Putin says Israel agreed to ensure security of Russians working at Iran nuclear plant – The Times of Israel
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Putin Rejects Talk of Khamenei Assassination, Urges Peaceful Solution to Iran-Israel Conflict
Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed speculation about a possible U.S.-Israeli assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Putin emphasized that Iranian society was uniting around its leadership despite internal complexities, and urged all sides to seek diplomatic resolutions. Putin called for mutual recognition of Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear energy and Israel’s right to security.
The statement follows remarks by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about potential regime change in Iran, and U.S. President Donald Trump’s comment that Washington knows Khamenei’s location but is not acting “for now.” Putin declined to discuss the scenario of Khamenei’s assassination, reiterating that Russia supports a peaceful path forward.
Putin called for mutual recognition of Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear energy and Israel’s right to security, noting that Iran’s underground uranium enrichment sites remain operational. He stressed that resolving the escalating conflict diplomatically is possible and preferable to further military action.
While Iran has not formally requested military aid, Putin clarified that the Russia-Iran strategic partnership agreement signed in January does not include weapons transfers. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov also warned that U.S. or Israeli strikes on Iran could destabilize the Middle East and trigger a nuclear disaster.
Putin added that Israel assured Moscow it would not harm Russian personnel working on two reactors at Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant. He confirmed Russia’s willingness to supply Iran with nuclear fuel and manage enriched uranium to ensure peaceful use while addressing Israeli security concerns.
Moscow continues to engage with the U.S., Israel, and Iran, presenting its plan for de-escalation and stability in the region.
Live updates: Israel-Iran conflict, Trump weighs US options on sixth day
Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. He said the intelligence community has not changed its assessment that Iran has not moved toward a nuclear weapon. Warner said he does not know what the Trump administration’s plans are for US involvement in the conflict with Iran. A White House official responded to Warner’s comments by pointing to a post from the administration’s rapid response X account. The post mentions recent comments from US Central Command chief Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla citing the International Atomic Energy Agency saying Iran could produce its first 25 kg of weapons-grade material in one week.
Democratic Sen. Mark Warner, the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, suggested President Donald Trump is contradicting what he described as the consensus opinion of the intelligence community.
“We got a brief as recently as Monday, that seems ages ago, that said the intelligence community has not changed their assessment that Iran had not moved toward an actual weaponization,” Warner told CNN’s Katie Hunt, adding: “And if this president is going to suddenly blow off all of the consensus opinion of the intelligence community, well, what are these folks’ job?
“Their job is to speak truth to power, not cook the books,” Warner continued. “When you cook intelligence, you end up with a war like Iraq, where a president at that point didn’t follow the intelligence and the intelligence was manipulated. I worry that we may be seeing some of that going on.”
His comments come as the president said on Wednesday that he believes Iran was “a few weeks away” from having a nuclear weapon – and as the administration has sent mixed signals on what intelligence it has around Iran’s nuclear progress.
Warner said that even he — as part of a high-ranking group in Congress who has access to classified national security information — does not know what the Trump administration’s plans are for US involvement in the conflict.
“We’re supposed to know,” Warner said. “I have no foggy idea what this administration’s plans are or what the foreign policy is vis-a-vis Iran.”
A White House official responded to Warner’s comments by pointing to a post from the administration’s rapid response X account.
The post mentions recent comments from US Central Command chief Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla citing the International Atomic Energy Agency saying, “Should the Regime decide to sprint to a nuclear weapon, it is estimated that current stockpiles and the available centrifuges across several enrichment plants are sufficient to produce its first 25 kg of weapons-grade material in roughly one week and enough for up to ten nuclear weapons in three weeks.”
Remember: When Israel launched its series of strikes against Iran, it also issued a number of dire warnings about the country’s nuclear program, suggesting Iran was fast approaching a point of no return in its quest to obtain nuclear weapons and that the strikes were necessary to preempt that outcome.
But CNN reported that US intelligence assessments had reached a different conclusion: Not only was Iran not actively pursuing a nuclear weapon, it was also up to three years away from being able to produce and deliver one to a target of its choosing, according to four people familiar with the assessment.
