The Kremlin today condemned what it described as the “assassination” of Iranian leaders in airstrikes by the United States and Israel, one day after Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency confirmed that Ali Larijani, a senior adviser to Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, was killed in Tehran.

“We strongly condemn any actions aimed at harming the health of, or indeed assassinating or eliminating, members of the leadership of sovereign and independent Iran, as well as those of other countries. We condemn such actions,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters when asked about Russia’s reaction to Larijani’s death.

Russia, which built and helps operate Iran’s only nuclear power plant, has sharply criticized the U.S. and Israeli airstrikes against its close ally Iran and has called for an immediate ceasefire and the start of negotiations.

The Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter, reported yesterday (Tuesday) that Russia is expanding intelligence sharing and military cooperation with Tehran, providing satellite imagery and improved drone technology to help Iran target U.S. forces in the region.

Responding to the report, Peskov suggested it was false. “As you know, many different reports are circulating about this war right now. The vast majority of them are nothing more than disinformation, so we do not consider it necessary to comment on each one.”

“However, official representatives of the United States have made statements on this matter, saying that they themselves have no information about it,” he added.

The Kremlin spokesman also said that Russia has seen no indication from Europe that it wants to discuss energy supplies with Moscow after President Vladimir Putin instructed the government to consider the possibility of halting the remaining flows of Russian oil and gas to Europe.

Dmitry Peskov said Putin remains open to talks, however difficult the issue may be.

He added that energy markets have suffered a series of shocks due to the war in Iran, and that Moscow is seriously analyzing the theoretical possibility of exiting European energy markets.