Putin Urges De-Escalation Amid Israel-Iran Conflict, Warns Against Regime Change Push

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday cautioned against efforts to force regime change in Iran, stating that Iranian society appeared to be consolidating around its leadership amid ongoing Israeli airstrikes. He made the remarks in response to a Reuters question about recent Israeli assertions that continued military pressure could topple the Islamic Republic.

Speaking in St. Petersburg, Putin emphasized the need for a balanced resolution to the conflict — one that respected Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear energy while also safeguarding Israel’s unconditional security.

Putin’s comments came as tensions in the Middle East escalated, with U.S. President Donald Trump keeping global audiences uncertain over whether the United States would join Israel’s military campaign targeting Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure. In Tehran, the sixth consecutive day of aerial bombardment triggered a mass exodus of residents from the capital.

Referring to remarks by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump’s call for Iran’s “unconditional surrender,” Putin warned against military actions that lacked clear strategic outcomes.
“One should always ask whether the main objective is actually being achieved before embarking on such steps,” he said.

Putin noted that despite the strikes, Iran’s underground uranium enrichment facilities remained operational. “These underground factories exist; nothing has happened to them,” he said. This, he added, underscored the need for dialogue rather than escalation.

The Russian president said he had been in direct contact with both Trump and Netanyahu, sharing Moscow’s proposals for resolving the crisis. “In my opinion, such a solution can be found,” he said, urging all parties to seek a diplomatic path forward.

Echoing Putin’s call for restraint, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Wednesday that Moscow had urged Washington not to attack Iran, warning that doing so would dangerously destabilize the entire Middle East.

Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for Russia’s Foreign Ministry warned that Israel’s strikes on Iranian nuclear sites risked triggering a broader catastrophe, including the possibility of a nuclear disaster.