War has gripped the Middle East, but the turmoil is giving Russia an opportunity

2026-03-12 - 08:13

The Kremlin wants to exert its influence in the Middle East and has publicly said its support for Iran, a strategic ally, is unwavering. But experts say there are limits to how far Moscow will go: It does not want to antagonize Washington, and it also stands to gain economically from a global energy crisis.