Russia: Israel 'reluctant' to accept mediation in Iran conflict

Russia said on Tuesday that it was ready to act as a peace broker between Israel and Iran, but noted that Israel appeared reluctant to accept outside mediation.

Israel began launching strikes across Iran on Friday, claiming they were aimed at preventing Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon -- a charge that Iran denies.

Iran has responded with retaliatory strikes on Israel.

"President Putin has said that Russia is ready to provide mediation services if necessary," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters at a daily news conference.

In recent years, Russia has deepened its ties with Iran while maintaining a close working relationship with Israel, positioning itself as a potential mediator.

"At present, we see a reluctance, at least on the part of Israel, to resort to any mediation services or to embark on a peaceful path toward a settlement."

Israeli strikes on Iran have resulted in at least 224 deaths, including military commanders, nuclear scientists and civilians. At least 24 people have been killed inside Israel.

EU: Diplomacy is the best path

Meanwhile, the European Union said on Tuesday that diplomacy was the best path to address Teheran's nuclear program, after emergency talks among its 27 foreign ministers on the conflict between Israel and Iran.

"We all agreed on the urgent need for de-escalation. Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb, and diplomacy is the solution to prevent this, and (the) EU will play its part," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said following a video call.

Europe has largely remained on the sidelines of efforts to curb the violence between the two Middle East nations after Israel's initial strikes on Iran.

Europe played a key role in negotiating and overseeing the 2015 agreement on Iran's nuclear program, which was abandoned by Trump during his first term in office.

"As the Iran and US talks have run into some kind of standstill, Europe "has more to say," Kallas said, adding that she had spoken to Iran's foreign minister and key European counterparts on Monday.

Iran and the United States had scheduled a new round of negotiations in Oman on June 15, but the talks were disrupted by Israel's surprise attacks on Iran's atomic energy and military targets.