Global poker game: Putin offers help to Tehran, Trump sends a dual message

Putin informed Pezeshkian that Moscow is ready to help end the war in Iran, claiming the conflict broke out through no fault of Tehran. Meanwhile, Trump reports productive talks with Iran and promises not to attack it before the midterm elections on November 3, but makes clear that Iran will not have nuclear weapons. The US imposes new sanctions on the Iranian oil tanker fleet.

Russian President Vladimir Putin informed Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian yesterday (Thursday) that Moscow is ready to do everything in its power to help end the war in Iran, while claiming the conflict broke out through no fault of Tehran, according to a Reuters report. In a meeting on the sidelines of a regional summit of former Soviet republics, Putin told Pezeshkian: "You know our position. For our part, we are ready to do everything we can to help you resolve this situation." Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump updated that his administration is holding productive talks with the Islamic Republic, and promised not to order additional strikes before the midterm elections on November 3. On Truth Social, Trump wrote: "We are holding productive talks with the Islamic Republic of Iran... We will not attack Iran at any point before the midterm elections to be held in the United States on November 3." However, Trump clarified that the policy line on the nuclear issue is firm: "Iran will not have nuclear weapons!" At the same time, the US Treasury imposed sanctions on 17 oil tankers and their owners as part of Operation "Economic Pariah." US Central Command reported that in recent months, American forces facilitated the passage of over 1.25 billion barrels of oil from Gulf states through the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran failed to send a single barrel due to the blockade. The head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, Mohammad Eslami, stated that his country will not stop enrichment activities.