Putin tells Al-Sudani he is working to de-escalate Iran-Israel conflict

BAGHDAD — Russian President Vladimir Putin told Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani on Monday that he is making special efforts to reduce tensions between Iran and Israel, during a phone call that also addressed violations of Iraqi sovereignty and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Al-Sudani reiterated Iraq’s rejection of Israeli airstrikes on Iran and condemned U.S. bombings of Iranian nuclear sites, calling them a “grave escalation.” He also denounced what he described as repeated violations of Iraqi airspace by both American and Israeli aircraft.

According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, Putin stressed the importance of de-escalation and said he is pursuing efforts to that end. He welcomed Iraq’s role in trying to prevent a broader regional war and voiced his opposition to any violations of Iraq’s airspace or sovereignty.

Full statement from Al-Sudani’s office:

Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani held a phone conversation today, Monday, with the President of the Russian Federation, Mr. Vladimir Putin, during which they discussed the latest regional and international developments.

Prime Minister Al-Sudani reaffirmed Iraq’s unequivocal rejection of the Zionist aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran and the grave escalation represented by the U.S. bombing of nuclear facilities. The Prime Minister also condemned the violation of Iraqi airspace by American and Zionist aircraft, stressing Iraq’s commitment to upholding its sovereignty and emphasizing the need for the United Nations Security Council to fulfill its core responsibility in halting the war and intensifying diplomatic efforts, despite the lack of credibility and trust resulting from the aggression, which has disrupted the negotiation process.

The discussions also addressed the ongoing genocide in Gaza, which necessitates effective international intervention to stop the bloodshed of Palestinians and end the suffering of civilians who lack the most basic necessities of life.

President Putin, in turn, stressed the importance of de-escalation, affirming to Prime Minister Al-Sudani that he is undertaking special efforts in this regard. He praised the Iraqi government’s efforts to prevent the expansion of the war and expressed his rejection of any violations of Iraq’s airspace and sovereignty. He also extended his congratulations to Prime Minister Al-Sudani on the successful hosting of the Arab Summit and reaffirmed his invitation to Iraq to participate in the upcoming Russia-Arab Summit scheduled for October 15.

The call also included a discussion of bilateral relations and ways to strengthen and expand them across various fields to serve the shared interests of both friendly nations, particularly coordination in the oil and gas sectors within the OPEC+ framework.

Media Office of the Prime Minister
June 23, 2025