Image Credentials: Image Title: Putin Calls Trump, Proposing Diplomatic Exit as Iran War Enters Critical Phase Source: (sora.openai) Date: March 2026. Attribution: This image was created using AI-generated imagery (sora.openai) and does not depict a real-world scene.
By Open Chronicle Staff | Monday, March 9, 2026
MOSCOW / WASHINGTON — In their first direct communication since the outbreak of the U.S.–Israel–Iran war, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a “frank and constructive” one-hour telephone call with U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday.
According to Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov, the discussion, initiated by Washington, focused heavily on the rapid escalation in the Middle East and the stalled negotiations over the conflict in Ukraine.
A Plea for Diplomacy in Tehran
Putin reportedly shared a series of “ideas and considerations” aimed at a swift political and diplomatic settlement to the war in Iran. The Russian leader expressed deep concern over the “armed aggression” against his long-time ally, following the February 28 decapitation strike that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
While Putin condemned the strikes, he also used the call to address the global economic fallout, particularly as oil prices surged past $119 per barrel earlier Monday before stabilizing. The Kremlin indicated that Putin remains in “regular contact” with both the new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, and Gulf leaders to prevent a total regional collapse.
Ukraine: “Cautious Optimism” on the Line of Contact
The two leaders also pivoted to the four-year-old war in Ukraine.
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Mediation Praise: Putin “positively evaluated” Trump’s personal mediation efforts, despite the lack of a formal breakthrough in ongoing trilateral talks.
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Military Progress: Putin provided Trump with a “description of the current situation” where Russian troops are reportedly progressing with “a lot of success” along the line of contact.
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Energy Ceasefire: The call touched on existing proposals for a mutual 30-day ceasefire on energy infrastructure, a move aimed at cooling global markets already reeling from the Iranian theater.
Trump’s Assessment: “Pretty Well Complete”
Following the call, President Trump struck a characteristically confident tone during a press conference. Asked about the state of the Iran campaign, he claimed the U.S. is “achieving major strides” and is “far ahead” of its initial timeline.
“Some people could say they’re pretty well complete,” Trump told reporters, asserting that Iran’s navy, air force, and communications have been “wiped out.” He noted that while he discussed a diplomatic settlement with Putin, his administration is still “thinking about taking over” the strategic Strait of Hormuz if Tehran continues to threaten global shipping.
The Venezuelan Connection
In a surprising turn, the leaders also discussed the situation in Venezuela, where President Nicolás Maduro was recently ousted, within the context of the global oil market. With Middle Eastern supplies under threat, both Washington and Moscow appear to be eyeing South American and Russian energy alternatives to stabilize a volatile world economy.