Russian President Vladimir Putin offered Wednesday to help mediate an end to the conflict between Israel and Iran, suggesting Moscow could help negotiate a settlement that could allow Tehran to pursue a peaceful atomic program while assuaging Israeli security concerns. Speaking at a roundtable session with senior news leaders of international news agencies, Putin noted that 'it's a delicate issue,' but added that 'in my view, a solution could be found.'

Putin said he shared Moscow's proposals with Iran, Israel and the United States. His comments follow a mediation offer that he made in a call with U.S. President Donald Trump last weekend. Trump said Wednesday that he told Putin to keep focused on finding an endgame to his own conflict with Ukraine. 'I said, Do me a favour, mediate your own,'' Trump said he told Putin. 'I said, Vladimir, let's mediate Russia first. You can worry about this later.''

The comments represented a shift for Trump, who earlier this week said he was 'open' to Putin's offer to mediate. Putin, meeting with senior news leaders of international news agencies, including The Associated Press, on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, emphasized that Russia has trusting relationship with Iran and built its first nuclear power plant in Bushehr.