Koordinierter Konflikt: Wie sich die Kriege in der Ukraine und im Iran zu überschneiden beginnen

Hi r/geopolitics, this is Jake from The Guardian US. We wanted to share this analysis that we published today about how battlefield outcomes in Ukraine and Iran are connected by the sharing of weapons and intelligence, as well as the damage to the global economy.

*From our story:*

The Iran and [Ukraine](https://www.theguardian.com/world/ukraine) wars are becoming more intertwined with every passing week – to the point that some analysts argue the two conflicts are beginning to merge.

Quite how each war will affect the trajectory of the other is hard to predict, but it is already clear that their interconnectedness is drawing more countries into both cauldrons, extending an arc of instability that straddles [Europe](https://www.theguardian.com/world/europe-news) and the Middle East.

From Ukraine’s point of view, the connection is nothing new. Russia began using Iranian-made Shahed drones in September 2022, seven months into Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion. What is new is Moscow’s return of the favour to Tehran, with a reported flow of intelligence, targeting and [drones to Iran](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/27/european-intelligence-agencies-russia-supplying-drones-iran) after the US-Israeli assault on 28 February.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s tour of the Middle East over the past few weeks has cemented another cross-regional link between the two conflicts, sealing agreements to provide drone and anti-drone technology and training to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, while initiating security talks along [similar lines with Jordan](https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/prezident-ukrayini-ta-korol-jordaniyi-obgovorili-mozhlive-pa-103597).
The two wars are also converging through global energy markets. The initial impact of the attack on Iran, along with Tehran’s response in closing down Gulf shipping through the strait of Hormuz, [favoured Russia](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/08/ukraine-struggles-us-focus-iran-putin) through a spike in oil and gas prices.

For Moscow, the increase in demand has provided an economic lifeline just as its economy was coming under growing strain, prompting the government to drop plans for budget cuts.

To stabilise the market, the Trump administration has eased some restrictions on Russian oil exports that were intended to pressure the Kremlin over its war in Ukraine. Furthermore, Asian countries, particularly those hit by the closure of the strait of Hormuz – including Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia and Sri Lanka – are now lining up to buy Russian oil.

[*You can read the full piece for free at this link*](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/02/coordinated-conflict-how-the-ukraine-and-iran-wars-are-starting-to-overlap?referring_host=Reddit&utm_campaign=guardianacct)*.*

Now we just need a war with China on the East Asia to connect all in a big cozy world war.