Putin offers to mediate between Gulf states and Iran

Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered to use Moscow’s ties with Iran to help restore calm in the Middle East after the United States and Israel’s attacks. According to Reuters, on Wednesday 4 March 2026, speaking by telephone with the leaders of three Gulf Arab states, Putin offered to act as mediator between them and Iran. In a series of phone calls with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Bahrain, and Qatar on Monday 2 March, Putin criticised the US–Israel strikes against Iran. The Gulf states, all close US allies, have been targeted by Iranian drone and missile attacks since the United States and Israel launched air strikes on Saturday 28 February. According to a Kremlin statement about Putin’s calls with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Russian leader offered to mediate by conveying the UAE’s grievances about the attacks to Tehran. During the calls, “both sides stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire and a return to the political and diplomatic process,” the Kremlin added. In Putin’s conversation with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Kremlin said the leaders discussed concerns about the widening conflict and the risk of third-country involvement. Meanwhile, in talks with Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Putin said Russia was ready to do whatever could be done to stabilise the situation in the region. Earlier on Sunday 1 March, Putin condemned the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Russian Foreign Ministry accused the United States and Israel of dragging the Middle East “into an abyss of escalation that is out of control.” However, Moscow also wants to avoid trouble with the administration of US President Donald Trump, as Washington is the mediator for negotiations with Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow wants those talks to continue. “We have our own interests to defend, and it is in our interest to continue these negotiations (on Ukraine),” Peskov said.