This post was updated with a response from the administration.
Putin urges Israel-Iran diplomacy, slams NATO and US over Ukraine crisis
Putin refused to speculate on the potential assassination of Iran’s supreme leader. Putin urged a diplomatic solution that respects both Iran’s nuclear ambitions and Israel’s security. Putin insisted Russia remains open to dialogue, but on terms rooted in legal legitimacy. He also rejected NATO”s military expansion as “pointless,” blamed the West for igniting the Ukraine crisis.. Putin reiterated readiness to meet with US and Ukrainian leaders, but only if it was in a “legal framework’. He said he would be “extremely prepared” for a possible meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, but that it must be with “positive results” and “in line with his intention to restore relations with Russia’“”“We do not consider any NATO rearmament to be a threat to the Russian Federation, because we are self-sufficient in terms of our armed forces,” he said. “There are already large companies that want to return to Russia. And I hope that both the President of the United States and his inner circle will see this”
While refusing to speculate on the potential assassination of Iran’s supreme leader, Putin urged a diplomatic solution that respects both Iran’s nuclear ambitions and Israel’s security. He also rejected NATO’s military expansion as “pointless,” blamed the West for igniting the Ukraine crisis, and reiterated readiness to meet with US and Ukrainian leaders. Putin insisted Russia remains open to dialogue, but on terms rooted in legal legitimacy.
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Putin commented on the following topics.
ASKED ABOUT HIS REACTION IF ISRAEL AND THE UNITED STATES KILLED IRANIAN SUPREME LEADER AYATOLLAH ALI KHAMENEI:
“If I may, I hope that this will be the most correct answer to your question. I do not even want to discuss this possibility. I do not want to.”
“I hear all this, but I don’t even want to discuss it.”
ON POSSIBLE REGIME CHANGE IN IRAN:
“You always need to look at whether the goal is achieved or not when starting something. We see that today in Iran, with all the complexity of the internal political processes taking place there, we are aware of this, and I think there is no point in going deeper, but nevertheless there is a consolidation of society around the country’s political leadership. This happens almost always and everywhere, and Iran is no exception. This is the first thing.\
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“The second thing that is very important is that everyone is talking about it, I will only repeat what we know and hear from all sides, these underground factories, they exist, nothing has happened to them. And in this regard, it seems to me that it would be right for everyone to look for ways to end hostilities and find ways for all parties to this conflict to come to an agreement with each other in order to ensure both Iran’s interests, on the one hand, for its nuclear activities, including peaceful nuclear activities, of course (I mean peaceful nuclear energy and the peaceful atom in other areas), as well as to ensure the interests of Israel from the point of view of the unconditional security of the Jewish state. This is a delicate issue, and, of course, you need to be very careful here, but in my opinion, in general, such a solution can be found.”
ON SUPPORTING IRAN:
“We are in contact with our Iranian partners on an ongoing basis. Today in contact. I think tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. We continue our relationship.
“And secondly, as I have already said, our specialists are working in Bushehr. 250 people and other business travellers. The total number can reach 600. And we’re not leaving. Isn’t that support? Iran has not asked us for any other support.”
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ON HELPING IRAN WITH WEAPONS:
“We once offered our Iranian friends to work in the field of air defence systems, but our partners didn’t show much interest then, and that’s it. As for the agreement you mentioned about the strategic partnership, there are no articles related to the defence sphere… And thirdly, our Iranian friends don’t even ask us to do this. So there’s practically nothing to discuss.”
“Our proposal was to create a system, not separate supplies, but a system. We eventually discussed this once, but the Iranian side didn’t show much interest in it, and it all died down. As for individual deliveries, yes, of course, we carried out these deliveries at one time. This has nothing to do with today’s crisis. It was what is called regular cooperation in the military-technical sphere. And within the framework of international norms.”
ON RELATIONS WITH U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP:
Regarding a possible meeting with Mr. Trump, it would certainly be extremely useful. I agree with the President of the United States – it must, of course, be prepared and end with some positive results… We have great respect for his intention to restore relations with Russia in many areas of security and economic activity.
