ST PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) -Russian President Vladimir Putin made the following comments at a plenary session of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum on Friday. Putin spoke in Russian.

The U.S. military struck three sites in Iran early Sunday, inserting itself into Israel’s effort to decapitating Iran's nuclear program in a risky gambit to weaken a longtime foe amid Tehran’s threat of reprisals that could spark a wider regional conflict.

Putin has issued a stark warning to the West: if Israel strikes Iran’s nuclear facilities, Russia may be forced to step in. The explosive statement hints at a possible alliance between Moscow and Tehran,