Russia brutally mocks Donald Trump over Iran war – ‘Total failure’ | World | News
Russian state media has brutally mocked Donald Trump over the Iran war, branding his campaign a “political failure” and insisting there are “no grounds at all” for him to claim victory. As fighting in the Middle East drags into its sixth week, Kremlin-backed newspapers have portrayed the conflict as a disaster for the US President, despite soaring oil prices giving Russia hope of an economic boost.
According to BBC Russian editor, Steve Rosenberg, the country’s daily paper, Kommersant, said Trump has failed to achieve his key objective of toppling the Iranian regime. The paper wrote: “Trump hasn’t achieved his goal, personnel change has not collapsed the Iranian regime.” It added: “There are no grounds at all for Donald Trump to declare victory in Iran. Therefore, all that remains is for him to continue the war and make loud statements about the power of US weapons.” Kommersant also warned that the unresolved Iran conflict could end up costing Mr Trump the presidency. Russian military newspaper Red Star went even further, declaring the Iran war was “a political failure for the 47th president of the United States”.
At the same time, another Russian newspaper admitted that hopes of a major oil windfall for Moscow have so far failed to materialise.
Under the headline ‘Petrodollars in Transit’, Kommersant said: “The budget has yet to feel the benefit from war in the Middle East.”
Russia’s oil and gas revenues in March 2026 were down by 43% compared with the same period last year, despite oil prices surging because of the Iran conflict.
The paper said companies were still paying taxes based on February’s oil price of just $44.6 per barrel, while March’s higher average of $77 per barrel would only affect revenues in April.
Even so, it admitted Russia’s finances remain under strain, with another 60 billion rubles taken from the country’s National Wealth Fund in March to cover the budget deficit.
Kommersant also conceded that Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian oil export hubs at Ust-Luga and Primorsk, as well as oil refineries, had hurt revenues.
It said: “In general, it can be said that the attacks on oil refining facilities did not pass without a trace.”
The paper added: “It’s clear that the euphoria over additional revenues from the rise in oil prices is absolutely unjustified.”
BBC Russia Editor Steve Rosenberg pointed out that while Russian newspapers were mocking Mr Trump over Iran, Russia’s own war in Ukraine is now in its fifth year with no end in sight.
He noted that despite years of fighting, Russian troops have still not managed to seize the whole of the Donbas, yet state media continues to portray Moscow’s campaign in overwhelmingly positive terms.
