed, saying: "And of course, we condemn this and express deep regret in this regard."
He said Iran was repeatedly discussed between Putin and Trump during their recent conversations, but the Russian president was not informed of Sunday's strikes.
“We believe that the fate of the leadership of a country should be decided by the people of that country, but in no way by third countries or the leadership of third countries,” Peskov said, responding to a question on Trump's remarks regarding a change of power in Iran.
He said US strikes on Iran will not affect the dialogue between Moscow and Washington because these are “independent processes.”
“It remains to be seen what happened to these nuclear facilities, whether there is a radiation hazard. Although we have heard a statement from the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) that there are currently no signs of radiation contamination. But these are all questions that, of course, cannot but cause legitimate concern,” Peskov added.
- Russia-Ukraine talks
Commenting on the next round of direct Russia-Ukraine peace talks, Peskov said the Kremlin expects the timing of the negotiations to be clarified this week.
"We expect clarity this week on the third round of negotiations. So we continue the process," Peskov said, adding that Moscow is focused first and foremost on achieving its objectives as part of the ongoing conflict, now in its fourth year.
In response to a question on whether the conflict over Iran's nuclear program would distract attention away from the Ukraine war, Peskov said Moscow and Kyiv continue to work for a settlement at the expert level.
He said the talks in Istanbul can be considered as a precursor to a meeting between the Russian and US presidents.
"It is as a result of these talks that we will still have to clarify the position of the two sides regarding the draft memoranda that were exchanged and continue the conversation," he added.
Peskov underlined that such a meeting will take place only after expert negotiations produce decisions and agreements that both leaders can accept.
He said contacts between Putin and Trump are possible at any time if they consider it appropriate, and that there are closed communication channels for this, without further elaboration.
The first two rounds of renewed direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine were held in the Turkish metropolis Istanbul on May 16 and June 2.
