In a recent phone call that lasted nearly 50 minutes, former President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin engaged in significant discussions on a variety of pressing global issues. Notably, their conversation focused on Israel's military actions against Iran and the potential for rekindling negotiations surrounding Iran's nuclear program. This call took place on Saturday, coinciding with Trump's 79th birthday, which Putin acknowledged by extending warm birthday wishes.

Trump, in a post shared on his Truth Social platform, recounted the exchange, stating, “President Putin called this morning to very nicely wish me a Happy Birthday, but more importantly, to talk about Iran, a country he knows very well.” The former president disclosed that while they delved into Iran, their discussion on the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine was notably brief and would be revisited in subsequent discussions. He mentioned that both leaders agreed on the necessity for an end to the ongoing hostilities in the Israel-Iran conflict, emphasizing the urgency of peace in the region. “He feels, as do I, this war in Israel-Iran should end,” Trump expressed, before offering a pointed reminder about the need to conclude the conflict in Ukraine as well.

Additionally, the phone call coincided with a special event planned for Saturday, where Trump was set to attend a military parade celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States Army. This parade promises to showcase over 6,000 soldiers dressed in uniforms that represent various historical periods, from the Revolutionary War to contemporary times. The parade is a vision of Trump’s; he has drawn inspiration from the grand military displays observed during the 2017 Bastille Day celebrations in Paris. It is noteworthy that large-scale military parades in the United States are rare, with the last comparable event occurring in 1991, which marked the conclusion of the first Gulf War and featured an impressive showing of 8,000 troops.