Russian President Putin holds calls with Israeli and Iranian leaders

Russian President Vladimir Putin held separate phone calls with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iran's President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian. The discussions focused on the situation in the Middle East and tensions between Israel and Iran.

Netanyahu told Putin that Israel does not want a war with Iran and reportedly asked the Russian leader to pass a message to Tehran denying any plans for an attack. Putin said Russia is willing to act as a mediator between the two countries.