Putin Says US War on Iran Unjustified, Sees No Provocation from Tehran

Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized the United States for what he described as an unjustified war of aggression against Iran, stating that he saw no provocation from the Islamic Republic before the conflict began. Speaking at the plenary session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on Friday, Putin was asked to assess the ongoing attacks on Iran. "I saw no provocation from Iran," Putin said. "There's no justification for this attack; Russia will not stand idle while innocent lives are threatened."

Putin defended Iran's stability amid growing regional tensions, asserting that Western predictions of an internal collapse in Iran have proven false. He noted that Tehran has managed to handle the current crisis from within, and that Iranian society has become more united and consolidated despite mounting external pressure. Putin also revealed that Iran has not requested military assistance from Moscow, and confirmed that Russia has not supplied Tehran with weapons during the current crisis.

The US and Israeli forces launched an unwarranted aggression against Iran on February 28. In response, Iran retaliated by launching missiles and drones against US and Israeli military targets in the region. A Pakistan-brokered ceasefire between Iran and the US took effect on April 8. Since then, the Iranian Armed Forces have maintained full control of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

According to Mehr News Agency, Putin's remarks came during the economic forum where he also discussed broader geopolitical issues. The report by Mehr News Agency added that the Russian president emphasized the lack of justification for the attack and reiterated Russia's stance against the aggression.