Putin Was Joking about Support for Harris in US Election, Says Foreign Minister

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at a meeting on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Astana, Kazakhstan July 4, 2024. (Sputnik/Gavriil Grigorov/Pool via Reuters)
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at a meeting on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Astana, Kazakhstan July 4, 2024. (Sputnik/Gavriil Grigorov/Pool via Reuters)
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Putin Was Joking about Support for Harris in US Election, Says Foreign Minister

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at a meeting on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Astana, Kazakhstan July 4, 2024. (Sputnik/Gavriil Grigorov/Pool via Reuters)
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at a meeting on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Astana, Kazakhstan July 4, 2024. (Sputnik/Gavriil Grigorov/Pool via Reuters)

Russian President Vladimir Putin was joking when he said Moscow was supporting Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in November's US presidential election, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with Sky News Arabia.

Putin said earlier this month that Russia wanted Harris to win the contest in a teasing comment that cited her "infectious" laugh as a reason to prefer her over Republican candidate and former President Donald Trump. The Russian leader's remark prompted the White House to say Putin should stop commenting on the Nov. 5 election.

"It was a joke," Lavrov said, when asked how much the change in US president would affect Russia's foreign policy. "President Putin has a good sense of humor. He often jokes during his statements and interviews.

"I see no long-term differences in our attitude to the current or previous elections in the United States, because it is ruled by the notorious 'deep state'," Lavrov said, without giving evidence for that assertion.

Lavrov's comments were published on the foreign ministry website on Friday.



27 Inmates are Still at Large Following an Israeli Airstrike during the 12-day War, Iran says

In this photo taken Tuesday, June 24, 2025, rescuers search through the rubble of a damaged section of Evin Prison following an Israeli strike the day before, in Tehran, Iran. (AP Photo/Mostafa Roudaki/Mizan News Agency)
In this photo taken Tuesday, June 24, 2025, rescuers search through the rubble of a damaged section of Evin Prison following an Israeli strike the day before, in Tehran, Iran. (AP Photo/Mostafa Roudaki/Mizan News Agency)
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27 Inmates are Still at Large Following an Israeli Airstrike during the 12-day War, Iran says

In this photo taken Tuesday, June 24, 2025, rescuers search through the rubble of a damaged section of Evin Prison following an Israeli strike the day before, in Tehran, Iran. (AP Photo/Mostafa Roudaki/Mizan News Agency)
In this photo taken Tuesday, June 24, 2025, rescuers search through the rubble of a damaged section of Evin Prison following an Israeli strike the day before, in Tehran, Iran. (AP Photo/Mostafa Roudaki/Mizan News Agency)

Iran said Tuesday 27 inmates were still at large after an Israeli airstrike last month targeted Evin prison in the north of the capital, Tehran, local media reported.

The airstrikes were part of Israel’s 12-day bombardment of Iran that killed about 1,100 people. while 28 were left dead in Israel in Iranian retaliatory strikes, The Associated Press said.

Judiciary’s news website, Mizanonline, quoted spokesman Asghar Jahangir as saying 75 prisoners had escaped following the strike, of which 48 were either recaptured or voluntarily returned. He said authorities will detain the others if they don't hand themselves over.

Jahangir said the escapees were prisoners doing time for minor offenses.

Iranian officials said the Israeli strike killed 71 people, but local media reported earlier in July that 80 were left dead at the time, including prison staff, soldiers, inmates and visiting family members. Authorities also said five inmates died.

It’s unclear why Israel targeted the prison. The Israeli Defense Ministry had said that 50 aircraft dropped 100 munitions on military targets “based on high-quality and accurate intelligence from the Intelligence Branch.”

The New York-based Center for Human Rights had criticized Israel for striking the prison, seen as a symbol of repression of any opposition, saying it violated the principle of distinction between civilian and military targets.