Russia “not interested” in escalating Middle East conflict, Putin says
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Thursday that Russia is “not interested” in escalating conflict in the Middle East, particularly regarding potential support for Iran if Israel were to launch an attack. Speaking at a news conference during the BRICS summit in Kazan, he expressed concern over the situation, emphasizing that further conflict would bring more problems rather than strategic gains.
Putin noted that Moscow maintains communication with Iran but is primarily focused on diplomacy and compromise, aiming to create conditions for resolving the situation through mutual agreements.
He reiterated Russia’s position as a potential neutral mediator in the region, capable of engaging with both Israel and its neighbors. Addressing Israel’s experiences with terrorism, he stressed the importance of responding to such attacks in a measured way and not condoning disproportionate reactions.
Observers have suggested that Putin is leveraging the Middle Eastern conflict, particularly the rising anger in the Global South toward U.S. support for Israel amid the Gaza crisis, to advocate for a new global order free from U.S. dominance.
According to Putin, a resolution to the conflict requires addressing its root causes, chief among them being the lack of a fully recognized Palestinian state.
Iran’s IRGC commander warns Israel against reliance on US missile defense system
The commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami, issued a warning to Israel on Thursday regarding its reliance on the U.S.-supplied anti-missile defense system. He cautioned that the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) is limited and that Israel should not be overconfident in its capabilities.
Salami stated that despite Israel’s defenses, it would not secure victory against potential retaliation from the resistance front. He remarked, “Do not trust THAAD’s pipes; these are limited… Your enemies will shoot many times more than you. You cannot win in this, and we will defeat you,” according to Iranian state media.
His comments come in the wake of the U.S. deployment of the missile defense system to Israel, along with military personnel to operate it, aimed at strengthening Israel’s air defenses following recent Iranian attacks. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin confirmed that the missile defense system is “in place” and ready for use when needed.
