ISTANBUL Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday reaffirmed his country’s position on regional tensions in the Middle East during a phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. A statement by the Kremlin said that Putin reiterated his condolences over the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, as well as his family members and top military officials. “Russia's principled position on the need for an immediate cessation of hostilities, the abandonment of forceful solutions to