Putin offers to help end Iran war as Trump touts 'productive discussions' with Tehran

From the Newshound archive · first published 9 October 2026.

Russian President Vladimir Putin told Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian in Turkmenistan on Thursday that Moscow is ready to do everything it can to help end the conflict, calling Iran's efforts to stop the fighting "real". Trump simultaneously posted that "productive discussions" with Tehran are still underway, sending oil prices lower as supply fears eased. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy, returning from Qatar and Saudi Arabia, accused Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth of trying to hide the true cost of the war from the American public.

Murphy said the US embassy in Riyadh suffered damage across several floors, with part of it "uninhabitable," far worse than officially acknowledged.

Trump walked back remarks suggesting Iran could "take out" Los Angeles or San Diego, saying he was urging Americans to tolerate higher petrol prices, not inviting attack.