Russian President Vladimir Putin (AP)

NEW DELHI: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday held separate telephone conversations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian as tensions sharply escalated in West Asia and fears grew over a possible US military strike on Tehran.“The situation in the region is highly tense, and the president continues his efforts to facilitate de-escalation,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, describing Iran and the wider region as “extremely tense.”According to the Kremlin, Putin also pledged to further strengthen Russia and Iran’s “strategic partnership.” Russia had previously offered to mediate during the brief Iran-Israel war in June.During his call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Putin and his counterpart called for the speedy normalisation of the situation around Iran and the broader region.“The two leaders noted that Russia and Iran consistently take a united position in favour of the earliest possible de-escalation of tensions around Iran and in the region as a whole. They also expressed their commitment to resolving emerging issues exclusively through political and diplomatic means,” the Kremlin said.Pezeshkian, in turn, thanked Putin for Moscow’s support at the United Nations, expressing appreciation for “Russia’s position.” He added that “the role and direct involvement of the United States and the Zionist regime in recent events in Iran is evident,” referring to Israel.Independent monitors say Iranian security forces have killed thousands in a forceful response to nationwide anti-government protests, raising fears of a wider military confrontation. Iran has repeatedly accused the United States and Israel of inciting the unrest and attempting to undermine the Islamic republic’s national unity.Concerns have further intensified following a brief war between Iran and Israel in June, which saw unprecedented Israeli attacks on Iranian military and nuclear facilities. The United States briefly joined those strikes, hitting three major Iranian nuclear sites.Netanyahu said on Sunday that he hoped Iran would soon be freed from what he described as the “yoke of tyranny,” as protests continued. However, the rallies appear to have diminished in recent days amid repression and a week-long internet blackout.