The president of Russia, Vladimir Putin, has been blunt to reject any speculation about an eventual murder of the supreme leader of Iran, Ali Jameneí, in the midst of the growing climate of tension between Tehran and Israel. In a press conference with the main international agencies, including Efe, Putin settled the theme with forcefulness: “I don’t even want to talk about that possibility. I have heard all this, but I don’t want to talk about it.”.
The statement occurred within the framework of the International Economic Forum of St. Petersburg, known as the “Davos Russian”, where the situation in the Middle East – and particularly that of Iran, one of the main strategic allies of the Kremlin – monopolized much of the attention. The Russian president took the occasion to reiterate its commitment to a cessation of hostilities with Israel that allows to preserve the Iranian civil program, underlining the need to avoid a regional escalation that could have unpredictable consequences.
Russian mediation without Iranian capitulation
Putin offered its mediation services To achieve a way for the cessation of bombings between Iran and Israel, although he admitted that the matter is “very sensitive.” “Such a decision can be found,” said Putin, who added that in his opinion “it is possible to guarantee Iran’s interests in the field of peaceful nuclear energy and, at the same time, to dissipate Israel’s concerns about his safety.”
He added that this position has been Putting the US President Donald Trump; The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the Iranian leader, Masud fishshkian. “We do not impose anything on anyone, we simply say that we see a possible exit to the situation,” Putin said, to add that the decision must be made by the governments of these countries, “first of all Iran and Israel.”
Of course, Trump, who had seen before with good eyes the Russian mediation regarding highly enriched Iranian uranium and his conversion into fuel for civil reactors, seemed to reject it in the last telephone conversation held between both leaders. As for a possible Iranian capitulation, Putin recalled that “underomic plants) exist and nothing has happened with them.” “That is very important,” he said.
Tehran has not asked for help against Israel
In addition to rejecting a possible physical elimination of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, Putin also admitted that he will not go to the help of Tehran, whose supply supplies of Assault Shahed were crucial in the first two years of fighting In Ukraine. “Iran has not addressed us with another kind of support,” he said.
He recalled that 250 Russian specialists are currently at the Bushehr nuclear power plantwhich was built near the Persian Gulf after the project was abandoned by Germany. “We have not left. Is that not support?” He said and added that Israel agreed with the Kremlin that will guarantee the safety of Russian engineers and operators.
He stressed that at the time Moscow offered Tehran to work together in the development of anti -aircraft defense systems, but, he added, “the partners did not show great interest.” In addition, he said that The strategic association agreement who signed at the beginning of the year with the Iranian leader, Masud fishshkian, It does not include issues related to defense. Similar document signed a year ago with North Korea does include a military assistance clause in case of external aggression.
Ukraine, time ends
Regarding peace negotiations in Ukraine, Putin warned kyiv that every minute that passes the Russian conditions for a peaceful arrangement will be firmers. “We also want to end this (with the conflict) as soon as possible. And better if it is by peaceful means, “he said. Putin said he will not have trouble meeting with the Ukrainian leader, Volodimir Zelenski, but he questioned his legitimacy as head of the State, once his mandate, according to Russia, expired in May 2024.
“We proposed conditions in Istanbul that were much softer than now (…). We do not agree, the situation can still change to worse. We must not extend it anymore. You have to sit down and reach an agreement,” he insisted. Putin recalled that In 2022 Russia was willing to allow Ukraine to preserve the control of the southern regions of Jersón and Zaporiyiain exchange for the laying of a land corridor to the annexed Crimean Peninsula. Now, on the other hand, he highlighted, those two regions and the popular republics of Donetsk and Lugansk are everywhere inalienable in the territory of the Rus Federationto.
Putin denies attack against civilians in kyiv
In addition, he stressed that Moscow will not allow Ukraine to have an army that threatens the security of its territoryalthough he denied that his aviation pointed against civil objectives in the brutal attack left by 28 dead in kyiv. “The attack was not against residential neighborhoods, but against military industry facilities. It is what we do and that is not a secret, since one of the objectives of the special military operation is the demilitarization of Ukraine,” he said.
He also called Western allies Do not urge kyiv to continue fighting “to the last Ukrainian” And, in this regard, he stressed that Trump wants to “sincerely” achieve an arrangement to the conflict. In turn, the Chief of Kremlin said that Moscow is willing to continue after June 22 the negotiations with kyiv on humanitarian matters, such as the exchange of prisoners of war. “These negotiations make sense,” he said.
