Putin reaffirms position on regional de-escalation in phone call with Iranian counterpart

Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a phone call with his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday, reaffirmed his position in favor of a swift de-escalation of the ongoing conflict involving Tehran and its resolution through political means, the Kremlin said.

A statement said Putin and Pezeshkian continued their discussion on the situation in the Middle East, particularly with regards to US-Israeli attacks on Iran.

"The Russian President reaffirmed his principled position in favor of a swift de-escalation of the conflict and its resolution through political means. Masoud Pezeshkian thanked Russia for its support, particularly for providing humanitarian aid to Iran," the readout said.

The call between the two presidents is the second since the start of the month, with an earlier conversation having taken place on Friday.

Regional escalation escalated after Israel and the US launched a joint attack against Iran on Feb. 28, killing more than 1,200 victims to date, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was the supreme leader.

Refusing to surrender, Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, along with Gulf countries hosting US military assets, disrupting global markets.

Putin also spoke to US President Donald Trump on Monday to discuss the Iran war, as well as Ukraine, calling for a "quick political and diplomatic settlement" to the latest conflict, according to a presidential aide.