As fears of an Iran–Israel conflict intensify and Washington hesitates, Vladimir Putin has stepped in with a surprise diplomatic push. The Russian president has spoken to both Benjamin Netanyahu and Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, offering mediation to de-escalate tensions and position Moscow as a key power broker in the Middle East. With Israel rattled by Iranian threats and the U.S. weighing its next move, Russia’s intervention is reshaping the regional equation.