Kremlin Expresses Support for Potential Iran-Israel Ceasefire Amid Trump’s Failed Peace Initiative

On Tuesday, the Kremlin expressed its support for a ceasefire between Iran and Israel following a unilateral announcement from U.S. President Donald Trump about a cessation of hostilities, despite the peace proposal seemingly falling apart almost immediately.

Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin’s spokesperson, stated to journalists, «If a ceasefire has indeed been established, we can only view this positively,» while expressing hope that the ceasefire would be enduring.

However, just hours after Trump made his announcement on Monday, both Israel and Iran accused each other of breaching the proposed ceasefire, leading to renewed airstrikes. Following explosions in northern Israel, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz directed the military to persist with strikes on Iranian positions.

Trump criticized both nations for violating the ceasefire, stating to the press, «They don’t know what the hell they’re doing.» On Truth Social, he urged Israel, «DO NOT DROP THOSE BOMBS. IF YOU DO, IT IS A MAJOR VIOLATION. BRING YOUR PILOTS HOME, NOW!»

While Russia, a significant ally of Iran, has expressed support for de-escalation, it has refrained from providing direct assistance even after U.S. military actions targeted Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend.

When asked if Moscow’s support for Tehran was merely symbolic, Peskov disagreed, asserting, «There are many who wish to exacerbate tensions and disrupt the partnership between Moscow and Tehran.»

During a meeting on Monday with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who arrived in Moscow the day after the U.S. strikes, President Vladimir Putin did not announce any new forms of support. He described the attacks on Iran as “unprovoked” and “unjustified,» without naming the U.S., and noted that Russia was «working to assist the Iranian people,» though he did not provide further details.

Peskov also mentioned that Araghchi did not inform Putin about Iran’s retaliatory missile strike on the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which occurred on Monday and resulted in no casualties, with Trump claiming that Iran had given prior notice.

He remarked that it was too soon to assess the extent of the damage to Iran’s Fordo, Isfahan, and Natanz nuclear facilities, which were targeted in the U.S. strikes early Saturday.

«Very few people fully understand the situation at this moment,» Peskov remarked.

In the meantime, Putin held a conversation on Tuesday with Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, with both leaders emphasizing the need for efforts to restore peace and stability in the region.

Reporting by AFP contributed to this article.