President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia met with Iran’s foreign minister in Moscow on Monday, for the first publicized meeting between senior officials of the two allied nations since Israel began its military campaign against Iran on June 13.
The Kremlin has largely stood on the sidelines while Israel has destroyed Iranian air defenses, struck nuclear facilities and killed members of Iran’s military leadership, and Iran has fired deadly missile barrages at targets across Israel. But on Monday, Mr. Putin and his officials attempted to show more explicit support for Russia’s ally — while seemingly trying to avoid provoking the United States, which intervened militarily in the conflict on Sunday, or damaging relations with Iran’s rivals in the Middle East.
“The absolutely unprovoked aggression against Iran is unfounded and unjustified,” Mr. Putin said at a meeting with Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, according to a Kremlin statement. “We are making efforts from our side to provide support to the Iranian people.”
Mr. Putin told Mr. Araghchi that he had spoken about the Israel-Iran war with President Trump, as well as with the leaders of Israel, Iran and the United Arab Emirates. Earlier on Monday, the Kremlin said Mr. Putin also spoke by telephone with Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani of Iraq.
The discussions appeared to be part of the Kremlin’s broader efforts to present Russia as a potential mediator in any talks that could bring an end to the fighting.
Yet, according to the Kremlin’s statement on Monday, Mr. Putin stopped short of directly calling out the United States or Israel for attacking Iran. The careful tone contrasted with the more explicit one used by Mr. Araghchi, who denounced the “aggressive actions of Israel and the U.S.A.,” according to the Kremlin.
Dmitri S. Peskov, the Kremlin’s spokesman, attempted to toe the same careful line as Mr. Putin. In remarks on Monday, he voiced Russia’s support for Iran, without making any military or economic commitments that could potentially anger the Trump administration or siphon resources from Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Speaking to reporters, Mr. Peskov deflected a question about whether Russia would be willing to bolster Iranian air defenses.
“Going forward, everything will depend on what Iran will need,” Mr. Peskov said.
He added that Russia had already issued a statement condemning strikes on Iran, and had offered to mediate the conflict.
“These are types of support,” Mr. Peskov said.
Anatoly Kurmanaev covers Russia and its transformation following the invasion of Ukraine.
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