Iran has the full right to self-defence, Moscow has said, adding that the strategic partnership between Moscow and Tehran was “unbreakable”, state news agencies reported.
Asked whether Iran has requested military assistance, Sergei Ryabkov, Russia’s foreign minister, said Moscow was working with Iran across multiple areas and it would irresponsible to disclose further details.
Iran’s top diplomat said he had a good meeting with Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Monday.
Abbas Araqchi, Iran’s foreign minister, discussed how to bring about peace in the Middle East, according to Putin’s spokesman.
Earlier today, Putin condemned “attacks against Iran” but did not specifically mention the US.
One official told Reuters that the US was still pursuing a diplomatic resolution but that retaliation could come in the next day or two.
Iran is yet to formally retaliate against the US after its key nuclear facilities were bombed in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, warned Iran on Sunday that retaliating would be the “worst mistake they have ever made”.
But the head of Iran’s armed forces today vowed “firm action” in response to the attacks, which could involve strikes against American bases in the region.
“This crime and desecration will not go unanswered,” said Abdolrahim Mousavi in a video statement published on state TV, adding: “We will take firm action against the American mistake”..
2:14PM
Trump open to regime change in Iran, says White House
Donald Trump thinks Iranians should overthrow their government if it refuses to negotiate on its nuclear programme, the White House said.
But Karoline Leavitt, Mr Trump’s press secretary, said he was “still interested” in diplomacy.
“If the Iranian regime refuses to come to a peaceful diplomatic solution, which the president is still interested and engaging in, by the way, why shouldn’t the Iranian people take away the power of this incredibly violent regime that has been suppressing them for decades?” she told Fox News.
Top officials have repeatedly insisted the US goal is not regime change in Iran, but Trump veered off that messaging Sunday with a social media post saying “why wouldn’t there be a Regime change???”
