President of Russia seeks to reduce tensions in the Middle East amid crisis in Iran Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered to act as a mediator to ease rising tensions in the Middle East over protests in Iran and US President Donald Trump’s threats to authorities in Tehran following the deaths of protesters. ✅ Follow the g1 international news channel on WhatsApp Brutal repression, 1st execution and threats from Trump: understand the escalation of protests in Iran According to a statement released by the Russian government, Putin spoke by telephone this Friday (16) with Iranian President, Masoud Pezeshkian, and called for a rapid reduction in tensions in the country. The two also reportedly reaffirmed their commitment to the 20-year strategic partnership agreement that Russia and Iran signed last year. Putin also spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to the Kremlin, the Russian president presented ideas to reinforce stability in the Middle East and expressed his willingness to “continue his mediation efforts and promote constructive dialogue with the participation of all interested states.” Context: it is worth remembering that, despite extolling diplomacy in the Iran crisis, the Russian president continues his offensive, which has lasted almost four years, in Ukraine and peace negotiations are stalled. This Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of delaying efforts for a ceasefire. Russian President Vladimir Putin holds his annual press conference in Moscow on December 19, 2025 Alexander Nemenov/Pool via REUTERS Asked what support Russia could provide to Iran, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “Russia is already providing assistance not only to Iran, but also to the entire region, and to the cause of regional stability and peace. This is due, in part, to the president’s efforts to help reduce tensions.” The latest death toll in Iran, released by an NGO that monitors the situation in the country, showed that more than 3,400 people have died since the protests began at the end of last year. Much of Iran remains without internet and demonstrations against the regime have spread to other countries. This Thursday (15), the United Nations Security Council met at the request of the United States government to talk about the issue. The American ambassador to the UN said that President Donald Trump has made it clear that all options are on the table to end the massacre and that he is a man of action. Washington claims that the ayatollahs’ regime is weaker than ever and that it is spreading lies because of the strength of the Iranian people on the streets. Iran’s deputy ambassador accused the Americans of spreading disinformation and warned that any act of aggression, direct or indirect, will be met with a decisive response. Greenland is also a concern Amid threats from Trump, Denmark announces increased military presence in Greenland This Wednesday (14), Russia stated that it was seriously concerned about the departure of NATO military personnel to the Arctic region, announced by some member countries of the military alliance to defend Greenland from threats of annexation made by the President of the United States, Donald Trump. The Russian government also accused NATO of carrying out an “accelerated military” mobilization that would have a “clear objective of containing Russia and promoting an anti-Russian and anti-Chinese agenda.” “The situation unfolding in high latitudes is a cause for serious concern for us,” the Russian embassy in Belgium, where NATO is based, said in a statement published late on Wednesday. According to the embassy, NATO is “expanding its military presence there under the false pretext of a growing threat from Moscow and Beijing.” The speech comes after the governments of Denmark and Greenland announced, on Wednesday, that they will increase their military presence on the island and also in the Arctic in coordination with other NATO countries (read more below). The first Danish soldiers began arriving on the island this morning. Despite Russia protesting NATO’s presence in the Arctic and accusing Europe of having “belligerent plans”, the military alliance has a constant presence in the region and military exercises are common: The most recent took place at the beginning of this week, according to images released by NATO itself on its social networks: “training in the Arctic” (see below); In September 2025, Denmark carried out an exercise with NATO allies around Greenland that involved mobilization by air, sea and land; In March 2024, Norway, Sweden and Finland carried out training in northern Norway; NATO plans two military exercises in the Arctic in 2026, one in February and another in March, both off the coast of Norway. NATO warship sails during military training in the Arctic in January 2025. Disclosure/Nato A spokeswoman for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday that “neither Russia nor China have ever said they have plans to occupy Greenland.” NATO member countries contextualize the mobilization within the scope of escalating tensions with the USA, however, Germany stated this Thursday that an alliance mission in Greenland in the coming days will aim to “explore options to guarantee security in the face of Russian and Chinese threats in the Arctic”. The option to reinforce the Arctic flank is adopted by US allies with two objectives: to prevent US military action against the island and also to show Trump that their concerns about the security of the region are taken into account. Trump’s offensive against Greenland Trump carries out an offensive against Greenland with the aim of making the island become part of the USA, which left Europeans on alert — the Arctic island belongs to Denmark, which said it was not willing to negotiate its sovereignty over the territory. The US president reiterated on Wednesday that the US needs the island and that Denmark cannot be trusted to protect it. Trump claims that there is a growing presence of Russia and China in the Arctic region, however, Europeans contradicted him by saying, based on their intelligence reports, that no Russian or Chinese warships have been detected in the region. The US president also has economic interests in Greenland. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Thursday that Trump’s ambition to seize the Arctic island remains “intact” even after a meeting between high-level representatives of the US, Danish and Greenlandic governments held on Wednesday in Washington DC NATO countries pledge troops to Greenland Last September, Danish troops joined allied troops in military exercises in Greenland. Guglielmo Mangiapane/REUTERS Germany, France, Sweden and Norway announced this Wednesday (14) that they are sending soldiers to Greenland. The decision comes amid threats from United States President Donald Trump to annex the island. Troops should begin arriving in the territory on Thursday (15). Despite having autonomy, Greenland is under the custody of Denmark. According to a German government spokesperson, reconnaissance troops will be deployed to the island. The Ministry of Defense said the mission was requested by Denmark to assess possible military contributions and strengthen security in the region. The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, announced that French troops will participate in joint military exercises organized by Denmark. The operation, according to him, is called “Arctic Resistance”. Earlier, Denmark said it had strengthened its military presence on the island and its surroundings in “close collaboration” with NATO allies. In recent weeks, Trump has repeatedly stated that the island is vital to US security and that the country needs to control the territory to prevent an occupation by Russia or China. The President of the United States has said that all options are on the table to ensure control of Greenland. The White House does not rule out military action. This Wednesday, officials from Denmark and Greenland met in Washington with US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. After the meeting, a senior Danish representative said there remained a “fundamental disagreement” with Trump over the future of Greenland. The two sides agreed to create a working group to discuss US security concerns. Greenland’s Foreign Minister, Vivian Motzfeldt, said she wants to strengthen cooperation with the US, but made it clear that the territory does not want to be controlled by Washington. READ ALSO The Trump administration freezes the issuance of immigrant visas for citizens of Brazil and 74 other countries USA announces 2nd phase of Trump’s plan for Gaza; stage foresees complete demilitarization Iranian regime orders summary and public trials and executions by hanging to quell protests VIDEOS: trending on g1 See the videos that are trending on g1
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Putin offers to mediate crisis between Iran and Trump government in calls with Netanyahu and Iranian president
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