Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Israel is “not interested” in conflict with Iran and is committed to a peaceful resolution, Russian and Iranian state media reported.
Israel informed Moscow that it wants to avoid confrontation with Tehran, Russia’s Tass agency reported on Thursday. Mr Putin made the remarks at the Russia-Central Asia summit in Tajikistan.
“We continue to maintain trusting contacts with Israel and are receiving signals from the Israeli leadership asking us to convey this to our Iranian friends that Israel is committed to further resolution and is not interested in any kind of confrontation,” said Mr Putin.
War broke out between Israel and Iran in June, marking the first direct military confrontation between the countries. Despite a ceasefire, there have been fears of that conflict could flare again.
In August, a senior Iranian official warned that war with Israel could erupt at any moment, describing the end of the 12-day conflict in June as a temporary halt in hostilities.
“We must be prepared at every moment for confrontation; right now, we are not even in a ceasefire [agreement]; we are in a cessation of hostilities,” said First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref.
Israel’s surprise attacks on June 13 targeted Iranian generals, nuclear sites, scientists and air defences. Iran retaliated by launching missile and drone attacks on Israel. The US entered the conflict with strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
The war stopped after US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire on June 24, but threats between Iran and Israel have continued.
Israel’s message to Iran came before a ceasefire took effect in Gaza. Hamas and Israel agreed to the first phase of Mr Trump’s peace plan on Wednesday, paving the way for the release of all Israeli hostages and the end of the two-year war.