"Putin might use this perceived distraction as an opportunity to obtain further territory," a retired U.S. Colonel told Newsweek.

It was the two leaders’ first call since 2022, and the Russian president’s first with any major European leader since last year.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had a "substantial" phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron on the Iran-Israel conflict and Ukraine, the Kremlin said on Tuesday, the first such exchange between the two leaders since September 2022.

Iran is assessing the damage and lashing out over the American and Israeli airstrikes that damaged its nuclear sites.

White House officials continue to swagger, but there may be less cause for optimism than they would have the public believe

Iran said that more than 900 people were killed in its nearly two-week war with Israel, which subsided with a ceasefire shortly after the U.S. carried out strikes on three of Iran’s underground nuclear facilities.

Leading up to Operation Rising Lion, Israeli satellites took millions of photos of multiple locations in Iran, the Defense Ministry announced.

President Donald Trump said early Monday he is "not offering Iran anything" despite suggesting new nuclear talks with Tehran.