Moscow, Mar 7: Russian President Vladimir Putin held a telephonic conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Friday, offering condolences on the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and reaffirming Russia’s call for an immediate cessation of hostilities. He also highlighted that he remains in constant contact with leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states.
The details of the conversation were shared by Russia’s Foreign Ministry. In a post on Telegram, the ministry stated:
“During the telephone conversation with President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian, Vladimir Putin once again expressed his heartfelt condolences on the assassination of Supreme Leader Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, along with family members, military and political leadership, and the numerous civilian casualties resulting from the United States and Israel’s armed aggression against Iran.”
The ministry added that Putin reaffirmed Russia’s principled stance in favor of an immediate cessation of hostilities, rejecting the use of force to resolve issues concerning Iran or the wider Middle East, and emphasizing the importance of a swift return to diplomatic solutions.
President Putin also noted that he remains in regular contact with GCC leaders.
Masoud Pezeshkian expressed gratitude for Russia’s support of Iran’s sovereignty and independence and provided an update on recent developments during the latest phase of the conflict. The two sides agreed to maintain ongoing communication through multiple channels.
These developments come amid escalating tensions in West Asia following a joint US-Israel strike on Iranian territory on February 28, which killed Ayatollah Khamenei and other senior figures. In Operation Epic Fury/Roaring Lion, US and Israeli forces targeted key Iranian military sites, nuclear-related infrastructure, and leadership compounds.
In retaliation, Iran launched drone and missile attacks across multiple Arab countries, targeting American military bases and Israeli assets, while Israel continued strikes on Tehran and extended operations into Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah. (Agency)
