Russian President Vladimir Putin, in separate telephone conversations on Friday, told Iran's president that Moscow condemned Israel's actions against Tehran and told Israel's prime minister that questions around Iran's nuclear programme could only be solved through diplomacy.

Russian President Vladimir Putin strongly condemned Israels military strikes on Iran during separate phone calls with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

As the attacks escalate, with fatalities and injuries reported on both sides, Israel issued the stark warning to Iran.

Israeli forces stepped up bombing of Iranian cities, while Iran pierced Israeli air defences with a successful volleys of retaliatory missile strikes.