The Kremlin on Monday condemned Sunday's attacks by the United States on Iranian nuclear facilities. Russian President Vladimir Putin called the American strikes"unjustified" and announced his willingness to help Iran and its people. The Russian leader received Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in Moscow on Monday and they will discuss the conflict. TASR reports this based on a report by the AFP and TASS agencies.

"There has been a new escalation of tensions in the region, and we, of course, condemn it and express deep regret in this regard," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. He added that while Putin and US President Donald Trump had also discussed the Iran-Israel conflict during recent talks, Washington had never informed Moscow of its intentions to attack Iran.

Countries have a right to a nuclear industry, says Peskov

According to Peskov, Russia insists that every country has the right to develop its civilian nuclear industry.

“This is an absolutely unprovoked aggression against Iran,” Putin said, adding that Russia “is trying to provide assistance to the Iranian people.” “We have long-standing, good and reliable relations with Iran,” the Russian president stressed.

Putin also spoke by phone with Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shia al-Sudani on Monday about the situation in the Middle East. The two leaders “expressed concern about emerging risks on global energy markets and stressed the importance of continuing active cooperation within the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).” The leaders also called for a return to a diplomatic solution to the conflict.