Russia Gains From Iran’s Struggle
Middle EastTue Mar 31 2026
Russia is making money while Iran fights.
When the U. S. attacked Iran, many thought Moscow would help its old partner.
Instead, Russia has turned the conflict into a profit opportunity.
Oil sales have doubled.
Before the war, Russia earned about $135 million each day from oil exports.
Now that Iran’s oil route is blocked, the daily income has risen to around $270 million.
The U. S. gave a short‑term break on sanctions so that other countries could buy Russian oil, and Russia offered to resume sales if Europe stopped using sanctions.
Russia is also sharing military information with Iran.
It has sent satellite data that shows U. S. troop positions in the Middle East.
When a Russian envoy said it would stop sharing this data if the U. S. stopped giving intel to Ukraine, the offer was clear: Russia treats the two wars as a single business deal.
The relationship between Moscow and Tehran is not based on friendship.
Historical mistrust runs deep, from old wars to political insults.
Both sides see each other mainly as a way to counter common enemies, not as true allies.
The war also hurts Russia’s interests in Ukraine.
Patriot air defense systems used against Iranian targets are the same ones Kyiv needs.
When those systems leave for the Middle East, Ukraine’s defense weakens.
In the long run, Russia may lose more than it gains.
Its influence in Syria, built by controlling airspace and balancing Iran and Israel, collapsed after Assad’s fall.
Now Russia can do little to help Iran against U. S. and Israeli attacks.
If Iran survives, it could become a dependent client for Russia—just as Moscow has used other weaker states.
But if Iran falls or makes peace with the U. S. , Russia will lose its last major partner in the region.
The Middle East could shift under forces Moscow cannot control.
Russia’s short‑term tactics—oil revenue, distraction of the U. S. , and NATO divisions—may not protect its long‑term strategic position.
Its identity as a key player could be threatened if the region reshapes without it.
