Putin talks to Iranian president

The Russian leader has phoned Masoud Pezeshkian amid mass protests in the Islamic Republic

Russian President Vladimir Putin has held a phone call with his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, amid mass protests that have gripped the Islamic Republic in recent weeks.

The unrest broke out late last month and was reportedly triggered by soaring inflation and the sharp devaluation of the Iranian rial. The protests quickly devolved into violent confrontations with security forces, which have allegedly resulted in hundreds of deaths. The Iranian authorities have blamed the riots on the US and Israel.

According to a statement published by the Kremlin on Friday, Pezeshkian “briefed Vladimir Putin on the Iranian government’s sustained efforts to normalize the situation in the country.”

Both presidents called for the de-escalation of “tensions in Iran and in the region as a whole as soon as possible and resolving any emerging issues via exclusively political and diplomatic means.”

Putin and Pezeshkian also reaffirmed “their mutual commitment to further strengthening the strategic partnership between Russia and Iran,” including joint economic projects.

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Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said this week that Moscow “resolutely condemns disruptive foreign interference” in Iran’s domestic affairs. She accused foreign powers of attempting to turn a peaceful protest into “cruel and senseless unrest” and seeking regime change in Iran.

Zakharova described the US threats to use force against the Islamic Republic as “absolutely unacceptable,” and warned that military action against Iran could destabilize the entire Middle East.

She also attributed Iran’s economic woes to Western sanctions.

In recent days, US President Donald Trump has issued several threats against the country, calling on Iranian protesters to seize control of state institutions. Earlier this week, the US leader said his administration was “looking at some very strong options” for action against Tehran.

Iran is a long-time Russian ally, with the two countries sealing a strategic partnership agreement during Pezeshkian’s visit to Moscow last January.