Russian leader Vladimir Putin told Iran's president over the phone on Friday that Moscow condemned Israeli actions against Tehran, and in a separate telephone conversation told Israel's prime minister that only diplomacy could resolve issues around Iran's nuclear programme.

Russian President Vladimir Putin held phone calls with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Friday after Israel hit Iran in a series of strikes.

Russia has broken its silence on Israel’s massive overnight airstrikes on Iran, calling it a “dramatic escalation” in the Middle East. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed President Vladimir Putin is receiving real-time updates as Israel’s Operation “Rising Lion” pounds Iranian nuclear and military sites.