The Kremlin stated Saturday that Russian President Vladimir Putin communicated Tehran’s proposal for ending the conflict in Iran to U.S. President Donald Trump. The disclosure comes just one day after Trump announced an arrangement for Russia to supply diesel to international markets, a move aimed at curbing rising energy costs driven by the ongoing wars in Iran and Ukraine.
According to Russian state media, specifically the Interfax news agency, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin delivered the message “in agreement with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.” Other Russian outlets reported that the two leaders held a phone conversation after Putin met with Pezeshkian during a summit in Turkmenistan. Interfax did not provide specific details regarding Iran’s vision for concluding the war, which began on February 28 with coordinated U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian targets. The White House declined to immediately comment on the reported exchange.
In a separate development regarding energy supplies, Trump revealed on Truth Social that Russia agreed to supply more than 4 million tons of diesel to the global market under terms discussed during a call with Putin. The shipment schedule includes over 300,000 tons immediately, 500,000 tons in November, and 1 million tons shortly after. An additional 3 million tons will be delivered contingent upon the status of Russian refineries. On Friday, the U.S. Treasury Department issued a general license temporarily waiving sanctions on Russian diesel through April 2027.
The agreement has drawn sharp criticism from Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the deal, warning that lifting sanctions without a Russian commitment to de-escalate the war in Ukraine would only extend the conflict. “Gifts to Putin will not bring peace or any benefit to the civilized world,” Zelenskyy posted on social media, adding that Russia would likely “repay” the diesel with further aggression. He characterized allowing Russian petroleum sales as an investment in prolonging war rather than ending it.
Tensions remain high in the Persian Gulf, where Iran has intensified attacks on oil tankers navigating the Strait of Hormuz. A senior official in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard stated Wednesday that Tehran intends to block all “illicit routes” through the strategic waterway. These assaults follow a rebound in Middle Eastern crude exports to prewar levels in September, largely facilitated by U.S. military escorts along Oman’s coast. An interim deal signed in June to pause hostilities for negotiations had previously collapsed.
The geopolitical maneuvering occurs against a backdrop of surging global diesel prices. Ukraine’s strikes on Russian refineries have forced Moscow to ban diesel exports, while Iranian and Houthi attacks on Middle Eastern refineries have further constrained fuel supplies. Trump faces increasing political pressure to reduce fuel costs ahead of the November midterm elections, particularly in conservative areas like Iowa where agricultural stakeholders are sensitive to rising diesel expenses.
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