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“There are already contacts between our large companies that want to return. This, by and large, inspires such a certain restrained optimism. And I hope that both the President of the United States and his inner circle will see and hear this. And together with business representatives, decisions will be made aimed at restoring Russian-American relations.”
ON NATO:
“We do not consider any NATO rearmament to be a threat to the Russian Federation, because we are self-sufficient in terms of ensuring our security. And we are constantly improving our armed forces and our defensive capabilities. Whatever NATO does, of course, it creates certain threats, but we will stop all these threats that will arise. There is no doubt about it. In this sense, any rearmament and budget increase to 5% of the GDP of NATO countries makes no sense.
“Secondly. Over the centuries, unfortunately, in the West, from time to time, for decades, the question of the threat from Russia has always arisen. It was so convenient for the Western elites to build their internal policy, because on the basis of an imaginary threat from the east, they could extort money from taxpayers and all the time explain their own mistakes in the field of economics by the threat from the east.
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“If the NATO countries want to further increase their budget, well, that’s their business. But it won’t do anyone any good. Of course, they will create additional risks. Well, yes, they will. But it’s not our decision. I think this is completely irrational and pointless. And, of course, there are no threats from Russia. It’s just nonsense.”
ON RELATIONS WITH THE WEST:
“It is clear that the current crisis in relations between Russia and Western Europe began in 2014. But the problem is not that Russia annexed Crimea, but that Western countries contributed to the coup in Ukraine. We’ve heard all the time before: you have to live by the rules. By what rules? Well, what kind of rule is this when three states, France, Germany, and Poland, came to Kyiv and, as guarantors, signed a paper of agreements between the opposition and the authorities led by President (Viktor) Yanukovich. A few days later, the opposition launched a coup. And no one even sneezed, as if nothing had happened.
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“And then we hear: we have to live by the rules. What are the rules? What are you thinking of? Do you write rules for others, but you’re not going to follow anything yourself? Well, who’s going to live like this? That’s where the crisis started. But not because Russia acted from a position of strength.
“Our Western partners have always acted, at least from a position of strength, after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Because the world order after World War Two was based on a balance of power between the victors. And now one of the winners is gone – the Soviet Union has collapsed. Well, the Westerners began to rewrite these rules for themselves. What are the rules?
ON WHETHER HE HAD MADE MISTAKES IN HIS TIME IN POWER:
“Let him who is without sin cast the first the stone. Let’s leave it at that.”
ON MEETING UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY:
“We are ready to meet, as I said, by the way, I am ready to meet with everyone, including Zelenskiy. Yes, that’s not the question.
“If the Ukrainian state trusts someone to negotiate, for God’s sake, let it be Zelenskiy. That’s not the question. The question is who will sign the documents… When dealing with serious issues, it is important for us not to have a propaganda component, but a legal one.”
“But the point must be made, the signature must be from the legitimate authorities, otherwise, you know, the next one will come and throw it all in the bin. But you can’t do that either, we’re dealing with serious issues. That’s why I’m not giving up on this, but a lot of work needs to be done.”
ON SPEAKING TO GERMANY’S MERZ:
“If the Federal Chancellor wants to call and talk, I have already said this many times – we do not refuse any contacts. And we are always open to this… At some point, when our European partners decided to inflict a strategic defeat on us on the battlefield, they themselves stopped these contacts. They stopped, let them resume. We are open to them.
“I do doubt if Germany can contribute more than the United States as a mediator in our negotiations with Ukraine. A mediator must be neutral. And when we see German tanks and Leopard (battle tanks) on the battlefield, and now we are looking at the fact that the Federal Republic is considering supplying Taurus (missiles) for attacks on Russian territory using not only the equipment itself, but also using Bundeswehr officers… Here, of course, big questions arise. It is well known that if this happens, it will not affect the course of hostilities, that is excluded. But it will spoil our relationship completely.
