MOSCOW, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone conversation Tuesday with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to discuss the situation in the Middle East, the Kremlin said in a statement.

According to the Kremlin, the two leaders continued exchanging views on regional developments in connection with the Israeli-US aggression against Iran.

Putin reaffirmed Russia's principled position in favor of a swift de-escalation of the conflict and resolving it through political means, the statement said.

Pezeshkian, for his part, thanked Russia for its support, including humanitarian assistance provided to Iran, it said.

The two leaders previously spoke by phone on March 6.