MOSCOW. Oct 11 (Interfax) - The accusations against Iran of involvement in the escalation of the Palestine-Israel conflict are unfounded, Russian President Vladimir Putin said, noting that he does not see any point in the U.S. sending an aircraft carrier group to the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea.
"I don't understand why the United States is sending one aircraft carrier group there [to the Mediterranean Sea] and seems to be announcing a second one. I don't really see any point. Are they going to bomb Lebanon?" Putin said at Russian Energy Week's plenary session.
"Or have they just decided to intimidate someone? But there are people there who are no longer afraid of anything. One should not use this method for solving the problem, but look for compromises," he said.
"Now we hear that Iran is being accused of all sins, unfoundedly, as usual. There is no evidence," Putin said.
"Let's see, I hope common sense will prevail," he said.
The Navy Times military media outlet earlier reported that a U.S. aircraft carrier group, led by the USS Eisenhower nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, will leave the Norfolk naval base in Virginia for the Mediterranean on Friday.
According to U.S. Navy reports, a U.S. carrier strike group, led by the USS Gerald Ford nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, approached the coast of Israel amid the Israel-Hamas crisis.
John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the U.S. National Security Council, earlier said Washington believes Iran has long supported Hamas, but Washington has no data on Tehran's involvement in the attack on Israel. Charles Brown, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, cautioned Iran against interference in this conflict.