Fact Check: Putin Did Not Criticize Muslim Leaders Over Iran, Palestine Conflict

A recent wave of misinformation circulating on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook has falsely attributed critical remarks to Russian President Vladimir Putin concerning the stances of certain Muslim leaders on the Iran and Palestine conflicts. These posts, often accompanied by an image of Putin, allege that he rebuked leaders from the United Arab Emirates and other Muslim nations for aligning with the United States and Israel against Iran.

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It’s heartbreaking. You who claim to be believers are actually allying yourselves with the occupiers. Where were you when Palestine, Lebanon, and Iran were being oppressed?

Tempo's Fact Check team has rigorously investigated these claims, consulting reputable news sources and international relations experts. Our findings unequivocally show that President Putin has never issued any statements that could be interpreted as criticism of Muslim leaders regarding the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. The narrative presented in the social media posts is entirely fabricated and lacks any basis in reality.

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The findings show that Russian President Vladimir Putin has never made any remarks alluding to the context of Iran’s war against the United States and Israel.

In fact, recent diplomatic activities involving President Putin paint a different picture. On March 11, 2026, he spoke with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, discussing the Iran-U.S. war's impact, extending birthday wishes, and acknowledging the strong bilateral partnership. Subsequently, on April 2, 2026, Putin engaged in a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Their discussion focused on de-escalating the Middle East crisis, intensifying diplomatic efforts for a lasting resolution, and coordinating within the OPEC+ framework to stabilize the global oil market.

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Putin wished Nahyan a happy 65th birthday and praised his role in strengthening the strategic partnership between Moscow and Abu Dhabi.

Radityo Dharmaputra, Head of the Center for European and Eurasian Studies at Airlangga University, corroborated Tempo's findings, stating that there are no such statements from Putin directed at Muslim or Arab leaders. This fact-check serves to debunk the viral misinformation and highlight the importance of verifying information, especially concerning sensitive geopolitical issues. The deliberate spread of such false narratives can have detrimental effects on international relations and public understanding.

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The two leaders called for a swift cessation of hostilities and an intensification of diplomatic efforts toward a long-term resolution that respects the legitimate interests of all parties.