Vladimir Putin slammed Donald Trump after the US struck nuclear sites in Iran and said Russia would assist Tehran. He blasted the strike as “unprovoked aggression that has no justification”.

The US President claimed American forces “obliterated” three key Iranian nuclear sites in a mission, known as Operation Midnight Hammer, in the early hours on Sunday morning. Tehran has vowed to retaliate and according to the Russian state news agency TASS, Mr Putin said Moscow is “making efforts to help [the] Iranian people”. Mr Putin had not previously commented on the American strikes on Iran, although he did earlier condemn Israeli attacks.

It is not clear what Mr Putin meant by “help” and his comments come as Iran’s foreign minister meets the Russian President for talks in Moscow.

After arriving in the Russia, Abbas Araghchi said discussions with Moscow can “certainly be of great importance”, Russian media outlets reported.

Iran is a close ally of the Kremlin and has been a major supporter of Russia‘s war in Ukraine.

Tehran has supplied Russia with huge numbers of kamikaze Shahed drones which Moscow forces have used to constantly bombard Ukraine.

Iran’s allies have been relatively quiet since the conflict broke out on June 19 following Israeli strikes.

On Monday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia is ready to help Iran in various ways, depending on what Tehran requests.

“Everything depends on what Iran needs,” he said.

“We have offered our mediation efforts. This is concrete.”

He added Iran has been “repeatedly discussed” during talks between Mr Putin and Mr Trump.

The US said seven B-2 stealth bombers took part in its attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites, while a submarine also fired more than two dozen cruise missiles.

Iran and Israel have continued to exchange fire following the US attack.

Iranian state TV reported that the country’s underground enrichment site at Fordow was again attacked on Monday.

The facility, built deep beneath a mountain, was hit by the US’ 30,000lb GBU-57, Massive Ordnance Penetertor, bunker busters on Sunday — the first time the weapons have been used on operations.