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President Putin pits himself as a potential mediator but that's not an easy sell, writes the BBC's Russia editor.
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A telephone conversation between the presidents of Russia and Iran.
As the US and Israel continue their strikes on Iran, Russian President Vladimir Putin is styling himself as international peacemaker.
After all, it was the Kremlin leader who ordered Russia's full-scale invasion of an independent sovereign nation in 2022.
Back then, the UN General Assembly had condemned the invasion of Ukraine as a violation of the UN Charter.
And while the Kremlin is now calling for "a swift de-escalation and political resolution [of the Iran conflict]", Russia is continuing its war of attrition against Ukraine.
Moscow has a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" agreement with Iran. Only this week Putin reaffirmed the Kremlin's "unwavering support" for Tehran. But their strategic partnership falls far short of a mutual defence treaty.
Instead, Moscow has offered to mediate in the conflict.
In Monday's telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump, according to the Kremlin, Putin "expressed several thoughts aimed at a swift diplomatic resolution of the Iran conflict, based among other things on contacts with leaders of Gulf states, the president of Iran, and leaders of other countries".
For Russia it's a chance to boost its profile in the Gulf and the Middle East - and to present itself as a power with influence.
It's an opportunity too to deepen its relationship with Washington.
The Kremlin is keen to retain good working relations with Trump. It views its ties with the Trump administration as beneficial to Moscow's war aims in Ukraine.
That explains why Putin has been careful not to criticise Trump personally and publicly over the Iran war.
"[Putin] wants to be helpful," Trump said on Monday after his telephone conversation with Putin.
"I said, 'You could be more helpful by getting the Ukraine-Russia war over with. That would be more helpful.'"
And yet, while the Kremlin calls for 'de-escalation' in Iran, the conflict provides other opportunities for Moscow.
The recent jump in globa
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