Putin: 'Unprovoked act of aggression' against Iran 'without foundation or justification'
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday took aim at the recent U.S. strikes on Iran, calling them a "completely unprovoked act of aggression."
“You are visiting Russia during a challenging period, marked by a significant escalation of tensions both in the region and surrounding your country,” Putin told Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, according to an English transcript from the Kremlin.
“Russia’s position on the current developments is well known. It has been clearly expressed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and is reflected in the stance we’ve taken at the United Nations Security Council, with which you are already familiar.”
“The completely unprovoked act of aggression against Iran is without foundation or justification. Russia has long-standing, strong, and trustworthy relations with Iran, and we are committed to supporting the Iranian people through our continued efforts,” he added.
President Trump announced Saturday that the United States had bombed three Iranian nuclear sites, stepping into a conflict between Iran and Israel that kicked off earlier this month.
Iran has since launched an attack on a U.S. Air Force base in Qatar, with a spokesperson for the Qatari Minister of Foreign Affairs saying in a statement that Qatari air defenses “thwarted the attack and successfully intercepted the Iranian missiles.”
A Kremlin spokesperson also said Monday that Russia was ready to assist in the ongoing Middle Eastern conflict, but that Iran needed to spell out its requests.
Dmitry Peskov, a Russian presidential spokesperson, said to reporters at a briefing that the help “all depends on what Iran needs.”
The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.