Vladimir Putin Issues Warning as Donald Trump Weighs Iran Strikes

 

Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a warning on Friday as U.S. President Donald Trump weighs possible military intervention in the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel.

Putin’s comments came as the hostilities entered their eighth day, following Israeli airstrikes last week that crippled significant portions of Iran’s military and intelligence infrastructure, destroyed parts of its nuclear program, and killed key Iranian nuclear scientists.

According to the Associated Press, the Israeli strikes have left over 600 Iranians dead and injured more than 2,000. Israel has also suffered casualties; officials reported at least 24 Israelis killed and hundreds more wounded by Iranian retaliatory strikes, including an attack on a major hospital on Thursday.

Trump is reportedly considering ordering a U.S. strike against Iran’s main underground nuclear enrichment facility at Fordo. This target is heavily fortified and could only be destroyed using American bunker-busting munitions that Israel does not possess. The U.S. president has also called for Iran’s “unconditional surrender,” a demand firmly rejected earlier in the week by Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Meanwhile, Russia—a key strategic ally of Iran—has been attempting to mediate between the two sides. Speaking Friday at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin expressed alarm over the escalating crisis and its implications for nuclear security.

“We are seriously concerned about what is happening around Iran’s nuclear facilities and the potential consequences,” Putin said.

He added that the Kremlin had asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to guarantee the safety of Russian personnel working on the construction of two nuclear reactors at Iran’s port city of Bushehr. Putin said he had also brought the issue up with Trump.

“Prime Minister Netanyahu has agreed to those assurances, and President Trump has promised to support our legitimate concerns,” Putin noted.

Throughout his remarks, Putin emphasized that Russia has maintained good relations with both Iran and Israel. He reiterated Moscow’s support for Iran’s right to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

Putin proposed that Russia could help broker an agreement allowing Iran to use nuclear technology for civilian needs while addressing Israel’s security concerns. “We are not imposing any solution,” he said. “We are simply outlining what we see as a possible way out of this situation. Ultimately, the decision belongs to the political leadership of these countries, above all Iran and Israel.”

However, Trump dismissed Putin’s overture to mediate. “He actually offered to help mediate,” Trump told reporters. “I said, ‘Do me a favor—mediate your own. Let’s mediate Russia first, okay?’ I said, ‘Vladimir, let’s handle Russia first. You can worry about this later.’”

According to the White House, Trump plans to decide within the next two weeks whether to authorize a strike on Iran.

When asked how Russia would respond if Israel were to target and kill Khamenei, Putin declined to comment. “I don’t even want to discuss such a possibility,” he said.