Former U.S. President Donald Trump has revealed that he turned down an offer from Russian President Vladimir Putin to mediate in the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. Trump advised the Russian leader to prioritize resolving issues within his own country before attempting to intervene in the Middle East.
Speaking on Wednesday, June 18, Trump recounted a recent conversation with Putin, during which the Russian president expressed interest in brokering peace in the region. However, Trump said he firmly redirected the conversation.
“I spoke to Putin yesterday, and he actually offered to help mediate,” Trump said. “I told him, ‘Do me a favor — mediate your own. Let’s mediate Russia first.’ I said, ‘Vladimir, take care of your own problems before worrying about the Middle East.’”
Trump’s remarks come after the Kremlin publicly announced Putin’s readiness to act as a mediator between Israel and Iran amid growing fears that their conflict could spark a wider regional war. Moscow has maintained diplomatic ties with both Tehran and Tel Aviv and has sought to position itself as a stabilizing force in the region.
However, critics view Putin’s peace overture as a strategic attempt to regain international legitimacy and shift global focus away from Russia’s protracted and controversial war in Ukraine, now entering its fourth year. Despite mounting economic and political pressure from the West, the Kremlin continues to pursue its military campaign while seeking opportunities to assert influence abroad.
