In the face of escalating tensions following Iran's unprecedented attack on Israel, Russian President Vladimir Putin has joined international calls for calm, urging all sides to exercise reasonable restraint to avoid catastrophic consequences for the entire region. The call took place between President Putin and his Iranian counterpart, Ebrahim Raisi, where both leaders emphasized their disinterest in further escalating tensions.

According to a translation by The Moscow Times, President Putin expressed hope that all parties involved would demonstrate restraint and prevent a new round of confrontation. President Raisi, in turn, stated that Iran's actions were limited in nature and compelled by external factors. Both leaders highlighted the unresolved Palestinian-Israeli conflict as the root cause of the current events in the Middle East.

The Kremlin confirmed that the call between President Putin and President Raisi touched upon various important topics, including the recent airstrike on Iran's consulate in Damascus. The leaders reiterated their support for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and stressed the importance of easing the humanitarian situation, as well as establishing conditions for a political and diplomatic settlement of the crisis.

Meanwhile, the situation on the ground remains volatile. On Saturday night, Iran retaliated against strikes on its diplomatic mission, launching hundreds of drones and a combination of cruise and ballistic missiles. Although Israel did not claim responsibility for the initial strike, the United States and other reports attributed it to the Jewish state.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu initially considered direct retaliation but adjusted his plans after President Biden advised him to "take the win" and assured that the U.S. would not support any immediate response. Instead, Israel targeted Hezbollah sites in southern Lebanon. Despite this, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant insisted that Israel had no choice but to respond.

The Israel Defense Forces' Chief of Staff Gen. Herzi Halevi further emphasized Israel's intent to retaliate, stating that the launch of numerous missiles and drones into Israeli territory would be answered with retaliation.

The continued insistence on retaliation, despite pressure from the international community, has raised concerns about the potential for a devastating full-scale conflict. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the urgency of defusing and de-escalating the situation during a Security Council meeting called in response to the strikes, warning that the Middle East is on the brink.

President Biden has also been actively pursuing a ceasefire agreement, expressing his commitment to bringing the hostages home and preventing the conflict from further spreading. Maintaining the United States' commitment to Israel's security, President Biden stressed that he does not seek war with Iran, a sentiment echoed by White House national security spokesperson John Kirby.

As tensions persist in the Middle East, the international community anxiously awaits further developments and hopes for a diplomatic resolution to avert a larger-scale crisis in the region.