Putin says Russia could help broker a deal between Israel and Iran

By AP 19 June 2025, 1:32 am

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Russia's President Vladimir Putin meets with service members as part of the "Time of Heroes" program, which aims to integrate veterans into high-ranking public positions, at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on June 12, 2025. (Sergei Bulkin / POOL / AFP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin offers to help mediate an end to the conflict between Israel and Iran, suggesting Moscow could help negotiate a settlement that could allow Tehran to pursue a peaceful atomic program while assuaging Israeli security concerns.

Speaking to senior news leaders of international news agencies, Putin notes that “it’s a delicate issue,” but adds that “in my view, a solution could be found.”

Asked how Russia would react if Israel kills Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Putin refuses to answer, saying that “I don’t even want to discuss such a possibility.”

Putin says he shared Moscow’s proposals with Iran, Israel and the US.

“We are not imposing anything on anyone; we are simply talking about how we see a possible way out of the situation. But the decision, of course, is up to the political leadership of all these countries, primarily Iran and Israel,” he says.

Putin notes that Russia helped Iran finish construction of a nuclear power plant and is currently working on building two more reactors.

“The work is underway, and our specialists are on site. That’s over 200 people. And we agreed with the Israeli leadership that security will be ensured,” Putin says.

Putin’s comments follow a mediation offer that he made in a call with U.S. President Donald Trump last weekend.

Trump says that he told Putin to keep focused on finding an endgame to his own conflict with Ukraine.

“I said, ‘Do me a favor, mediate your own,’” Trump says he told Putin. “I said, ‘Vladimir, let’s mediate Russia first. You can worry about this later.’”

The comments represented a shift for Trump, who earlier this week said he was “open” to Putin’s offer to mediate in the Middle East.

Russia has maintained a delicate balancing act in the Middle East for decades, trying to navigate its warm relations with Israel even as it has developed strong economic and military ties with Iran, a policy that potentially opens opportunities for Moscow to play power broker to help end the confrontation.