Putin and Netanyahu
Putin and NetanyahuFlash 90

Russian President Vladimir Putin called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today (Thursday) in order to reassure the latter about the recent Iranian nuclear deal.

President Putin insisted that the agreement would prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and would improve Middle Eastern security.

He specifically told Prime Minister Netanyahu that the deal includes "solid guarantees that the Iranian nuclear program will be exclusively peaceful" and that its implementation would "positively impact the security and stability of the Middle East," according to the Kremlin.

Israel has been outspoken in its criticisms of the agreement and has been encouraging members of the US Congress to reject it. One of the concerns many experts have pointed to is that Russia and Iran are major trading partners. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, Russia could veto any attempts to reinstate sanctions following Iranian violations of the deal.