Putin Hosts Araqchi, Condemns U.S. Strikes as ‘Unprovoked Aggression’

(The Post News)– On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in Moscow, a diplomatic meeting that took place just days after the United States launched targeted airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. This high-level encounter signals a consolidation of Russia and Iran’s strategic partnership amid escalating tensions in the Middle East following the U.S. military action.

Putin publicly denounced the U.S. strikes carried out using advanced B-2 stealth bombers and Tomahawk cruise missiles as “absolutely unprovoked aggression”. He also asserted there was no legal or moral justification for the bombings of Iran’s nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. The Russian leader emphasized Moscow’s intention to assist the Iranian people. Furthermore, Putin voiced concerns over the broader regional implications of the strikes, warning that such military interventions could destabilise the entire Middle East and risk plunging it into chaos.

During the televised meeting, Putin expressed relief that Araqchi was in Moscow, stressing the urgent need for dialogue. “This will give us the opportunity to discuss all these pressing issues and think together about how we could get out of today’s situation,” Putin said, signalling Russia’s interest in playing a constructive role to mitigate the escalating crisis.

In response, Araqchi framed Iran’s position as one of legitimate self-defense, maintaining that Tehran’s nuclear program and military activities fall within its sovereign rights under international law. He thanked Russia for its vocal condemnation of the U.S. actions and praised Moscow for standing “on the right side of history and international law”. The Iranian diplomat also conveyed personal greetings to Putin from Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Ebrahim Raisi, underlining the importance of the Russia-Iran alliance at this critical juncture.

The backdrop to this meeting is a dramatic escalation following the U.S. airstrikes on Saturday, which targeted key Iranian nuclear sites in an operation aimed at crippling Iran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons. The Pentagon described the strikes as successful in disrupting Iran’s nuclear ambitions, but Tehran vehemently condemned the attack as an illegal act of aggression.

The January 2025 strategic cooperation treaty between Russia and Iran has significantly deepened bilateral relations, encompassing military, economic, and diplomatic collaboration. However, the treaty conspicuously lacks a mutual defense clause, meaning Russia is not formally obligated to provide military assistance to Iran in the event of conflict. Despite this, the Kremlin’s public support for Tehran signals a willingness to counterbalance U.S. and NATO influence in the region through diplomatic and political means.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov disclosed that U.S. President Donald Trump did not provide detailed information to Putin about the planned strikes prior to their execution, though Iran and Israel were key topics in their recent discussions. Peskov criticized the U.S. attack and warned of a dangerous escalation. “An increase in the number of participants in this conflict is happening or, rather, has happened. A new spiral of escalation of tension in the region,” he said.

This meeting highlights Moscow’s dual role: as a staunch ally of Tehran and as a self-appointed global mediator seeking to prevent a full-scale regional war. Russia’s public denunciation of U.S. actions and its offer to mediate are calibrated attempts to position itself as a key power broker amid intensifying Middle Eastern tensions.

International observers are closely watching the situation, aware that any further escalation could have far-reaching consequences, potentially drawing in other regional and global actors. Meanwhile, the strategic calculus between Iran, Russia, the U.S., and their allies remains in flux, with diplomatic, military, and economic manoeuvres ongoing behind the scenes.

As the crisis unfolds, the Putin-Araqchi meeting serves as a clear message: Russia stands firmly with Iran and will seek to challenge U.S. efforts to isolate or weaken Tehran while simultaneously advocating for de-escalation and negotiation to prevent a wider conflict.