In a dramatic turn of global diplomacy, former U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a high-stakes phone call focused on ending the raging war between Israel and Iran raising hopes for de-escalation in a region on the brink of all-out catastrophe.
The one-hour conversation, which took place on Trump’s 79th birthday, revolved around what both leaders described as an “urgent need” to halt the war. Trump shared the development on Truth Social, stating, “Putin called me on my birthday. We talked about Iran. He knows the players and the stakes. We both agree the war must stop.”
According to Trump, Putin expressed a deep understanding of the Iranian conflict and aligned with Trump’s concerns over the volatile nature of the escalation. “The call lasted about an hour. He felt, as I do, that the Israel-Iran war should end, and I explained that his war should end too,” Trump remarked, referring to Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
While Trump noted that the situation in Ukraine was addressed only briefly, he hinted at deeper discussions in the coming week. “Next week, Ukraine,” he wrote, downplaying the issue for the moment.
In a surprising addition, the two leaders discussed the potential for a sweeping prisoner swap that would involve “a large number of individuals” held by both sides though no details were disclosed.
Sources within the Kremlin confirmed the call. Aide Yuri Ushakov stated, “Vladimir Putin condemned Israel’s military operation against Iran and expressed serious concern about the escalation of the conflict, which will have unpredictable consequences for the entire situation in the Middle East.”
Ushakov added that both leaders showed interest in reviving stalled negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program, a prospect that could reset diplomatic efforts globally. “They didn’t rule out returning to the negotiating table,” he said.
This marked the fifth official conversation between Trump and Putin since Trump returned to the political spotlight and signaled a major deviation from the policies of his successor, President Joe Biden.
The Trump-Putin call came amid an explosion of violence between Iran and Israel. On June 13, Israeli fighter jets launched a massive strike targeting Iranian nuclear and military installations, prompting swift Iranian retaliation.
Iran responded with three consecutive missile strikes on Israeli targets. By late Saturday, both countries had again exchanged fire, lighting up the night sky over Jerusalem with missile trails, as confirmed by CNN and regional defense authorities.
The Israeli military said its air force had struck over 150 high-value targets in Iran during a 40-hour operation, including nuclear facilities and leadership compounds. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Effie Defrin called the attacks part of an “ongoing counterterrorism campaign.”
Meanwhile, Iran activated air defense systems in Tehran, Isfahan, and Mashhad, intercepting multiple projectiles in the air. Press TV aired footage of Iranian missiles being launched and Israeli drones being intercepted in cities like Zanjan and Khorramabad.
As air raid sirens continued to blare across both nations, Iran launched yet another wave of missiles and drones late Saturday, according to state-run IRNA.
This rapid-fire escalation and the surprise diplomacy that followed has stunned analysts and governments worldwide. For now, Trump and Putin’s phone call offers a faint glimmer of hope that diplomacy might still win out over destruction. But with missiles still flying and cities on alert, the path to peace remains anything but certain.
