Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian have agreed to maintain contact in the context of the ongoing military operation by the United States and Israel.
In a phone call on Friday, Putin affirmed Russia’s stance in favor of an immediate cessation of hostilities and the rejection of force to solve the issues surrounding Iran or arising in the Middle East.
Urging the warring parties to return to the path of diplomatic resolution, Putin disclosed he regularly communicates with the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council member states.
Pezeshkian commended Russia’s solidarity with the Iranian people over the past week and provided an update on the developments in the conflict, according to a readout by the Kremlin.
The leaders’ exchange coincided with media reports that Russia was providing intelligence that could help Iran locate U.S. warships, aircraft, and other assets in the region.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said any support Moscow was not making any difference because American forces were “completely decimating” Iranian capabilities.
In an interview with CBS News’ 60 Minutes, War Secretary Pete Hegseth said the U.S. knows “what’s going on and who’s talking to who,” adding that the matter “is being confronted strongly.”
“We track everything, we have the best intelligence,” he said. Asked if an information leak could jeopardize troops’ safety, Hegseth replied: “No one is putting us in danger, we’re putting the other guys in danger.”
In the United Kingdom, the counterterrorism police have detained four men suspected of assisting a foreign intelligence service linked to Iran in a case of unlawful monitoring.
The individuals were arrested on Friday at addresses in different London areas as part of an investigation into suspected offences under the UK’s National Security Act 2023.
The probe of illegal surveillance of places and persons connected to the Jewish community comes as Israel warned Europe of a penetration of extremist ideology via terrorist-linked groups.
Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said the arrests “are part of a long-running investigation and part of our ongoing work to disrupt malign activity.”
Noting the concern of the public, “in particular the Jewish community,” Flanagan urged everyone to stay vigilant and contact the authorities if they see or hear anything suspicious.
The suspects include one Iranian national and three men holding British-Iranian citizenship. Two–aged 40 and 55–were arrested in Barnet; two others–aged 22 and 52–were arrested in Harrow and Watford.
