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Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Vladimir Putin hosts Iran's foreign minister days after US strikes. Here's what he told him
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday hosted Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araqchi, in Moscow and lambasted the US missile and bomb strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. The Russian president said there was no justification for the US bombing of Iran and that Moscow was committed to helping the Iranian people. Russia's President Vladimir Putin meets with Iranian foreign minister at the Kremlin in Moscow.(AFP) Putin told Abbas Araqchi in televised comments that the US aggression was unprovoked. "The absolutely unprovoked aggression against Iran has no basis and no justification," he said. "For our part, we are making efforts to assist the Iranian people," he added. "I am very glad that you are in Moscow today, this will give us the opportunity to discuss all these pressing issues and think together about how we could get out of today's situation," he added. Araqchi told Putin that Iran was conducting legitimate self-defence. He thanked Russia for condemning the US actions. He added that Russia is on the right side of history. Also read: How US military's decoy B-2 Bomber mission helped it achieve stealth before Iran strikes "Russia is today on the right side of history and international law," said Araqchi. The US attacked and destroyed three Iranian nuclear sites in a stealth attack using B-2 bombers and Tomahawk missiles. It called the attack successful, saying the US military obliterated Iran's nuclear ambitions. Iran and Russia signed a strategic cooperation treaty in January this year. However, there was no mutual defence clause in it. Before Saturday's US strikes, Moscow had warned that U.S. military intervention could destabilise the entire region and plunge it into the "abyss". Also read: Did Donald Trump tell Vladimir Putin about Iran strikes in advance? Kremlin reveals The Kremlin slams the US The Kremlin today condemned the US strikes against Iran. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said US President Trump had not told Putin in detail about the planned strikes in advance. However, they discussed US involvement in the Israel-Iran war. Also read: Israel Iran war LIVE: Israel warns Khamenei, says strikes will continue with 'full force'; Putin meets Iranian FM "There was no detailed information. The topic of Iran itself was repeatedly discussed by the presidents during their most recent conversations, certain proposals were voiced by Russia, but there was no direct detailed information about this," he said. With inputs from Reuters
Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Did Donald Trump tell Vladimir Putin about Iran strikes in advance? Kremlin reveals
The Kremlin on Monday said Russia condemns and deeply regrets the US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the US move has increased the number of participants in the Iran-Israel conflict and ushered in a new spiral of escalation. Russia's President Vladimir Putin (C) and Russian defence minister Andrei Belousov.(AFP file photo) The official claimed US President Donald Trump didn't tell his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, about his attack plans in advance. However, he said they had discussed the possibility of the US military's involvement "more generally". He said Russia has offered its services to Iran as a mediator, and that what happens next will depend on what Tehran needs. Russia signed a strategic partnership treaty with Iran in January, although it did not include a mutual defense clause. Days before the strikes, Moscow had warned that US military intervention could destabilise the entire region and plunge it into the "abyss". Also read: Israel Iran war news LIVE updates: Iran's Fordow nuclear site hit again, reports state media Israel-Iran conflict Israel attacked Iran amid the latter's diplomatic talks with the US, to obliterate the country's nuclear programme. Israel claims Iran was dangerously close to developing weapon-grade uranium. Both Israel and the United States have warned that they would not allow Tehran to have nuclear weapons. Also read: How US military's decoy B-2 Bomber mission helped it achieve stealth before Iran strikes On Sunday, the US inserted itself into the war by destroying Iran's three nuclear bombs using B-2 stealth bombers and 30000-pound bunker-busters. It used a decoy missing that flew west to maintain the element of surprise. None of its 125 aircraft and naval assets involved in the strikes were attacked by Iranian defenders. The US described its Sunday attack on the Fordo and Natanz enrichment facilities, as well as the Isfahan nuclear sit, as a one-off to take out Iran's nuclear program, but President Donald Trump has warned of additional strikes if Tehran retaliates. The Pentagon has said Trump is interested in peace, and Iran should choose that option. With inputs from AFP, AP, Reuters
