Is Russia helping Iran? Probably.

President Donald Trump confirmed on Friday that Russia was likely assisting Iran as Operation Epic Fury continues in the Middle East. Does that have any real consequences for this mission?

by Summer Lane | March 13, 2026

President Donald Trump said during a new interview that Russia “might be helping” Iran, giving voice to a suspicion that most Americans harbor.

“I think [Putin] might be helping them a little bit, yeah, I guess, and he probably thinks we’re helping Ukraine, right?” the president told Fox News’ Brian Kilmeade.

The president noted that China “would say the same thing, you know. It’s like, hey, they do it, and we do it, in all fairness.”

Russia and Iran have long been entrenched together for strategic purposes and have largely found themselves united against a world order dominated by the United States and American-led interests.

Last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty in Moscow, aimed at strengthening their bilateral relationship for the next two decades. Clearly, Russia and Iran are no strangers to helping each other out, but even very quiet Russian assistance will likely have little effect on the outcome of what’s happening in Iran today.

Earlier this week, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said that, as it pertains to Russia, it has been made clear by the President of the United States that “as it pertains to this conflict, they should not be involved.”

Open Russian involvement in the conflict is extremely unlikely, but it does hit China where it hurts: oil. China buys over 80 percent of its oil supply from Iran – an industry that is, at the moment, completely crippled. This could have catastrophic ramifications for China’s economy if the oil supply is choked off for too long – and it may, indeed, be quite some time before Iran gets back on its feet again, if ever, depending on how this war plays out.

“We have unparalleled firepower, unlimited ammunition, and plenty of time – Watch what happens to these deranged scumbags today,” President Trump said on Thursday night, raging against the mainstream media. “[Iran’s] been killing innocent people all over the world for 47 years, and now I, as the 47th President of the United States of America, am killing them. What a great honor it is to do so! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”