“Therefore, today we consider the Federal Republic, just like many other European countries, not a neutral state, but as a party supporting Ukraine, and in some cases, perhaps, as accomplices in these hostilities. Nevertheless, if we are talking about a desire to talk about this topic, to present some ideas on this subject, I repeat once again, we are always ready for this.”
Putin says he does not want to discuss the possible Israeli-US killing of Iran’s supreme leader
Russian President Vladimir Putin says he does not want to discuss the possible Israeli-US killing of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Mr Putin said that one should always look at whether or not the main aim was being achieved before starting something. He said all sides should seek a resolution that ensured the interests of both Iran and Israel. Russia has offered to take enriched uranium from Iran and to supply nuclear fuel to the country’s civil energy programme, the Russian Foreign Ministry has said. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on June 18 that Moscow was telling the United States not to strike Iran because it would radically destabilise the Middle East. The Russian foreign ministry also warned that Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclar facilities risked triggering a nuclear catastrophe. The US President Donald Trump has said that the US knew where Mr Khamenei was “hiding” but that Washington was not going to kill him “for now”
Putin says he does not want to discuss the possible Israeli-US killing of Iran’s supreme leader
ST PETERSBURG, Russia – President Vladimir Putin on June 19 refused to discuss the possibility that Israel and the United States would kill Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and said the Iranian people were consolidating around the leadership in Tehran.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has openly speculated that Israel’s military attacks could result in regime change in Iran while US President Donald Trump said on June 17 that the US knew where Mr Khamenei was “hiding” but that Washington was not going to kill him “for now”.
Asked what his reaction would be if Israel did kill Mr Khamenei with the assistance of the United States, Mr Putin said: “I do not even want to discuss this possibility. I do not want to.”
When pressed, Mr Putin said he had heard the remarks about possibly killing Mr Khamenei but that he did not want to discuss it.
“We see that today in Iran, with all the complexity of the internal political processes taking place there … that there is a consolidation of society around the country’s political leadership,” Mr Putin told senior news agency editors in the northern Russian city of St Petersburg.
Mr Putin said all sides should look for ways to end hostilities in a way that ensured both Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear power and Israel’s right to the unconditional security of the Jewish state.
Mr Putin was speaking as US President Donald Trump kept the world guessing whether the US would join Israel’s bombardment of Iranian nuclear and missile sites and as residents of Iran’s capital streamed out of the city on the sixth day of the air assault.
Mr Putin said he had personally been in touch with Mr Trump and with Mr Netanyahu, and that he had conveyed Moscow’s ideas on resolving the conflict.
Iran’s nuclear facilities
Questioned about possible regime change in Iran, Mr Putin said that before getting into something, one should always look at whether or not the main aim is being achieved before starting something.
He said Iran’s underground uranium enrichment facilities were still intact.
“These underground factories, they exist, nothing has happened to them,” Mr Putin said, adding that all sides should seek a resolution that ensured the interests of both Iran and Israel.
“It seems to me that it would be right for everyone to look for ways to end hostilities and find ways for all parties to this conflict to come to an agreement with each other,” Mr Putin said. “In my opinion, in general, such a solution can be found.”
Asked if Russia was ready to provide Iran with modern weapons to defend itself against Israeli strikes, Mr Putin said a strategic partnership treaty signed with Tehran in January did not envisage military cooperation and that Iran had not made any formal request for assistance.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on June 18 that Moscow was telling the United States not to strike Iran because it would radically destabilise the Middle East.
A spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry also warned that Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclar facilities risked triggering a nuclear catastrophe.
Mr Putin said that Israel had given Moscow assurances that Russian specialists helping to build two more reactors at the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran would not be hurt in air strikes.
Mr Putin said that Moscow had “a very good relationship with Iran” and that Russia could ensure Iran’s interests in nuclear energy.
Russia has offered to take enriched uranium from Iran and to supply nuclear fuel to the country’s civil energy programme.
“It is possible to ensure Iran’s interests in the field of peaceful nuclear energy. And at the same time, to address Israel’s concerns about its security,” Mr Putin said. “We have outlined them (our ideas) to our partners from the USA, Israel and Iran.” REUTERS
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