German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul ⁠has accused Russia of helping Iran identify potential strike targets, ⁠alleging that President Vladimir Putin is hoping to use the US-Israel war as a distraction from his Ukraine invasion, Al Jazeera reports.

Speaking to reporters at a G7 meeting ‌in France, Wadephul says he spoke to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to outline Germany’s position, which is that it’s willing to ⁠help play a role in ⁠the Strait of Hormuz after hostilities end.

“Putin cynically hopes that the escalation ⁠in the Middle East will divert our ⁠attention from his ⁠crimes in Ukraine,” Wadephul adds. “This calculation must not succeed. We see very clearly how ‌closely the two conflicts are intertwined. Russia is evidently supporting ‌Iran ‌with information about potential targets.”