Trump says US involvement 'possible,' 'open' to Putin mediation

BEIRUT — Donald Trump said Sunday that he was "open" to Russian President Vladimir Putin playing a mediating role in the conflict between Israel and Iran, in which it "is possible" that the United States might become involved.

The U.S. president also assured that there was "no deadline" for the Iranians to return to the negotiating table, reported an ABC News journalist Sunday morning. "There is no deadline. But [the Iranians] are talking. They would like to reach an agreement. They are talking. They continue to exchange views," he stated, according to a post on X by reporter Rachel Scott.

Read also

Pourquoi l’affaiblissement de l'Iran provoque des réactions aussi contradictoires au Moyen-Orient

An ally of Israel, Trump had called on Friday for Iran to reach an agreement with the United States on its nuclear program, as a new round of indirect talks was scheduled for Sunday in Oman. But Muscat announced Saturday that these discussions would not take place, with Iran accusing Israel of undermining them.

Putin 'open' to mediation

Asked about a possible mediation of the conflict by Vladimir Putin, the Republican president replied: "He is open to it. He is ready, he called me about it, we discussed it at length. We talked about it more than about his own situation." The two presidents spoke on the phone Saturday, and "the dangerous escalation in the Middle East" was, according to the Kremlin, the focus of the call. Russia had condemned Friday as "unacceptabl" Israel's strikes against Iran.

Trump further stated on ABC on Sunday about the conflict between Israel and Iran that "it is possible that we might get involved." "But we are not involved at this moment," he added.

The United States, which had labeled on Thursday night as "unilateral' Israel's attack on Iran, nevertheless assisted their ally in shooting down Iranian missiles targeting Israeli territory.

"Iran and Israel should reach an agreement, and they will reach an agreement," the U.S. president also wrote on his Truth Social network Sunday, adding that "many calls and meetings are taking place right now."