President Putin Doesn't Want To Discuss Possible Assassination Of Iranian Khamenei By Israel-US

Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Source: Gavril Grigorov/Russian Presidential Press and Information Office/TASS)

JAKARTA - Russian President Vladimir Putin refused to discuss the possibility that Israel and the United States would kill Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

"I don't even want to discuss this possibility. I don't want to," he explained when asked what his reaction would be if Israel actually killed Khamenei with US help.

When urged, President Putin said he had heard statements about the possible murder of Khamenei, but he did not want to talk about it.

"We see that today in Iran, with all the complexity of the internal political process going on there, that there is a consolidation of society around the country's political leadership," President Putin said in St. Petersburg.

Asked if Russia was ready to give Iran modern weapons to defend itself against Israeli attacks, President Putin said the strategic partnership agreement signed with Tehran in January did not consider cooperation between the military and Iran has yet to apply for any official assistance.

Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly speculated that Israeli military attacks could result in regime changes in Iran.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump said on Tuesday the United States knew where Khamenei was "hidden" but Washington would not kill him "for now".

President Putin said all parties must seek ways to end hostilities in a way that guarantees Iran's right to peaceful nuclear power and Israel's right to unconditional security by the Jewish state.

When asked about possible regime changes in Iran, Putin said that before starting something, one should always see if the main goal is achieved or not.

"In my opinion, it is true for all parties to find ways to end hostilities and find ways for all parties in this conflict to reach an agreement with each other," said President Putin.

"In my opinion, in general, such a solution can be found," he assured.

Israel launched airstrikes in the "Raising Lion" operation targeting Iran's nuclear and military facilities on Friday morning last week.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the attack on Friday because it had enough enriched uranium to make several bombs in a few days, so it needed to act, quoted from The Times of Israel.

Israel is known to target three key Iranian nuclear facilities in Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow, as well as a number of scientists linked to Iran's nuclear research and development, as reported by CNN.

Tehran itself said it was entitled to peaceful nuclear power, denying developing nuclear weapons. However, its rapidly growing uranium enrichment program has raised concerns in the West and across the Gulf, the country wants to develop nuclear weapons.

President Putin said Israel had given Moscow guarantees that Russian specialists who helped build two more reactors at the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran would not be injured in airstrikes.

He also said Moscow had "very good relations with Iran" and Russia could guarantee Iran's interest in nuclear energy.

Russia had previously offered to retrieve enriched uranium from Iran and supply nuclear fuel for the country's civilian energy program.

"It is possible to ensure Iran's interests in the peaceful field of nuclear energy. And at the same time, to address Israel's concerns about its security," President Putin said.

"We have outlined it (our ideas) to our partners from the US, Israel and Iran," he said.