Trump, Putin hold phone call, discuss ‘early end’ to Iran crisis

Donald Trump, the president of the United States, who launched a war against the Islamic Republic of Iran while peace talks on ending the conflict between Russia and Ukraine were underway, held a phone call with Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin on the 9th (local time). Officially, it was their first conversation since the war with the Islamic Republic of Iran began. It was also the first call between the two leaders in about two months.

According to The Associated Press (AP), Yuri Ushakov, a foreign policy adviser at the Kremlin, told reporters on the 9th (local time) that "the Russian president held a telephone conversation with Trump." He added that the call "focused on the conflict surrounding the Islamic Republic of Iran and the peace talks on the Russo-Ukrainian War in which the United States is involved."
Ushakov said that during the call, Putin "mentioned several considerations aimed at a swift political and diplomatic resolution of the Iran situation." He claimed that what Putin proposed to Trump "included contacts with leaders of Persian Gulf states, meetings with Islamic Republic of Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian, and talks with several other national leaders."

Ushakov also explained that Putin "highly appreciated the mediation efforts of the United States and Trump with regard to peace talks on the Russo-Ukrainian War." He said the two leaders also discussed recent international oil prices and the situation in Venezuela. According to Ushakov, "This phone conversation took place at Trump’s initiative" and was "businesslike, frank, and constructive." The call lasted for about one hour.
The Russian Federation, which is confronting the West over the Russo-Ukrainian War, currently has a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Earlier, on the 6th, The Washington Post (WP), citing officials, reported that Russia had provided Iran with the locations of U.S. military assets in the Middle East after the war with the Islamic Republic of Iran began on the 28th of last month.
In response, Trump told reporters on the 7th that he had "seen no such indications" regarding reports that Russia was aiding the Islamic Republic of Iran. However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in an interview with National Broadcasting Company (NBC) on the 8th, "Cooperation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Russia is nothing new, nor is it a secret."

pjw@fnnews.com Reporter Park Jong-won Reporter