Putin says he doesn’t wish to discuss idea that Israel could kill Iran’s supreme leader
The Russian president also says he is willing to meet Ukraine’s Zelensky, but only in the ‘final phase’ of peace talks
Russia’s Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that he did “not even wish to discuss” the idea that Israel might assassinate Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
A deal to end the fighting between Israel and Iran was possible, the president told foreign journalists at a televised event, during which he also discussed what it would take for him to meet his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky.
“We see that today in Iran there is a consolidation of society around the country’s political leadership,” Putin said. “This is a delicate issue, and of course we need to be very careful here, but in my opinion, a solution can be found,” he added.
Putin said such an agreement could guarantee both Israel’s security and Iran’s desire for a civilian nuclear programme.
Israel said its surprise air campaign was aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons – an ambition Tehran denies.
“I believe it would be good for all of us together to look for ways to stop the fighting and seek ways for the participants in the conflict to find an agreement,” he said.