“Under the pretext of stopping the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction by neutralizing a new nuclear club member - Iran - attempts are underway to change the regime,” he said.

“We have suspicions to that effect,” Putin said, adding that Russia disagrees with the Western position on Iran and ways of solving “the Iran problem.”

Western powers suspect Iran of seeking to create a nuclear bomb and have tightened sanctions against the Islamic republic. Tehran insists its program is aimed at the production of civilian energy.

There has also been growing speculation in recent weeks that Israel may attack Iran’s nuclear facilities. The United States has also refused to rule out force.