Russian President Vladimir Putin has urged Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to respond with restraint to Israel's killing of a Hamas leader, specifically advising against attacks on Israeli civilians, two senior Iranian sources have revealed.
The message was reportedly delivered on Monday by Sergei Shoigu, a close ally of Putin, during meetings with Iranian officials as the Islamic Republic contemplates its response to the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, which it blames on Israe
During the talks, Tehran also pressed Moscow to supply Russian-made Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets, according to the two Iranian sources familiar with the meeting in Tehran. The Kremlin in Moscow did not respond to a request for comment. However, Russia's state news agency RIA reported on Tuesday that Shoigu confirmed discussing Haniyeh's killing during his visit to Tehran.
The sources, who claim to be knowledgeable about the matter, did not provide further details about the discussions with Shoigu, who transitioned from defense minister to secretary of Russia's Security Council in May. They indicated that Shoigu's visit was one of several channels Moscow used to convey to Iran the need for restraint. At the same time, Russia condemned Haniyeh's killing as a "very dangerous targeted killing," aiming to prevent war in the Middle East. The sources emphasized that the region was on the brink of a major conflict, and those responsible for the killing were clearly attempting to provoke such a confrontation.
Russia has been fostering closer ties with Iran since the outbreak of its war with Ukraine and has announced plans to sign a comprehensive cooperation agreement with Tehran. The Iranian Foreign Ministry did not provide an immediate response. On Monday, it stated that Tehran was not seeking to escalate regional tensions but felt compelled to punish Israel to prevent further instability.
