Kremlin Says Trump Initiated First Iran‑War Call With Putin and Wants ‘Regular’ Discussions
Kremlin officials said President Trump initiated a roughly one‑hour phone call with Vladimir Putin — their first since the start of the Iran war — in which they discussed the Iran conflict, the war in Ukraine and global energy markets; Putin reportedly presented proposals for a quick political and diplomatic settlement and the two agreed such calls should occur “on a regular basis.” Kremlin foreign‑policy adviser Yuri Ushakov described the conversation as “frank and businesslike,” and Moscow, not the White House, provided the public readout.
📌 Key Facts
- The Kremlin says President Trump initiated a roughly one‑hour phone call with President Vladimir Putin — the first since the Iran war began — and that the two agreed such calls should occur “on a regular basis”; their prior call was in October and Kremlin aides provided the readout, not the White House.
- According to the Kremlin and its aides, the leaders discussed the Iran war, the conflict in Ukraine and the global energy market (including oil price spikes) — and Putin reportedly presented “several proposals” for a quick political and diplomatic settlement of the Iran war based on talks with Gulf leaders and Iran’s president; they also discussed Venezuela in the context of global energy.
- Multiple U.S. media reports, citing senior U.S. officials and other sources, say Russia has provided Iran with intelligence to help identify U.S. targets — including locations of U.S. warships and aircraft — and that this assistance has been tied to contemporaneous U.S.–Israeli strike operations.
- U.S. officials and spokespeople offered mixed responses: President Trump downplayed and would not confirm the intelligence reports; White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said any Russian help is "not making any difference" because the U.S. is "completely decimating" Iran; and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the U.S. is "tracking everything," would "confront" nations aiding Iran and touted Trump’s relationships with world leaders as an avenue for messaging.
- The reports of Russian assistance have heightened calls for action: retired Gen. David Petraeus and others urged immediate sanctions on Russia, arguing Moscow’s help could explain improved Iranian strike accuracy; Sen. Lindsey Graham’s Russia sanctions bill was cited as having broad Senate support.
- The issue intersects with U.S. economic and diplomatic decisions: the Treasury granted India a 30‑day waiver (through April 4) allowing continued purchases of Russian crude and petroleum products to blunt oil‑price shocks — a move that drew bipartisan criticism from lawmakers who called it weakness or worse.
- Congressional dynamics may be affected: House and Senate recently rejected war‑powers resolutions but are now debating AUMF and war‑funding votes, and some lawmakers (from both parties) say the Russia–Iran intelligence angle could shift votes; Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick’s December sanctions bill was referenced as a vehicle for intensifying economic pressure on Russia.
- Iranian and Russian officials have publicly framed closer ties as intentional and ongoing: Iran’s deputy foreign minister and Iran’s foreign minister described Iran–Russia coordination or partnership as acknowledged and continuing, while Kremlin comments and Putin’s public remarks emphasized Russia’s role as a reliable energy supplier to select partners.
📊 Relevant Data
Black Americans make up approximately 20% of the U.S. military, compared to 13.6% of the general U.S. population, indicating overrepresentation in military service.
Here is the makeup of the US military and how it's changed — KSBW
Racial and ethnic minorities represent approximately 43% of active-duty U.S. service members, making the military more racially diverse than the general population.
Increased oil price uncertainty from events like geopolitical conflicts leads to higher unemployment rate increases for Black workers compared to White workers, with the effect being 2-3 times larger for Blacks in the US.
Racial and ethnic disparities in unemployment and oil price uncertainty — ScienceDirect
In a 2026 poll, 53% of American voters oppose U.S. military action in Iran, with opposition reaching 74% among Democrats and only 7% approval, while 55% of Republicans approve.
More Americans disapprove than approve of U.S. strikes against Iran — Ipsos
📰 Source Timeline (9)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
March 10, 2026
9:30 PM
Tuesday’s Mini-Report, 3.10.26
New information:
- Kremlin foreign‑policy adviser Yuri Ushakov told journalists that President Trump initiated the roughly one‑hour call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday.
- Ushakov said the two leaders discussed the Middle East, the conflict in Ukraine and the global energy market.
- According to Ushakov, Trump and Putin agreed that such calls should occur on a “regular basis,” and the prior call between them was in October.
- The mini‑report underscores that news of the call came from the Kremlin side rather than from the White House, raising transparency questions about U.S. readouts.
March 09, 2026
9:51 PM
Trump has call with Putin to discuss Iran war, Kremlin says
New information:
- Confirms from Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov that the call lasted about one hour and was 'frank and businesslike.'
- Specifies that Putin 'voiced a few ideas aimed at a quick political and diplomatic settlement' based on talks with Gulf leaders and Iran’s president.
- Clarifies that Trump offered his assessment 'in the context of the ongoing U.S.-Israeli operation' in Iran.
- Adds that the leaders also discussed Venezuela 'in the context of the situation in the global oil market.'
- Provides additional public remarks from Putin the same day stressing Russia as a 'reliable energy supplier,' increasing supplies to 'reliable partners' (Asia-Pacific, Slovakia, Hungary) and again floating diversion of gas away from the EU after its 2027 ban decision.
8:56 PM
Trump and Putin discuss end to Iran, Ukraine wars on call
New information:
- Kremlin says Trump and Putin held their first phone call since the start of the Iran war on Monday, lasting about an hour.
