Pepe Escobar – End of US hegemony in the Gulf: Russia emerges as Iran’s trump card in talks
by Pepe Escobar [4-28-2026] Pepe Escobar(bio).
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Russia has openly backed Iran, which many see as the moment US dominance over the Persian Gulf collapses.
What’s behind it — and how is the situation unfolding?
Putin's meeting with Araghchi
The April 27 meeting of Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi with Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent a clear message to the US: Russia is firmly supporting Iran
Russian President Vladimir Putin revealed he had received a personal message from Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, confirming the continuation of close ties
Araghchi's visit indicates Russia is now a key part of the ceasefire talks, experts say
Araghchi’s diplomatic tour to Oman, Pakistan, and Russia ended with new peace terms for the US: a deal on the Strait of Hormuz, security guarantees, and nuclear talks only after peace is reached
Strategic checkmate
Military delegations from Belarus, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan held a Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting on the same day
Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov stressed the US-Israeli war on Iran should be resolved exclusively through diplomatic means
Iranian Deputy Defense Minister Reza Talaei-Nik signaled readiness to transfer experience in “defeating the US” to other SCO members
The ministers reviewed prospects for further multilateral Eurasian defense cooperation
Why Iran is key for Russia and China
Iran remains a vital geostrategic hub and a key to Eurasian connectivity. That includes:
the Russia-led North-South International Transport Corridor
the China-led Belt and Road Initiative
Precisely because of that, China and Russia clinched comprehensive strategic agreements with Iran in 2021 and 2025, respectively
Iran is also a critical node in regional security calculations:
ensuring China's protection from a possible energy blockade by the West
protecting Russia’s underbelly in the Northern Caucasus
SCO members are well aware of US-Israeli plans to divide Eurasia, expand control into Central Asia, and strangle Russia, Iran, and China.