U.S. President Donald Trump has revealed that Russian President Vladimir Putin offered to mediate the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, according to a report by Fox News.
“Vladimir called me up. He said, ‘Can I help you with Iran?’ I said, ‘No, I don’t need help with Iran. I need help with you,’” Trump said. “And I hope we’re going to be getting a deal done with Russia. It’s a shame—six thousand soldiers died last week.”
The president’s remarks appear to reference continued tensions in Eastern Europe, likely alluding to ongoing hostilities in Ukraine, a war widely attributed to Russian aggression.
Just days earlier, Trump had expressed similar sentiments, stating that any meaningful cooperation with Moscow should begin with an end to the war in Ukraine. Only after that, he said, could discussions about Russia mediating conflicts in the Middle East be considered.
Analysts from the Institute for the Study of War have noted that Putin’s offer to mediate between Israel and Iran may be a strategic attempt to divert international attention from the war in Ukraine. The Kremlin, they argue, is eager to present Moscow as a neutral powerbroker on the global stage, despite its controversial actions in Eastern Europe.
While Trump acknowledged the idea of Putin acting as a mediator in the Middle East conflict, he made it clear that Russia’s own military actions remain a primary concern.
Political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko told RBC-Ukraine that Putin is “caught in a bind,” as he struggles to maintain influence between both Iran and the United States while attempting to shield Russia from global criticism.
Earlier today, Trump announced the implementation of a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. However, tensions quickly flared again after Israel reported fresh rocket fire from Iran.
Before departing for the Alliance summit, Trump issued a blunt assessment of the situation: “They don’t know what the f*** they’re doing,” he said, referring to both nations involved in the ceasefire violations.
He went on to say he was “unhappy” with both Israel and Iran—and later emphasized he was “really unhappy” with Tel Aviv in particular.
