Putin says ‘don’t even want to discuss' possibility of US, Israel killing Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei

Putin said that Moscow could help negotiate a deal that allows Iran to pursue a peaceful atomic program while also addressing Israel’s security concerns.

Published on: Jun 19, 2025, 09:23:12 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed hope that the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel could end with a resolution that suits both the parties. He also offered to help broker a deal between the two nations engaged in trading strikes for almost a week now.

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed hope that a solution which suits both Iran and Israel can be found. (via REUTERS)

While talking about Israel and the United States’ plan to potentially kill Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Putin said that he did "not even wish to discuss" such a possibility.

"I do not even want to discuss this possibility. I do not want to," said Putin.

Track live updates of Israel-Iran conflict here.

"We see that today in Iran there is a consolidation of society around the country's political leadership," AFP news agency quoted him as saying.

"This is a delicate issue, and of course we need to be very careful here, but in my opinion, a solution can be found," he added.

Putin, speaking at a roundtable session with senior news leaders of international news agencies, said that Moscow could help negotiate a deal that allows Iran to pursue a peaceful atomic program while also addressing Israel’s security concerns.

Also read: US getting ready for striking Iran, possible this weekend: Report

"This is a delicate issue, and of course we need to be very careful here, but in my opinion, a solution can be found," Putin said, reported AFP. He added that Russia has shared its proposal to reach a resolution with Iran, Israel and the United States.

“We are not imposing anything on anyone, we are simply talking about how we see a possible way out of the situation. But the decision, of course, is up to the political leadership of all these countries, primarily Iran and Israel,” Associated Press quoted Putin as saying.

Also read: Stuck in Tehran, Lucknow man misses final goodbye to mother

Israel struck multiple nuclear and military sites across Iran last Friday under ‘Operation Rising Lion’, triggering the ongoing conflict. Justifying its actions, Israel said that Iran was close to developing nuclear weapons, which poses an existential threat to Israel.

Trump rebuffs Putin’s offer

Rebuffing Putin’s offer to help mediate the ongoing Middle East conflict, United States President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he should work on ending his own conflict with Ukraine first.

"I spoke to him yesterday and... he actually offered to help mediate, I said 'do me a favor, mediate your own,'" Trump told reporters at White House.

“I said, ‘Vladimir, let’s mediate Russia first. You can worry about this later,’” Trump added.

With agency inputs.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest World News, breaking headlines and global updates from the US, UK, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Russia and other countries. Follow major international events on Hindustan Times.