Amid rising panic in the Gulf over refinery strikes linked to the Iran conflict, the Kremlin has announced that President Vladimir Putin will personally engage with Iranian leaders to ease fears. This comes after Putin held urgent discussions with Arab counterparts, highlighting Russia’s intent to play peacemaker.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov revealed details during a media briefing. ‘In yesterday’s conversations, Putin heard serious concerns from Gulf interlocutors about attacks on infrastructure. This will inform our discussions with Iranian leadership to move things in the right direction,’ he said. Putin offered to use Moscow’s strategic partnership with Tehran to dial down hostilities.
The catalyst was the February 28 US-Israel offensive against Iran, which devastated key urban centers and eliminated high-profile figures like Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Washington defended the strikes citing Iran’s missile programs and nuclear ambitions, while Trump called on Iranians to overthrow their regime.
Iran’s response was swift and fierce: Revolutionary Guards launched counterstrikes on Israel and hit US bases in multiple Gulf countries including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, and Bahrain. These attacks have rattled oil-rich nations, sparking worries of supply chain chaos and skyrocketing prices.
With no communication between Putin and Trump on the horizon, Russia positions itself as a neutral broker. Analysts watch closely as Putin’s outreach to Iran could either stabilize the volatile region or draw Moscow deeper into the fray, with implications rippling across global geopolitics and energy sectors.