U.S. Attacks on Iran: Don’t Benefit Russia by Easing Sanctions

Editorial

15:16 JST, March 20, 2026

U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has eased sanctions against Russia that were imposed over its aggression against Ukraine. Although the administration claims that this is to lower crude oil prices that have skyrocketed following the attacks on Iran, it is obvious that this would benefit Russia.

Having failed to achieve its existing goal of bringing the aggression against Ukraine to an early end, the Trump administration has begun attacking Iran and is now likely forced to react on an ad hoc basis. It must be said that the administration has exposed its lack of strategy.

Since Russia’s aggression against Ukraine began in 2022, the United States, along with other countries such as European nations and Japan, has maintained economic sanctions on Russia, including restrictions on the trading of its crude oil.

However, the U.S. Treasury Department announced this month that it would allow countries to purchase Russian crude oil and petroleum products currently stranded at sea until mid-April. Washington has been forced to shift its policy due to Iran’s de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which has fueled widespread concerns over crude oil supply.

Even so, the effects of easing sanctions on Russia have been limited so far, and crude oil prices remain high.

Meanwhile, Russia is recovering its energy export revenues thanks to high crude oil prices. Furthermore, if the easing of sanctions expands its sales channels, Moscow will be able to secure more funds for the war and continue its aggression.

As the United States has eased sanctions on Russia without sufficient coordination with Europe and Japan, the encirclement of Russia has been loosened. It is no wonder that European leaders have criticized this move. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that relaxing sanctions is “wrong.”

The war with Iran has not been proceeding as Trump had hoped. In addition to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran has attacked Gulf states with missiles and drones, and the situation is beginning to look like a quagmire.

The U.S. military is amassing air defense weapons in the Middle East in preparation for a prolonged war. There are also moves to transfer air defense missiles and other equipment to be deployed in South Korea to the Middle East.

If U.S. aid to Ukraine, provided via Europe, becomes insufficient, Russia’s military position will strengthen, making it even more difficult to bring Russia to the negotiating table for a ceasefire.

In addition to concerns over support for Ukraine, there are concerns that U.S. military deterrence is decreasing in the Asia-Pacific region.

Regarding the Ukraine peace talks he is mediating himself, Trump stated that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “doesn’t want to make a deal” for peace.

Trump has not been able to resolve the situations in Venezuela and Iran despite launching successive attacks there, and also has failed to achieve results regarding his mediation efforts on the Ukrainian issue. It is utterly unreasonable for Trump to shift the blame onto Zelenskyy.

What Trump must do is to bring an end to the war with Iran — which he himself has escalated — as soon as possible.

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 20, 2026)