President Putin holds phone call with Iranian President Pezeshkian

On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to discuss the ongoing conflict in the region. During the call, President Putin expressed his condolences for the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, his family members, and various military and political officials. The Kremlin report explicitly attributed the casualties to what it described as an Israeli-American military offensive against Iran. President Putin reaffirmed Russia's position calling for an immediate ceasefire and a return to political and diplomatic solutions. He stated that Russia rejects violent methods for conflict resolution in the Middle East and is maintaining continuous contact with leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council. President Pezeshkian expressed gratitude for Russia's solidarity regarding Iran's sovereignty and provided an update on the current state of hostilities. Both sides agreed to continue maintaining communications through various channels.