Putin, Saudi crown prince discuss situation in Middle East

Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the situation in the Middle East with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in a Monday phone call, a Kremlin statement said.

"Both sides expressed serious concern regarding the real risks of the conflict zone expanding, which has already affected the territories of a number of Arab countries and is fraught with catastrophic consequences," the statement said.

It added that Putin stressed the urgent need to resolve the current "extremely dangerous" situation through political and diplomatic means.

"In turn, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud expressed the opinion that the Russian side could play a positive, stabilizing role these days, given its friendly relations with both Iran and the countries of the Persian Gulf," it said.

The Middle East is currently engulfed in a major military confrontation amid coordinated US-Israeli strikes on Iran, which killed several top leaders including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran has retaliated with missile and drone attacks across the region, striking US military assets and energy facilities in at least eight countries including the UAE, Kuwait, and Qatar.