Nikki Haley fumes over Trump suggestion Putin might aid in Iran talks

"President Putin suggested that he will participate in the discussions with Iran and that he could, perhaps, be helpful in getting this brought to a rapid conclusion," Trump said.

By Ben Whedon

Published: June 4, 2025 5:42pm

Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley on Wednesday fumed over President Donald Trump's suggestion that Russian President Vladimir Putin might serve as a mediating party to the Iranian nuclear negotiations, asserting that such a development would insult American allies.

"Russia has been receiving drones and ballistic missiles from Iran to use in its kidnapping of Ukraine," he posted on X. "Iran and Russia are partners.
It is ludicrous to think we would allow Putin to be chief negotiator between the US and Iran on the Iran deal in exchange for the US helping Russia with Ukraine.
That is a backhanded slap to all of our allies."

She made the remarks in the wake of Trump's summary of a phone call he had with Putin in which he admitted that the conversation would not lead to an immediate peace in Ukraine and the Moscow insisted on retaliating for a Ukrainian strike on the Russian far east.

"I just finished speaking, by telephone, with President Vladimir Putin, of Russia. The call lasted approximately one hour and 15 minutes," Trump posted on Truth Social. "We discussed the attack on Russia’s docked airplanes, by Ukraine, and also various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides. It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace."

Trump further added that "President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields" and that Putin agreed Iran should not develop a nuclear weapon.

"President Putin suggested that he will participate in the discussions with Iran and that he could, perhaps, be helpful in getting this brought to a rapid conclusion," Trump added.

The pair have spoken over the phone repeatedly amid attempts to end the Russia-Ukraine war, albeit to no avail. Nonetheless, taks between the pair have remained cordial and Russian and American diplomats have found room for economic and security cooperation on other issues, especially through talks in Saudi Arabia.