Opinion | The Real Winner Of Iran-Israel War Is Someone Trump Never Accounted For |
Mar 13, 2026 12:34 pm IST
Opinion | The Real Winner Of Iran-Israel War Is Someone Trump Never Accounted For
The current crisis promises tens of billions of dollars to Russia in additional revenue. Here's how.
Harsh V. Pant Harsh V. Pant
In many ways, the ongoing US-Iran war, triggered by the joint American-Israeli strikes that killed Ali Khamenei on February 28 and targeted Iranian nuclear and military facilities, illustrates how crises in one theatre can dramatically reshape strategic calculations elsewhere. Iran's retaliatory missile and drone strikes, along with disruptions to the Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly a fifth of global oil supply flows, have widened the regional security crisis while simultaneously opening space for other major powers to recalibrate their positions.
For Vladimir Putin, the conflict has created a curious strategic paradox: Moscow has vocally condemned the strikes as illegal aggression and reportedly shared intelligence with Tehran. Yet, it has been careful not to become directly involved. Russia's calculus is straightforward: its overriding priority remains the war in Ukraine, and any escalation in the Middle East that drains Western focus without demanding Russian resources is strategically useful.
Billions On The Horizon
The most immediate dividends for Moscow are economic. The outbreak of hostilities has driven a sharp rise in global........