MOSCOW, 23 June — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday condemned the recent U.S. military strikes on Iran as “absolutely unprovoked aggression,” during a high-profile meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi at the Kremlin. The remarks signal a clear alignment between Moscow and Tehran amid escalating regional tensions.
“This is an absolutely unprovoked aggression against Iran; it has no basis or justification,” Putin said during the meeting. He reiterated Moscow’s support, saying Russia would continue assisting the Iranian people. “We, for our part, are making efforts to provide assistance to the Iranian people. We have long-standing, good, reliable relations with Iran,” he added.
The U.S. launched coordinated strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities a day earlier, prompting strong condemnation from both Russia and Iran. Araghchi thanked Putin for Russia’s vocal opposition to the U.S. and Israeli actions.
“These aggressive actions by Israel and the U.S. are completely illegitimate and violate international rules and norms,” Araghchi stated. “We are defending our sovereignty and country, and our defence is legitimate.”
The meeting also touched on bilateral cooperation in nuclear energy. Araghchi praised Russia’s longstanding role in Iran’s peaceful nuclear development. “Russia has always been a partner for us in the sphere of nuclear energy. It built the Bushehr nuclear power plant and played a constructive role in past negotiations,” he said.
The Kremlin talks underscore Moscow’s intent to strengthen ties with Tehran amid a shifting geopolitical landscape, even as Western powers ramp up pressure on Iran over its nuclear programme.
