Russia has maintained a delicate balancing act in the Middle East for decades, trying to navigate its warm relations with Israel even as it has developed strong economic and military ties with Iran.

With Moscow’s back to the wall in Ukraine, Tehran may soon see that its new ‘strategic partnership’ with the Kremlin is not much help.

President Trump spoke by phone Saturday with Russian strongman Vladimir Putin about the raging conflict in the Middle East, the Kremlin said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says rising global oil prices following Israeli strikes on Iran will strengthen Russia by increasing its oil revenues, aiding its war effort in Ukraine.

Russia said on Wednesday it was ready to remove nuclear materials from Iran and convert them into fuel as a potential way to help narrow differences between the United States and Iran over the Islamic Republic's nuclear programme.

"Indeed, cinematography is a key area for cooperation. New Russian and Iranian films are traditionally presented at major festivals, and there is regular exchange of delegations of filmmakers," Lyubimova said on Telegram after meeting with Iranian Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Seyyed Abbas Salehi.

Israel warns "Tehran will burn" if Iran continues firing missiles, while state media say 60 people have been killed in a strike on Iran's capital.

Israel’s sudden attack on Iran has threatened to disrupt oil supplies in the Middle East, placing the Opec+ cartel’s recent decision to increase crude production into the spotlight. The Saudi Arabia-led producer group has surprised the oil market this year by fast-tracking the return of idled production even as crude prices fell.