Putin and Netanyahu discussed Iran: Moscow offers diplomacy amid growing crisis

Russian President Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahuduring which the parties discussed current events around Iran and the general situation on Middle East. The press service reported this Kremlin.

As stated in the official statement, during the conversation issues of regional security were touched upon, as well as the development of the situation in Iran. Vladimir Putin stressed that stability in the region must be ensured exclusively through diplomatic meansnoting readiness Russia if necessary, act as a mediator in the relevant dialogue.

The interlocutors, according to the Kremlin, agreed to maintain constant channels of communication and continue contacts as the situation develops. It is recalled that the previous telephone conversation between Putin And Netanyahu took place on November 15.

The contact between the leaders took place against the backdrop of growing internal instability in Iran. At the end of last year, mass protests broke out in the country, caused by a sharp depreciation of the Iranian rial, which led to rising prices and serious fluctuations in the exchange rate.

WITH January 8 Protest activity in the Islamic Republic has increased significantly, which causes concern among regional and global players and increases the risks of further escalation.

Editorial comment

Telephone conversation between Vladimir Putin And Benjamin Netanyahu was clearly broader than the dry formulations of the Kremlin release. When official communications refer only to “discussing the situation,” this almost always means that they were talking about scenarios that are not yet ready for public airing.

Iran today is not just a regional crisis, but a nodal point of several strategies at once. For Israel is a matter of existential security. For USA – an element of pressure and demonstration of force. For Russia — the risk of uncontrolled escalation, which could destroy the remnants of the regional balance and draw Moscow in into an unwanted confrontation.

In essence, such contacts are not an attempt to agree on “peace”, but an attempt draw red lines: where playing on nerves is acceptable, and where the zone of direct consequences begins. Russia, Apparently, it makes it clear that is not going to automatically cover Tehranbut will not allow turning the region into an arena of chaotic power redistribution.

Such conversations rarely bring immediate solutions. Their task is to gain time, reduce the risk of mistakes and understand who is ready to move on and to what extent. The rest will become clear not from press releases, but from the next steps on the ground and in the air.

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