American attack on Iran 'unjustified,' Putin tells Araghchi

Russian President Vladimir Putin told Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Monday that there was "no justification" for U.S. bombings against his country and that Moscow was trying to help the Iranian people.

Putin received the Iranian diplomat in Moscow, two days after U.S. President Donald Trump sent U.S. bombers to strike Iran's three main nuclear sites. "The absolutely unprovoked aggression against Iran has no basis or justification," Putin said to Araghchi in televised remarks. "On our part, we are making efforts to assist the Iranian people," he added.

"I am very glad that you are in Moscow today, as it gives us the opportunity to discuss all these urgent issues and think together about a possible way out of the current situation," the Russian president continued.

For his part, Araghchi told Putin that Iran was acting in self-defense and thanked Russia for condemning the American actions. He conveyed the greetings of the Supreme Leader and the Iranian president to Putin. "Today, Russia is on the right side of history and international law," Araghchi stated.

This agreement does not include a mutual defense clause. Before the American strikes on Saturday, Moscow had warned that a U.S. military intervention risked destabilizing the entire region and plunging it into the "abyss."

"It all depends on what Iran needs," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded to reporters regarding what Russia was ready to do to assist Tehran. He added that Moscow offering to play a mediating role in this crisis already constituted a form of support.

Peskov also condemned the U.S. attacks. "The number of participants in this conflict is increasing — or rather, has already increased. A new spiral of escalating tensions in the region is underway," he told reporters. "And of course, we condemn this and express our regrets, profound regrets. Moreover, it remains to be seen what has happened to the Iranian nuclear facilities and whether there is a risk of radiation."

Peskov indicated that Trump had not informed Putin in advance of details about the planned strikes. "There was no detailed information. The issue of Iran was certainly raised several times during recent conversations between the presidents; some proposals were made by Russia, but there were no specific details on this matter," he specified.