By Isabella Torregiani
3:03am PDT, Jun 20, 2025
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President
Donald Trump isn't seeking any help in handling the Iran-Israel conflict — especially from Russian President
Vladimir Putin.
Although Putin offered to step in as a mediator, Trump quickly rejected the idea, telling him to "mediate Russia first."
Keep reading for more on their conversation…MORE:
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On Wednesday, June 18, President Donald Trump told reporters he had spoken to Vladimir Putin the day before.
"I spoke to Putin yesterday and he actually offered to help mediate," Trump said from the White House lawn.
However, Trump wasn't interested in outside involvement: "I said, 'Do me a favor, mediate your own. Let's mediate Russia first.' I said, 'Vladimir, let's mediate Russia first. You can worry about this later.'"
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President Donald Trump has tried for months to mediate between Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky — but with little to no success.
Just last month, the U.S. president called out Putin after Russia launched more than 300 drones and missiles at Ukraine in one of the most intense assaults since the war began — despite previously claiming peace talks would start "immediately."
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Following Israel's June 11 strike on Iran's capital, Tehran, the country's air defense systems have been severely weakened. The targeted attacks also reportedly took out top Iranian military officials and scientists.
In response, President Donald Trump is reportedly considering approving the use of a 30,000-pound 'bunker buster' bomb on Iran's Fordow nuclear facility, which is in a mountain.
"I may do it. I may not do it," Trump told reporters on Wednesday, June 18. "I mean, nobody knows what I'm going to do."