Hindustan Times
18 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
US warns Iran against closing Strait of Hormuz: 'It's economic suicide'
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday reacted to reports claiming that the Iranian parliament has approved a measure to close the Strait of Hormuz, saying that it would be an 'economic suicide'. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the State Department in Washington, DC on June 20, 2025. (AFP) Speaking at Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo" show, Rubia called on China to encourage Iran not to shut down the Strait of Hormuz after Washington carried out strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. Follow LIVE updates here. The Strait of Hormuz is situated between Iran and its Arabian Gulf neighbours. According to Bloomberg, this route enables the daily transportation of roughly one-fifth of global oil supplies. "I encourage the Chinese government in Beijing to call them about that, because they heavily depend on the Straits of Hormuz for their oil," Rubio was quoted as saying on the show by Reuters. Also Read | How US military's decoy B-2 Bomber mission helped it achieve stealth before Iran strikes "If they do that, it will be another terrible mistake. It's economic suicide for them if they do it. And we retain options to deal with that, but other countries should be looking at that as well. It would hurt other countries' economies a lot worse than ours." The secretary of state additionally cautioned that closing the strait would represent a significant escalation, warranting a response from the US and others. Iran's closure of Strait of Hormuz After the US airstrikes on its nuclear installations, Iran is considering closing the Strait of Hormuz, EuroNews reported on Sunday. Also Read | 'Large volume of our supplies don't come through Hormuz': Hardeep Puri assures fuel stability amid Middle East tensions In an interview with local media, Revolutionary Guard commander Sardar Esmail Kowsari stated that closing the Strait of Hormuz "is under consideration, and Iran will make the best decision with determination," according to EuroNews. "Our hands are wide open when it comes to punishing the enemy, and the military response was only part of our overall response," added Kowsari, who is a member of the Iranian parliament in addition to his military position.
Hindustan Times
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
‘Trump pushed US into another war': Putin aide calls strikes on Iran nuclear sites a failure
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has launched a scathing attack on the United States over its airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites, alleging that the strikes failed to inflict any meaningful damage on Iran's nuclear infrastructure. Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev criticised U.S. strikes on Iran, claiming they caused little damage to its nuclear infrastructure.(AP File) He claimed the attacks have instead strengthened the Iranian regime and drawn Washington deeper into a broader Middle East conflict. Follow live updates on the Iran-Israel conflict here In a series of posts on X, Medvedev listed the consequences of the US strikes on Iran's nuclear sites. He said some countries might now be willing to give Iran nuclear weapons. 'Critical infrastructure of the nuclear fuel cycle appears to have been unaffected or sustained only minor damage. The enrichment of nuclear material — and, now we can say it outright, the future production of nuclear weapons — will continue. A number of countries are ready to directly supply Iran with their own nuclear warheads,' wrote Dmitry Medvedev. 'Israel is under attack, explosions are rocking the country, and people are panicking. The US is now entangled in a new conflict, with prospects of a ground operation looming on the horizon,' he added. Read: Bombers flew undetected for 18 hours: How US launched airstrikes on Iran's nuclear sites He criticised Donald Trump for dragging the US into another war, said global opinion is largely against the US and Israel, and mocked Trump's chances of ever winning a Nobel Peace Prize. 'Even stronger now': Medvedev says US strikes failed to weaken Iran regime 'Iran's political regime has survived — and in all likelihood, has come out even stronger. The people are rallying around the country's spiritual leadership, including those who were previously indifferent or opposed to it. Donald Trump, once hailed as 'president of peace,' has now pushed the US into another war,' said Medvedev. Read more: How US military's decoy B-2 Bomber mission helped it achieve stealth before Iran strikes 'The vast majority of countries around the world oppose the actions of Israel and the United States. At this rate, Trump can forget about the Nobel Peace Prize — not even with how rigged it has become. What a way to kick things off, Mr. President. Congratulations!' Dmitry Medvedev mentioned.
