Russian Federation Council senator Alexey Pushkov accused Western nations of plotting regime change in Iran, warning such policies would ultimately destroy the West itself.

"The West is planning regime change in Iran. It's as if they don't understand that ultimately all these regime changes lead to monstrous destabilisation in the countries subjected to them, and will ultimately destroy the West as we know it. In the struggle with the West, the Global South will ultimately take its own," Pushkov stated on his Telegram channel on June 20.

The head of the Federation Council's commission on information policy and media relations cited massive refugee waves caused by Western interventions, noting 2.3mn people fled Iraq, 6.7mn from Syria, and 3.5mn from Libya. These waves "changed the face of Europe," whilst foreign arrivals "burdened the budgets and societies of European countries," according to the senator.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova previously responded to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's call for regime change in Iran, stating Meloni's words contradicted UN resolutions prohibiting interference in states' internal affairs.

US President Donald Trump earlier declared he would not rule out regime change in Iran, stating "anything can happen," but gave the countries two weeks until he made a decision to join Israel in striking Iranian nuclear sites including the buried Fordo reactor near Qom.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin declined to discuss the possibility of Israel assassinating Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during talks with international news agency heads.

The president noted that he is in contact with Tehran “almost daily” as it continues to hit back at Tel Aviv.

Trump reportedly confirmed American intelligence services possess information about Khamenei's whereabouts but stated no current plans exist for his elimination, emphasising Washington would not target civilians or American military personnel whilst noting his patience was "close to the limit."

Israeli airstrikes targeted Iranian nuclear programme facilities as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was experiencing "one of the key stages" of its history.