The Brian Lehrer Show Russia Is The 'Clear Winner' of U.S.-Iran War
Mar 20, 2026
Joshua Keating, senior correspondent at Vox who covers geopolitics and energy, outlines how Russia gains from the U.S.-Iran war. He discusses deepening Russia-Iran ties and why Russian oil sales have surged. He covers shifts in oil sanctions, who profits from higher prices, and how Putin could politically exploit the crisis.
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US Waivers Turn Into Windfall For Russian Oil
- The U.S. lifted sanctions on Russian oil exports to lower domestic fuel prices, effectively easing global purchases of Russian oil.
- Josh Keating notes waivers let countries buy Russian oil already at sea, boosting Moscow's revenues by an estimated $150 million per day.
High Oil Prices Provide Short Term Relief For Russia
- A temporary oil-price spike can materially ease Russia's economic strain even if structural problems remain unresolved.
- Keating points out Putin urged energy firms to use high prices to pay down debts, showing Moscow will capitalize quickly.
Russia Uses US Actions As Political Leverage
- Russia will exploit U.S. actions politically, using them to paint America as hypocritical and undermine U.S. standing, especially among Global South countries.
- Keating recalls Russia leveraging U.S. interventions and U.S. support for Israel at the UN to weaken U.S. coalitions.