Putin relays Iran’s peace terms to Trump in call, diesel sanctions waived

Russian President Vladimir Putin conveyed Iran’s proposed conditions for ending the war to U.S. President Donald Trump during an October 9 phone call, a message coordinated with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian after their meeting on the sidelines of the Commonwealth of Independent States summit in Turkmenistan.

The call, reported by Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov on October 10, also produced a separate agreement to waive sanctions on Russian diesel. The Trump administration said the waiver was intended to lower pump prices ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.

Iran’s terms were not disclosed, but officials said the Kremlin acted as an intermediary, delivering Tehran’s view to Washington. The exchange underscores Russia’s growing diplomatic role in a conflict that began on February 28 with U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian targets.

Energy markets remain volatile. Iranian operations in the Strait of Hormuz have continued to pressure world oil supplies, even as traffic through the waterway has improved. Brent crude closed at $105 per barrel on Friday, and the American Automobile Association reported a national average of $4.37 per gallon for regular gasoline and $6.28 per gallon for diesel.

Regional instability adds to the uncertainty. The Yemeni‑aligned Houthi rebels have attacked eleven tankers in the Strait of Hormuz this October, and Saudi Arabia closed Riyadh’s airport after a missile strike on Saturday.

While the call focused heavily on the diesel waiver, both leaders also touched on the Ukraine crisis and broader bilateral relations, according to statements from the Kremlin.

Analysts note that Putin’s direct mediation on behalf of Tehran could signal a shift in the diplomatic landscape, but without Iran’s explicit terms or a formal response from the United States, the path to a resolution remains unclear.