Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent a message to Iran through Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which he assured that Israel has no intentions of going to war with the Islamic Republic, KAN News reported on Monday.

The report, which cited diplomatic sources, stated that Netanyahu called Putin to deliver the message for Iran after a recent rise in tensions between Tehran and Jerusalem.

The report also noted that Putin had already sent a similar message to the Ayatollah’s regime back in October, when he also assured that Israel was “not interested in an escalation.”

Netanyahu addresses Knesset at 40-signature debate on ‘extremist government’, Jerusalem, January 6
Netanyahu addresses Knesset at 40-signature debate on ‘extremist government’, Jerusalem, January 6 (credit: Mark Israel Salem)

Netanyahu warns Iran: ‘If attacked, consequences will be severe’

Prime Minister Netanyahu already issued a warning to the Iranian regime about a possible escalation, saying during his speech at the Knesset’s 40-signature debate on “extremist government” on Monday that “If we are attacked by Iran, the consequences will be severe.”

He also vowed Israel would not let Iran renew its ballistic-missile and nuclear-weapons program. “Our position is zero enrichment capability, the removal of all enriched uranium from Iran, and continuous oversight of nuclear facilities,” he said.

In response to the ongoing protests by the Iranian people against the regime, Netanyahu said: “We may be standing at a decisive moment in which the Iranian people will take their fate into their own hands.”

Keshet Neev contributed to this report.