Vladimir Putin has condemned recent US and Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, calling them “unprovoked” and “unjustified” as Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, arrived in Moscow seeking diplomatic backing. Putin said Russia was ready to assist the Iranian people and push for a negotiated solution, accusing Washington of abandoning diplomacy.
The comments came after the US launched a dramatic overnight assault using B-2 stealth bombers and “bunker-buster” bombs, which President Donald Trump claimed had “taken the bomb right out of Iran’s hands.” Russia’s UN ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, warned the attack had opened “Pandora’s box,” cautioning the UN Security Council that the Middle East was now edging toward a wider conflict with unpredictable — and potentially nuclear — consequences.
Trump has since escalated rhetoric further, openly floating the idea of regime change in Tehran while urging Iran’s leadership to return to negotiations. Moscow, however, insists it had offered mediation before the strikes and says the US showed no interest. Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev argued the attack had backfired, claiming Iran’s nuclear ambitions would continue and that the strikes had only strengthened support for the regime at home.
Western governments are bracing for retaliation. Britain was informed in advance of the US operation — codenamed Operation Midnight Hammer — but did not take part. UK officials have warned that Iranian cyber activity and covert operations are already a serious concern, with British bases in the region placed on high alert amid fears of drone or proxy attacks.
Despite international calls to de-escalate, Iran’s president said the US “must receive a response,” while a senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei warned American forces could be pushed out of the region entirely. Tehran has also threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil supplies.
Meanwhile, the UN’s nuclear watchdog confirmed Iran’s Natanz enrichment facility was completely destroyed, though the full extent of damage to the deeply buried Fordow site remains unclear. As diplomats scramble, global leaders warn the coming days could determine whether the crisis tips into a much broader and far more dangerous confrontation.
