Vladimir Putin pledges support for Iranian nuclear energy programme

Russian President calls for 'flexibility' in efforts to halt conflict between Israel and Tehran

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Iran has a right to a civilian nuclear energy programme, while he also added to calls for diplomatic efforts to resolve the escalating conflict between Israel and Tehran.

He told Sky News Arabia that "Iran has the right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, and we are ready to provide the necessary support". Mr Putin also called for "flexibility" from Iran and Israel as a means to resolving the conflict.

He said Moscow had told Israel that Iran was not seeking to acquire nuclear weapons.

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“The International Atomic Energy Agency confirms that there is no evidence of Iran possessing or seeking to possess nuclear weapons,” added Mr Putin. “Russia’s position is that we oppose the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction by any country, and our stance is well known to Iran.

“We are aware that Iran is an Islamic state and, like any Islamic state, it has internal rules that are important to its people and leadership. I would like to remind you that Iran has adopted a fatwa [religious ruling] prohibiting the use of nuclear weapons, and this is extremely significant."

He noted that “if Israel has concerns, those must be addressed and alleviated – and there is a way to do that". But he emphasised that neither Russia nor the IAEA "has any evidence that Iran wants or is trying to obtain nuclear weapons, and we have conveyed this to the Israeli leadership".

Watch: Putin says a solution to Iran's nuclear ambitions and Israel's safety concerns can be found

Speaking at an economic forum in St Petersburg on Friday, Mr Putin said Russia was sharing its ideas on how to stop the bloodshed in the conflict with both Israel and Iran. He did not give details about those ideas.

Israel began attacking Iran on June 13, saying Tehran was on the verge of developing a nuclear weapon. Iran, which says its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes only, retaliated with missile and drone strikes on Israel.

Fears are mounting over the potential involvement of the US in the conflict. President Donald Trump said he would make a decision on whether American forces would join the war “in the next two weeks”, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Thursday.

Russia's Foreign Ministry has warned the US not to take military action against Iran. Moscow issued its warning after Mr Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a phone call in which they condemned the Israeli attacks on Iran and called for a diplomatic solution.