By Andrew Osborn and Alexander Marrow (Reuters) -Russian leader Vladimir Putin told Iran's president over the phone on Friday that Moscow condemned Israeli actions against Tehran, and in a separate telephone conversation told Israel's prime minister that only diplomacy could resolve issues around Iran's nuclear programme.

Russia said on Tuesday that it was ready to act as a peace broker between Israel and Iran, but noted that Israel appeared reluctant to accept outside mediation. Israel began launching strikes across Iran on Friday, claiming they were aimed at preventing Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon -- a charge that Iran denies.

The deadly fighting between Israel and Iran is unlikely to bring Moscow closer to ending its invasion of Ukraine, and there are several ways it could play into Russia’s hands. But they may not move the dial dramatically in a war that seems destined to continue for months to come,