Russian President Vladimir Putin told UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed he would relay the UAE's grievances about Iranian strikes on Emirati territory to Tehran, the Kremlin said. The UAE insisted it was not being used as a base to attack Iran and that the strikes were unjustified. Both leaders called for an immediate ceasefire and a return to diplomacy, while Putin criticised what he described as an "unprovoked act of armed aggression" by the United States and Israel.
Putin Offers To Relay UAE's Grievances To Tehran, Urges Immediate Ceasefire After Iranian Strikes
Russian President Vladimir Putin and UAE's President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan attend a welcoming ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, January 29, 2026. Maxim Shipenkov/Pool via REUTERS
Moscow, March 2 — Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Monday, telling the UAE leader he was prepared to relay the country's complaints about recent Iranian strikes on Emirati territory to Tehran, the Kremlin said.
The Kremlin quoted Mohammed bin Zayed as saying the United Arab Emirates "was not being used as a base to attack Iran" and that, for that reason, the Iranian strikes on UAE soil could not be justified.
Putin offered to pass on those concerns to Tehran and to help stabilise the wider region. The Kremlin said he "expressed his readiness to convey these signals to Tehran and, in general, to provide all possible assistance in stabilising the overall situation in the region."
According to the Kremlin statement, both leaders agreed that an immediate ceasefire and a return to diplomacy were needed.
The statement also quoted Putin as saying efforts to find a solution to concerns about Iran's nuclear programme "had been derailed by an unprovoked act of armed aggression by the United States and Israel."
The Kremlin added that Dubai — a popular destination for Russian tourists — had assisted Russian nationals during the current crisis, and that Putin had thanked Mohammed bin Zayed for those efforts.
Background
Tensions in the region have risen following cross-border strikes and retaliatory actions. International actors have repeatedly called for restraint and renewed diplomacy to prevent further escalation.
(Reporting by Reuters; editing by Andrew Osborn)
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