Putin talks to Iranian president

The Russian leader has phoned Masoud Pezeshkian amid mass protests in the Islamic Republic

Russian President Vladimir Putin has held a phone call with his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, amid mass protests that have gripped the Islamic Republic in recent weeks.

The unrest broke out late last month and was reportedly triggered by soaring inflation and the sharp devaluation of the Iranian rial. The protests quickly devolved into violent confrontations with security forces...