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Trump Calls Putin as Iran War Spirals Out of Control

Trump Turns to Putin as War With Iran Deepens

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As the conflict between the United States and Iran intensifies, Washington appears to be searching for a way out of a growing strategic stalemate. A phone call on Monday night between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin has drawn global attention, suggesting that the White House may be seeking Moscow’s help to calm a war that the United States and Israel helped ignite.

The geopolitical environment surrounding the conflict is rapidly shifting in ways that increasingly concern Washington. Some of America’s closest regional partners are showing signs of distancing themselves from the confrontation. Kuwait, long considered one of Washington’s most loyal allies in the Gulf, has publicly denied allowing its territory to be used for strikes against Iran.

At the same time, new reports suggest that quiet diplomatic contacts are taking place between Saudi Arabia and Iran, as well as between other Arab states and Tehran. These developments raise the possibility that the United States could face growing diplomatic isolation if the war continues to escalate.

For the Trump administration, the idea of solving the decades-long standoff with Iran through decisive military action once carried strong political appeal in Washington. Yet the strategy now appears to be producing the opposite effect. Instead of loosening the so-called “Iran knot,” the confrontation has tightened it.

Russia’s role in the region is becoming increasingly significant. Some aspects of the conflict cannot easily be addressed without Moscow’s involvement. While this reality may have once been a theoretical concern for the White House, it is now becoming a practical challenge as the war unfolds.

Another key factor is the global energy market. What Trump initially described as a temporary shock to oil markets now threatens to evolve into a prolonged disruption of global energy supply chains. If the crisis deepens, the economic consequences could affect not only international markets but also American voters at home.

Meanwhile, the nature of the conflict itself is changing. Beyond conventional military operations, acts of sabotage and asymmetric attacks are becoming more prominent. Analysts warn that U.S. infrastructure and citizens around the world could increasingly become targets as the confrontation evolves.

Finally, the war also carries serious political risks inside the United States. What some American commentators initially predicted would be a brief five-day conflict is now widely expected to last months. A prolonged war could deepen political divisions in Washington and erode support for the administration.

While Moscow may help ease certain tensions in the standoff with Iran, the broader political consequences of the conflict ultimately remain Washington’s responsibility. The question now facing the Trump administration is whether diplomacy can succeed before the crisis grows even more dangerous.

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Who Was Behind the Assassination of Ali Larijani?
Power Vacuum Emerges After Iran’s Top Security Official Is Assassinated The assassination of Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, in an Israeli strike has exposed a significant security lapse in Tehran, raising concerns that tensions in the Middle East could escalate further. Iran confirmed on March 17 that Larijani—one of the country’s central security coordinators—was killed in an attack in Tehran earlier that day. The strike inevitably draws comparisons to the 2020 killing of Qassem Soleimani, the powerful commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Soleimani’s death not only removed a prominent military leader but also risked weakening Iran’s operational capabilities, leaving a void no successor has fully filled. Larijani’s role carried similar weight. A deeply influential figure within Iran’s political system, his death creates not only a power vacuum but also new challenges for Tehran’s ability to coordinate policy across competing institutions. At 67, Larijani was one of the most seasoned and influential politicians in Iran for decades. His career began during the Iran-Iraq War, where he rose through the ranks of the IRGC to brigadier general. He later held several key positions, including Speaker of Parliament from 2008 to 2020 and previously Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council. He played a pivotal role in bridging multiple centers of power—from civilian institutions to military and security bodies—while advocating a more confrontational stance toward the United States and Israel. He was also central to shaping IRGC military operations. Larijani’s influence stemmed from his ability to navigate rival factions within Iran’s elite, maintaining ties with the IRGC while preserving a degree of independence from hardline groups. This positioned him as a critical intermediary, helping sustain internal balance within the political system. As a former parliamentary speaker, nuclear negotiator, and member of a powerful clerical family, Larijani commanded respect across Iran’s clerical establishment, the IRGC, and the state apparatus. That made him particularly valuable during periods of crisis, when unity can be as crucial as ideology. In recent months, Larijani had also been involved in efforts to delay the transition of power tied to a potential new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei. Some analysts argue that postponing such a decision could give Iran greater strategic flexibility in a post-conflict environment while avoiding constraints on future options. Ali Larijani, along with his son Morteza and a close bodyguard, Gen. Vahid Fateminejad, were killed in a pre-dawn airstrike on March 17 (Photo: Iran Intl).   Beyond domestic politics, Larijani wielded considerable influence over Iran’s international relationships, particularly with partners such as China and Russia, helping shape the country’s foreign policy for years. He also played a key role in advancing the 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers, including the United States. In August 2025, he was reappointed as Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, marking a notable political comeback after a period of relative marginalization. Within Iran’s layered power structure, the council serves as a crucial link between the military and civilian leadership, while also shaping key security and strategic policies. For years, Larijani had been considered a high-priority target in U.S. and Israeli strategies aimed at weakening Iran’s leadership. For Israel, targeting Larijani signals a broader objective: dismantling Iran’s governing structure, not merely degrading its military capabilities—even as the United States appears more focused on the latter. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in identifying a potential intermediary or transitional leader in Iran, drawing comparisons to Venezuela’s interim leadership model under Delcy Rodríguez. However, Larijani’s assassination significantly reduces the likelihood that such a figure could emerge in the near term. Experts say the killing is not only a blow to Iran’s leadership but also a source of growing internal instability. With several influential figures sidelined or no longer active in politics, the loss of a consensus-builder like Larijani could complicate decision-making at the highest levels. The incident may also affect public sentiment, potentially undermining confidence in the government’s ability to ensure the security of senior leadership as the conflict continues to intensify.