President Vladimir Putin on Thursday refused to discuss the possibility that Israel and the United States would kill Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and said the Iranian people were consolidating around the leadership in Tehran.

ST PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) -Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Iranian society was consolidating around the Islamic Republic's leadership when asked by Reuters if he agreed with Israeli statements about possible regime change in Tehran.

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin said he had discussions with the US, Iran and Israel but solution to the conflict is up to Jerusalem and Tehran. He said at a news conference that Iran’s interest in “peaceful nuclear energy” can be “ensured”, while also alleviating Israel’s security concerns.