Putin Speaks With Leaders Of Israel And Iran, Offers Mediation Amid Regional Tensions

Last Updated:January 16, 2026, 17:30 IST

The Kremlin said that during Vladimir Putin’s call with Benjamin Netanyahu, Moscow reiterated its “readiness to continue its mediation efforts.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin. (File)

Russian President Vladimir Putin held separate phone calls with the leaders of Israel and Iran, the Kremlin said, offering mediation as large-scale protests in Iran fuel fears of a wider military confrontation in the region. According to the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in an effort to ease tensions between the two longtime rivals.

“The situation in the region is highly tense, and the president continues his efforts to facilitate de-escalation," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Independent monitors said that Iranian security forces have killed thousands during a sweeping crackdown on nationwide anti-government protests, prompting alarm internationally and threats of military action by the United States, Israel’s key ally.

The unrest has raised concerns that the crisis inside Iran could spill over into a broader regional conflict. Iran and Israel fought a brief but intense war in June, marked by unprecedented Israeli strikes on Iranian military and nuclear facilities. The United States briefly joined those operations, hitting three major Iranian nuclear sites.

Russia Seeks To Play Mediator

The Kremlin said that during Vladimir Putin’s call with Benjamin Netanyahu, Moscow reiterated its “readiness to continue its mediation efforts." It did not specify what concrete steps were currently under way, nor did it comment directly on the protests in Iran. Russia had previously offered to mediate during the June conflict between Iran and Israel.

Dmitry Peskov said Moscow would announce “the results of our telephone conversation with the Iranian President very soon," without providing further details.

Moscow is a close ally of Tehran and has deepened cooperation with Iran in recent years. At the same time, Russia has sought to maintain workable relations with Israel, though those ties have come under strain following Russian criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza since October 7, 2023.

Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier this week that he hoped Iran would soon be freed from what he described as the “yoke of tyranny," as protests spread across the country. However, demonstrations appear to have subsided in recent days amid heavy repression and a week-long internet blackout. Iran has repeatedly accused the United States and Israel of inciting the unrest and attempting to undermine the Islamic republic’s national unity.

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