Russian President Vladimir Putin.
© Sputnik/Vyacheslav ProkofievRussian President Vladimir Putin.
The Israeli and US strikes against Tehran are "illegitimate" and violate international law, according to the Russian president

Israeli and US hostilities against Iran are groundless and unjustifiable, Russian President Vladimir Putin has told Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

The top Iranian diplomat, who landed in Moscow and met with the Russian president on Monday, said earlier that the visit was needed for "closer, more precise, and more serious consultations" with Russia, in the wake of the US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

During the meeting at the Kremlin, Putin described the attacks on Iran as "an unprovoked aggression," for which "there can be no justification."

The actions of Israel and the US are "illegitimate" and violate international norms, he added.

The Russian leader noted that he was glad to see Araghchi in Moscow, saying that his visit would allow Russia and Iran "to discuss these pressing issues and jointly think about a way out of the current situation."

Araghchi agreed with Putin's assessment, saying that "Russia today stands on the right side of history and international law."

By striking targets in Israel, Iran is defending its sovereignty in a legitimate way, the diplomat stressed.

Israel and the US explained their attacks on Iran by claiming that Tehran was on the brink of obtaining a nuclear weapon. The Iranian authorities have repeatedly insisted that that they are not working on a bomb, while defending their right to pursue a peaceful nuclear program.