Defense Videos

Why Vladimir Putin Is the Real Winner of the Iran War | DW News

The United States announced a one‑month waiver permitting the sale of Russian oil already at sea, a move framed as a response to rising oil prices triggered by the Iran‑related conflict in the Strait of Hormuz. DW News interviewed energy experts Robin Mills and Benjamin Schmidt to assess the policy’s impact on Russia and the broader sanctions regime. Mills highlighted that Russian oil revenues jumped from just under $10 billion in February to about $19 billion in March, effectively doubling earnings. The waiver lifts the discount that Russia previously offered to buyers like India, turning it into a premium, while roughly 100 million barrels—worth around $10 billion—are now free to move to customers. Higher global oil prices, easing of U.S. sanctions, and India’s urgent need for non‑Gulf supplies all contributed to the surge. Mills asserted, “Absolutely Russia comes out as the big winner,” and Schmidt warned the measure “blunts the weapon” of the transatlantic sanctions framework, granting Moscow a month‑long windfall that could fund its war in Ukraine. The waiver was reversed within 48 hours of Treasury Secretary Besson’s earlier denial, underscoring policy confusion in Washington. The episode signals a softening U.S. stance that threatens the cohesion of sanctions against Russia, complicates Europe’s effort to wean itself off Russian energy, and provides Moscow with additional financial resources. European policymakers are urged to sustain pressure despite the temporary relief granted by the United States.