President Vladimir Putin on Thursday refused to discuss the possibility that Israel and the United States would kill Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and said the Iranian people were consolidating around the leadership in Tehran.

Putin said that Moscow could help negotiate a deal that allows Iran to pursue a peaceful atomic program while also addressing Israel’s security concerns.

ST PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) -Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Iranian society was consolidating around the Islamic Republic's leadership when asked by Reuters if he agreed with Israeli statements about possible regime change in Tehran.