Putin tells Iran leader he will ‘do everything’ to help end war

Russian President Vladimir Putin has held talks with Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian and promised to “do everything” to help end the Middle East conflict, Russian news agencies have reported.

“We are ready to do everything that is in our power to contribute to the settlement of this situation,” said Putin ahead of a regional summit in the Central Asian nation of Turkmenistan, adding that Iran had made “real efforts to end the war” since US-Israeli attacks started on February 28.

Putin noted the “positive evolution” in relations between Iran and Russia.

The two have reinforced diplomatic and military links since Russia launched its offensive in Ukraine in February 2022, becoming increasingly reliant on each other.

Both leaders are at the summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) – a grouping of former Soviet nations – in the resort of Avaza on the Caspian Sea.