- Russian foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov describes the call as 'frank' and 'businesslike' and claims Putin presented Trump with 'several proposals' for ending the war with Iran.
- Iranian deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi says France, China and Russia have reached out to Tehran about conditions for a ceasefire.
- The Kremlin says Trump and Putin also discussed the spike in global oil prices linked to the Iran war.
- The article notes the U.S. recently granted India a temporary waiver to keep buying Russian oil to mitigate supply disruptions.
12:41 PM
Petraeus calls for immediate sanctions on Russia over alleged intelligence support to Iran
New information:
- Retired Gen. David Petraeus publicly urges President Trump to 'ask Congress to pass' a Russia sanctions bill pending in the Senate, citing reports that Moscow is providing intelligence to Iran.
- Petraeus claims Sen. Lindsey Graham’s Russia sanctions bill has support from 'over 90 out of 100 senators' and describes EU action on Russia sanctions as 'very impressive.'
- Petraeus argues Iran lacks the necessary intelligence to conduct precise strikes on U.S. assets alone and says alleged Russian assistance could explain improved accuracy of Iranian missiles and drones.
- Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi tells NBC’s 'Meet the Press' that an Iran–Russia military partnership is 'no secret' and 'will continue in the future.'
- White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt responds that any Russian intelligence help is 'not making any difference' because the U.S. is 'completely decimating' Iranian forces.
March 08, 2026
2:25 AM
Trump downplays importance of Russia reportedly sharing intel with Iran to help it hit US targets
New information:
- Trump, asked about reports that Russia is sharing targeting information with Iran, said it was 'inconsequential' and that if Iran is getting such information 'it’s not helping them much.'
- He declined to confirm the underlying intelligence reports but brushed off the implication for U.S.–Russia relations, suggesting Moscow would claim the U.S. does the same to them.
- The article ties these comments to a recently announced Treasury decision granting India a one‑month waiver, until April 4, to keep buying Russian crude and petroleum products amid war‑driven oil price spikes.
- The waiver has drawn bipartisan criticism, including Rep. Don Bacon calling it 'weakness towards Russia' and Rep. Ted Lieu labeling it 'traitorous conduct' toward Russia’s war effort on X.
- The piece notes that Trump justified the waiver in the context of surging global oil prices and his earlier move to cut tariffs on India after New Delhi agreed to reduce its dependence on discounted Russian crude.
March 07, 2026
1:07 AM
Russia helping Iran identify U.S. targets, sources say
New information:
- CBS segment directly attributes the claim that Russia is providing intelligence on U.S. positions in the Middle East to 'multiple sources, including a senior U.S. official with direct knowledge.'
- It specifies that the assistance involves helping Iran identify U.S. targets during ongoing joint U.S.–Israeli operations in Iran, tightening the description of what 'intelligence aid' means operationally.
- Frames the intelligence support as an active, contemporaneous process tied explicitly to current strike operations, not just a broader pattern of coordination.
March 06, 2026
11:00 PM
Hegseth says anyone helping Iran's war efforts will be "confronted strongly"
New information:
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, in a CBS 60 Minutes interview, says President Trump is 'well aware of who's talking to who' and that the U.S. is 'tracking everything' regarding Russian contacts with Iran.
- Hegseth states that anything 'that shouldn't be happening' in terms of countries aiding Iran will be 'confronted and confronted strongly,' signaling a willingness to respond to third‑party support.
- Hegseth downplays risk to U.S. personnel from Russian intelligence support, saying 'we're putting the other guys in danger' and that 'the only ones that need to be worried right now are Iranians that think they're gonna live.'
- Hegseth touts what he calls Trump’s 'unique relationship' with world leaders like Putin, saying Trump can 'get things done' that former President Joe Biden 'never could have,' and that messages can be delivered through direct and indirect channels.
- White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt says she cannot comment on leaked intelligence reports but argues that whether Russia has shared intelligence with Iran 'doesn't matter' because it is 'clearly not making a difference' as the U.S. is 'completely decimating' Iran.
10:45 PM
‘Unholy alliance’: Republicans are suddenly nervous about Russia’s support for Iran
New information:
- Details that the Washington Post report says Russia is providing Iran with information on locations of U.S. warships and aircraft, sharpening the nature of the alleged targeting support.
- On‑the‑record reactions from multiple House Republicans (Don Bacon, Michael McCaul, Brian Fitzpatrick) condemning Russia’s support for Iran and criticizing the Trump administration’s posture toward Putin.
- Explicit linkage between the Russia–Iran intelligence report and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s decision to grant a 30‑day waiver easing Russian oil sanctions for Indian refiners.
- New Democratic criticism framing Trump’s Iran campaign as a 'war of choice' and accusing him of being weak on Putin, with Rep. Jason Crow saying 'Trump is getting played' and Rep. Gregory Meeks urging more support for Ukraine.
- Reference to Brian Fitzpatrick’s December sanctions bill to intensify economic pressure on Russia, portrayed as more urgent given the Russia–Iran 'unholy alliance.'
- Context that House and Senate narrowly rejected war‑powers resolutions this week but are now discussing an AUMF and war‑funding votes where this Russia angle could shift votes.