Putin Avoids Talk Of Khamenei Assassination, Calls For Ending Hostilities

<p style=”text-align: justify;”>As tensions in the Middle East continue to rise, Russian President Vladimir Putin firmly distanced himself on Thursday from growing speculation surrounding the potential assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei by Israel or the United States.</p>
<p style=”text-align: justify;”>Speaking to senior editors from Russian news agencies, Putin refused to engage with the possibility, saying bluntly, &ldquo;I do not even want to discuss this possibility. I do not want to.&rdquo; Despite being pressed further on the matter, he held his position, acknowledging only that he was aware of the recent remarks.</p>
<p style=”text-align: justify;”>The Russian leader’s comments come amid intensifying rhetoric from both Israeli and American officials. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has openly floated the idea that military pressure might lead to regime change in Tehran. Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump stated earlier this week that Washington knows Khamenei&rsquo;s location but has chosen not to act&mdash;&ldquo;for now.&rdquo;<br />Putin, speaking from St. Petersburg, noted that despite the complex internal dynamics in Iran, public sentiment appears to be coalescing around the country’s political leadership.</p>
<p style=”text-align: justify;”>&ldquo;We see that today in Iran, with all the complexity of the internal political processes taking place there&hellip; there is a consolidation of society around the country&rsquo;s political leadership,&rdquo; he said.</p>
<p style=”text-align: justify;”>Amid ongoing Israeli airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear and missile facilities, residents of Tehran are reportedly fleeing the capital, now in its sixth day of bombardment. Against this volatile backdrop, global observers are left wondering if the U.S. might escalate its involvement.</p>
<p style=”text-align: justify;”>Putin revealed he has been in direct contact with both Trump and Netanyahu, sharing Moscow&rsquo;s proposals for de-escalation. He emphasized the need for a diplomatic solution&mdash;one that protects both Iran&rsquo;s right to peaceful nuclear development and Israel&rsquo;s security.</p>
<h2 style=”text-align: justify;”>A Delicate Balance Over Iran’s Nuclear Ambitions</h2>
<p style=”text-align: justify;”>Pressed on the broader question of regime change in Iran, Putin offered a pointed reflection: before pursuing such drastic actions, one must ask whether they serve their intended purpose. He pointed out that Iran&rsquo;s underground uranium enrichment facilities remain operational and undamaged, raising questions about the strategic effectiveness of ongoing strikes. &ldquo;These underground factories, they exist. Nothing has happened to them,&rdquo; he stated. &ldquo;It seems to me that it would be right for everyone to look for ways to end hostilities and find solutions that all sides can agree to. I believe such a solution is achievable.&rdquo;</p>
<p style=”text-align: justify;”>When asked if Russia would step in to support Iran militarily, Putin clarified that a strategic agreement signed with Tehran earlier this year does not include defense cooperation. Furthermore, he said Iran has not formally requested military aid.</p>
<h2 style=”text-align: justify;”>Warnings from Moscow and a Call for Restraint</h2>
<p style=”text-align: justify;”>Russia&rsquo;s concerns about the conflict&rsquo;s wider implications were echoed by Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, who warned Washington that a strike on Iran could destabilize the entire region. The Russian Foreign Ministry went further, cautioning that Israeli attacks on nuclear sites might risk triggering a catastrophic nuclear event. Despite the escalating conflict, Putin said Israel had assured Moscow that Russian specialists working on nuclear projects in Iran&mdash;specifically at the Bushehr facility&mdash;would not be harmed in the air raids.</p>
<p style=”text-align: justify;”>&ldquo;We have a very good relationship with Iran,&rdquo; Putin added, reaffirming Russia&rsquo;s role in supporting Iran&rsquo;s civil nuclear energy program. He also reiterated Moscow&rsquo;s offer to supply Iran with nuclear fuel and take back its enriched uranium, a move intended to strike a balance between Iranian development and Israeli security concerns. &ldquo;It is possible to ensure Iran’s interests in the field of peaceful nuclear energy and, at the same time, address Israel’s concerns about its security,&rdquo; Putin said. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve shared these proposals with our partners in the U.S., Israel, and Iran.&rdquo;</p>