Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered to help mediate an end to the conflict between Israel and Iran, suggesting Moscow could help negotiate a settlement that could allow Tehran to pursue a peaceful atomic program while assuaging Israeli security concerns.

Russia warned Israel against its strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, saying it puts the world on the "brink of a catastrophe". Israel has struck nuclear facilities across Iran, including at Bushehr, Natanz, Isfahan, and Arak. It accuses Iran of seeking to build a nuclear bomb. Tehran says its nuclear program is for civilian energy purposes.

By Vladimir Soldatkin, Andrew Osborn and Dmitry Antonov ST PETERSBURG (Reuters) -The head of Russia's nuclear energy corporation warned on Thursday that an Israeli attack on Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant could lead to a "Chernobyl-style catastrophe".