US President Donald Trump has credited Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping with helping advance efforts that led to a peace framework between Washington and Tehran, while highlighting the role both leaders played in encouraging de-escalation during the conflict.
Trump made the remarks in an interview with The New York Times on Sunday, just hours after announcing that the United States and Iran had reached a Pakistan- and Qatar-mediated agreement intended to end months of hostilities.
According to media reports, the proposed 14-point memorandum of understanding outlines several confidence-building measures, including the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz without tolls, the easing of US sanctions on Iran, and the release of frozen Iranian assets. The agreement is reportedly expected to be formally signed in Geneva on Friday.
The framework also calls for Iran to reaffirm that it will not pursue nuclear weapons, while negotiations on Tehran’s nuclear program are expected to continue over the next 60 days before a final agreement is reached.
Reflecting on the diplomatic process, Trump singled out both Putin and Xi for their contributions. He described the Chinese leader as “a total gentleman,” saying Beijing had acted with restraint by avoiding military escalation in the Gulf. According to Trump, China chose not to dispatch naval forces to challenge the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, a move he suggested could have triggered a direct confrontation between Washington and Beijing.
Russia also maintained regular diplomatic engagement throughout the conflict. From the early stages of the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, Moscow repeatedly urged all parties to exercise restraint and seek a negotiated settlement. Russian officials consistently condemned military escalation and called for diplomacy as the only viable path to restoring regional stability.
Since fighting erupted in late February, Trump and Putin have held at least three telephone conversations. Their discussions reportedly covered the evolving security situation, Moscow’s mediation efforts, and the peace proposal that is now nearing completion. Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov confirmed that the leaders spoke again on Sunday regarding the latest developments.
Russia also offered a potential compromise on Iran’s nuclear program by proposing to transport and store Tehran’s enriched uranium stockpile on Russian territory. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi acknowledged that the proposal had been discussed and thanked Moscow for its willingness to assist, although he stressed that Tehran was not yet prepared to place the issue on the formal negotiating agenda.
As tensions in the Gulf drove global oil prices higher amid disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, Putin rejected suggestions that Russia stood to benefit economically from the crisis. He argued that any gains from rising energy prices would be temporary and emphasized that Moscow's priority remained ending the conflict and establishing long-term stability in the region through diplomatic means.