Russia, a longtime strategic ally of Iran, has been positioning itself as a potential mediator amid the rising tensions between Tehran, Washington, and Tel Aviv. (Photo: AP))In a significant show of diplomatic alignment, Russian President Vladimir Putin Monday told visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi that the ongoing military escalation against Iran was “groundless” and reaffirmed Russia’s support for the Iranian people. The meeting comes a day after the largest US military strikes on Iranian nuclear sites since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, a move Moscow says threatens to destabilise the entire Middle East.“We try to help the Iranian people,” Putin told Araqchi during their meeting, according to Russian state television.“The aggression against Iran is groundless,” he added, noting that the meeting offered both countries a vital opportunity to find “ways out of the current situation.”Putin also conveyed his personal regards to Iranian leadership, saying: “Please convey my best wishes to the president and the supreme leader of Iran.”Also read | ‘Bullseye’: Donald Trump claims US strikes inflicted ‘monumental damage’ to Iran’s nuclear facilitiesAraqchi, in turn, thanked Putin, saying Moscow was standing on the “right side of history.”“I would like to thank you, Mr. President, for your clear stance on condemning the US aggression,” Araqchi told Putin, according to Reuters. “Russia is on the right side of history.”Araqchi also conveyed greetings from Iran’s top leadership: “The Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian have asked me to convey their best wishes to you.”Story continues below this adRussia, a longtime strategic ally of Iran, has been positioning itself as a potential mediator amid the rising tensions between Tehran, Washington, and Tel Aviv. However, Iran is reportedly seeking stronger and more tangible support from Moscow. Araqchi is believed to have carried a letter from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urging Putin to increase Russia’s backing following what Iran sees as existential threats from both the US and Israel.Although Putin has condemned Israeli attacks on Iranian territory, he has yet to publicly denounce the US strikes, instead choosing to highlight Russia’s broader diplomatic efforts. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Monday that President Donald Trump had not informed Putin in advance about the details of the strikes, though the two leaders had previously discussed the prospect of US involvement in the region, Reuters reported.Putin has maintained that Russia is committed to ensuring Iran retains peaceful access to nuclear energy and reiterated that Moscow’s foreign ministry had already conveyed its stance to the relevant parties. He also revealed that Israel had assured Russia that its nationals working at Iran’s Bushehr nuclear facility would not be harmed.(With inputs from Reuters)Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd