Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Donald Trump in their Friday phone call discussed the war in Iran, according to a release from the Kremlin.
Russia didn’t specify what the two presidents discussed about the war.
Following the phone call, Trump announced that Putin had agreed to eventually release millions of tons of diesel into the global market as prices soar, starting with 300,000 tons “immediately.”
“During the October 9 telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump, considerable focus was on prospects for settling the Ukraine crisis, while the situation surrounding Iran and various aspects of bilateral relations were touched upon as well,” Putin said in the statement.
Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
“When discussing the state of affairs in the global energy market, the Russian side confirmed its willingness to supply oil and petroleum products to the US market and global markets at large,” he continued. “I am convinced this will have a positive impact on the entire global economy.”
Putin added, “An agreement was reaffirmed to maintain personal contacts between the presidents of the two countries and to continue cooperation across their respective administrations, security services, and agencies.”
Despite repeated bombing by the U.S. and Israel, Iran maintains its factories and capability to manufacture missiles and drones, Bloomberg reported on Friday, citing officials familiar with the matter.
The Islamic republic still has plenty of ballistic missiles and some anti-ship weapons and would be able to retaliate against the U.S., Western officials said, according to the outlet.
President Donald Trump this week said that Iran was in “very bad condition.”
“They have no military. They have no navy, they have no air force, they have no anti-aircraft,” he said Friday. “We took out yesterday 28 million barrels. I think we took out more than we’ve ever taken out at any other time, including before the war. The Hormuz Strait. The Navy, we put a blockade up, nobody gets through.”
He also said this week that the U.S. would not launch another attack on Iran before the midterms.
The Turkish government on Friday condemned the deadly attacks by Houthis at airports in Saudi Arabia this week, which led to the death of three Saudis.
“We condemn in the strongest terms the attacks carried out by the Houthis on Abha International Airport in the south of Saudi Arabia and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh,” Turkey’s ministry of foreign affairs said. “We wish Allah’s mercy upon those who lost their lives in the attacks and a speedy recovery to the injured.”
The ministry continued, “These attacks, which targeted civilians and civilian infrastructure and further escalate tensions in the region, must cease immediately.
“We affirm our full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and reiterate our call for the resolution of ongoing conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy," they added.
{{#rendered}}So far in October, 11 ships have been struck in the Strait of Hormuz or off the coast of Oman, according to the U.S. Naval Institute, citing the International Maritime Organization and the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations.
Most of the ships were crude oil tankers.
Both Iran and the U.S. have been striking ships, with the Pentagon saying it has hit ships that violated the blockade or that are helping Iran.
Sept. 28 through Oct. 6 was the highest weekly total of attacks with 12, according to USNI.
Retired 4-star General Jack Keane said on Thursday that Iran is hellbent on its survival, which they will do at the expense of Iranians themselves.
“The only thing this regime wants to do is survive,” Keane told Fox News on Thursday, “and they will do that at the expense of their people.”
He added that in his mind “the clearest path to set the conditions for collapse is a combination of what Sec. Bessent is doing, the blockade, military action, and then, listen, covert actions by the Mossad and the CIA.”
Keane claimed the diplomatic effort hasn’t worked and “we are now on an economic path to set the conditions for the regime to collapse.”
He continued, “Undermine the regime, which they are currently doing, there’s people wanting to do various things like exit, believe me. We’re helping influence that, but it also means you also have to help the numbers of resistant groups that want to take on this regime. And they are out there and we have to help them do just that.”
“And that’s how we finish this once and for all,” he said.
President Donald Trump on Thursday confirmed that the U.S. would not launch another attack on Iran before the midterm elections.
“We are having productive discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the president wrote on Truth Social on Thursday.
“I want to make it clear to everybody that, while Iran is in very bad condition, that both Economically and Militarily, and while the Blockade will remain in full force and effect, with Oil flowing in Record Numbers of Barrels through the Hormuz Strait (22 Million Barrels last night alone, with not one barrel coming from, or going to, Iran!), we will not be attacking Iran at any time prior to the Midterm Elections to be held in the United States on November 3rd.”
Trump’s post came after a report said he was considering resuming strikes before the election.
{{#rendered}}President Donald Trump vowed on Friday that “one way or the other” the war with Iran would be over “very soon.”
“They have no military. They have no navy, they have no air force, they have no anti-aircraft. We took out yesterday 28 million barrels. I think we took out more than we’ve ever taken out at any other time , including before the war. The Hormuz Strait. The Navy, we put a blockade up, nobody gets through.”
He joked it would be like giving the Italians control of the blockage, referring to the mafia.
“The Italians might even do it better, but you do it very violently. We don’t want that.”
President Donald Trump announced on Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to “immediately supply over 300,000 Tons of Diesel Fuel to the American and Global Marketplace, another 500,000 Tons during the month of November, and 1,000,000 Tons immediately thereafter.”
He added on Truth Social, “Additionally, based on the condition of their Diesel Refineries, Russia will then deliver, within a short period of time, 3,000,000 Tons of Diesel Fuel. Between our TOTAL CONTROL of the Strait of Hormuz, and this great announcement on Russian Energy, Diesel Prices for Americans and, indeed, the World, will be COMING DOWN, IN RECORD NUMBERS, AND FAST! Lower prices for Americans, especially our Great Farmers, Ranchers, and Truckers, is my Greatest Priority.”
The Treasury Department acknowledged the move, saying in an X post that its "Office of Foreign Assets Control is immediately issuing a temporary general license to allow the supply of Russian diesel to the global market."
CENTCOM said as of Friday the U.S. military has redirected 133 commercial vessels to ensure compliance with America’s blockade against Iran.
“A U.S. Navy MH-60S Sea Hawk takes off from the flight deck of USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53) as the guided-missile destroyer supports enforcement of America's ironclad blockade against Iran,” CENTCOM wrote in a social post. “As of Oct. 9, U.S. forces have redirected 133 commercial vessels to ensure compliance.”
{{#rendered}}A State Department spokesman told Fox News Digital on Friday that the U.S. is standing firmly with Saudi Arabia against aggression from the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen.
The assurance comes after Saudi Arabia said Friday that three people were killed in attacks launched against King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Thursday.
The State Department spokesman said the Trump administration strongly condemns Houthi terrorist attacks against airports and other civilian infrastructure.
The spokesman added that the U.S. remains in close talks with their partners in Saudi Arabia and remains committed to ensuring the country's security.
President Donald Trump said Friday that the Iranian regime would have used a nuclear weapon "fast" if they obtained one.
"If we didn't attack them with the B-2 bombers early on, they were two weeks away, maybe three weeks away from having a nuclear weapon," Trump said at the White House, recalling the June 2025 Operation Midnight Hammer campaign.
"And if they had a nuclear weapon, they would have used it and they would have used it fast. They would have blown up the Middle East. They would have totally blown up Israel, number one, but they would have blown up the Middle East, and then they would have headed for our country, and they would have had, you know, they like to joke about it on television. They would have probably hit places like San Diego or Los Angeles first, because the route for a missile is much more convenient," Trump added.
President Donald Trump said Friday that his administration has a "big announcement coming up on diesel" as energy prices remain elevated during the U.S.-Iran war.
"Remember, what have we done? We stopped Iran from having a nuclear weapon. That's a big thing. And the prices, the prices will come tumbling and it's going to be over soon," Trump said at the White House. "One way or the other. We can do it either way. Very simple. But one way or the other, it's going to be over very soon.
"They have no military, they have no navy. They have no air force. They have no anti-aircraft things... we took out yesterday, 28 million barrels. I think we took out more than we've ever taken out at any time, including before the war, with the Hormuz Strait," Trump added.
{{#rendered}}Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' (IRGC) Commander Maj. Gen. Ahmad Vahidi said in a message this week that his forces are ready to respond to any military action from the U.S. or Israel, according to Iran's Tasnim news agency.
“Our strategy in this arena is clear, principled and unchangeable: security in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz is indigenous and regional, and no extra-regional power has the right to threaten, establish a domineering presence in, or interfere in it,” Vahidi reportedly said.
“Any threat from the US-Israeli camp will be met with this force’s vigilance, unified command and comprehensive readiness,” he added.
Mohamed Al-Jabir, Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Yemen, said Friday that the Bab al-Mandab Strait near Yemen “has been cleansed of the remnants of the terrorist Houthi militia.”
The declaration comes after Yemen’s government forces said Wednesday they carried out thousands of strikes against Houthi targets as part of Operation "Dawn of Yemen," claiming 1,860 fighters were "neutralized."
"As part of Operation 'Dawn of Yemen', armed forces executed 2,103 targeting ops against various Houthis militia military targets across all fronts, resulting in neutralizing 1,860 militia members & destroying hundreds of military positions & material," a spokesman for the armed forces said on X.
In a statement posted on X, coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki also said that 82 targets had been destroyed across Saada, Hodeidah, al-Jawf and Marib, including 11 ballistic missile storage sites found in mountainous areas.
Fox News Digital’s Emma Bussey contributed to this post.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre (UKMTO) announced Friday that another ship has been attacked while traveling in the Strait of Hormuz.
This latest incident happened 13 nautical miles west of Al Jazeera Al Hamra in the United Arab Emirates, according to the UKMTO.
"UKMTO has received reports from multiple sources that the vessel has been struck by an unknown projectile causing a fire which has since been extinguished," it said. "Status of the crew, damage assessment and environmental impact are unknown at present."
Less than an hour before the attack was reported, the UKMTO issued a weekly advisory saying at least 10 ships have been targeted in the Strait of Hormuz this week.
{{#rendered}}The Israel Defense Forces said Friday that it dismantled four weapons storage facilities belonging to Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist groups "during targeted strikes in several areas across Gaza.
"The terrorist organizations stored dozens of weapons of various types in the facilities, including rockets, explosive devices, mortars, Kalashnikov rifles and additional combat equipment," the IDF said.
The IDF added that it also eliminated "Hassam Walid Hassan Abu Al-Ata, a commander in the rocket unit of the military wing of the Islamic Jihad, Magdi Moein Yousef Al-Ayoubi, a terrorist in the military wing of the Islamic Jihad & Muhammad Aja, a company commander in Hamas' military wing.
"Recently, the terrorists advanced attacks against IDF troops and operated to restore the terrorist organizations' capabilities, in systematic violation of the ceasefire agreement," it said.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre (UKMTO) said 10 ships have been targeted this week while traveling through the Strait of Hormuz.
The agency said in a new report issued Friday that since July 6, 41 of the 59 incidents involving commercial shipping in the key waterway have occurred along the southern route near Oman.
Ships currently face a "severe" threat level traveling through the Strait of Hormuz and "moderate" risks in the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, the report said.
It added that of ships attacked this week in the Strait of Hormuz, "7 vessels reported only minor damage and continued with transit."
There were also multiple explosions reported this week in the vicinity of a tanker near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait near Yemen, where the Iran-backed Houthis have been seizing territory.
However, the UKMTO assessed that incident as "spillover from ongoing land conflict rather than intentional targeting of vessels."
Saudia, the national airline of Saudi Arabia, said Friday that one of its pilots was killed Thursday in the attacks targeting King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.
"It is with profound sadness that Saudia announces the passing of Captain Hamoud Ali Alkalthami, who lost his life on Thursday, October 8, 2026, in the incident at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh," the airline said in a statement posted to X.
"Saudia honors his memory with deep respect and appreciation, recognizing his contributions throughout his career with the national flag carrier and the lasting impression he left on his colleagues," it added. "Saudia extends its heartfelt condolences to his family, loved ones, and colleagues. Our thoughts are with all those who knew and worked alongside him during this difficult time."
The Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen claimed responsibility Thursday for the attacks targeting the airport.
Saudia said the incident "caused damage to one of its aircraft while it was on the ground at the airport," and that "no passengers were on board the aircraft at the time of the incident."
{{#rendered}}European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called out Iran on Friday after Houthis in Yemen claimed responsibility for deadly attacks on an airport in Saudi Arabia.
"Houthis have once again struck Riyadh’s airport, taking three innocent lives. My thoughts are with the families of the victims," she wrote on X.
"We stand in full solidarity with the people of Saudi Arabia and all our Gulf partners. Attacks on civilian infrastructure are unacceptable. Iran's proxies must stop their reckless and violent acts," Von der Leyen added.
Russian President Vladimir Putin told his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, during talks Thursday in Turkmenistan that Moscow was ready to help end the war in Iran, Reuters reported, citing Russian news agencies.
“You know our position. On our part, we are ready to do everything we can to help you resolve this situation,” Putin said, according to the Interfax news agency, during talks on the sidelines of a regional meeting of former Soviet states.
“We know that Iran is making real efforts to end the conflict, which broke out through no fault of its own, no fault of Iran,” Putin added, pointing to what he described as the “positive evolution” in relations between Moscow and Tehran.
The meeting took place as diplomatic efforts between Tehran and Washington continued, with President Donald Trump saying Thursday that “productive discussions” with the Islamic Republic were still underway.
In a post on X, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova also said Moscow had warned of severe fallout from U.S.-Israeli military actions against Iran.
Yesterday's Fox News Digital live blog offers additional coverage of the conflict with Iran.
Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation authority said Friday that a series of attacks Thursday at King Khalid International Airport in the country's capital of Riyadh have left three people dead.
"The first attack targeted the airport’s facilities, while the second targeted a Saudia aircraft. Emergency response teams and the relevant authorities responded immediately in accordance with established protocols and the applicable emergency response plans," the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation said in a statement.
"The attacks resulted in the martyrdom of (3) Saudi citizens, may Allah bestow his mercy upon them, and injuries to a number of Saudi citizens and residents of various nationalities, ranging from minor to critical. All injured individuals were transported immediately to hospital for appropriate medical care. The attacks also caused some property damage," the statement added.
The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation did not say who was behind the attacks, but Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed Thursday that it launched a ballistic missile at the airport.
The incident comes after one person was killed and eight others were wounded in an earlier strike on King Khalid International Airport this week, Saudi civil aviation authorities said Wednesday.
Thursday's attacks prompted U.S. Embassy security warnings, travel restrictions for government personnel, and widespread flight cancellations, with some carriers suspending service for several days.
Fox News Digital’s Emma Bussey contributed to this post.
{{#rendered}}Coverage for this event has ended.