Report: Netanyahu relays messages to Iran via Putin, calls to avoid new war

Israel’s prime minister reportedly communicating with Iran via Russia’s president, reassuring Tehran that Israel is not planning a new war and calling to avoid an escalation.

By World Israel News Staff

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has relayed indirect messages to Iran recently signaling Israel’s desire to avoid a new war and reassuring Tehran that Israel will not seek to escalate tensions during the ongoing unrest in Iran, according to a report by Israel’s national broadcaster.

On Monday night, KAN News reported that Netanyahu conveyed the message to Iran’s leadership through a channel established with Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose government has close ties to the Iranian regime.

According to the report, Netanyahu recently spoke over the phone with Putin, asking him to deliver a message to Iran in the hopes of preventing a new conflict between the two countries.

Putin acted as an intermediary between the Netanyahu government and Tehran in October, transmitting a similar message to Iran that Israel was “not interested in an escalation.”

“We are continuing our talks with Israel and are receiving signals from the Israeli leadership with a request to convey to our Iranian friends a message that Israel is seeking a settlement and is not interested in any kind of conflict,” Putin said in October.

The report was published after Netanyahu warned Iran that it would face “severe” consequences for any attack on Israel.

Speaking at the Knesset plenum on Monday, Netanyahu said that Israel would not accept Iranian attempts to reboot its nuclear program or attempts to rebuild its ballistic missile arsenal.

“Our position is zero enrichment capability, the removal of all enriched uranium from Iran, and continuous oversight of nuclear facilities,” Netanyahu told lawmakers.

“Trump and I will not allow Iran to restore its ballistic missile industry and nuclear program.”