# Trump and Putin fight wars the same way > The U.S. war on Iran mirrors Russia's tactics in Ukraine, helping Moscow while weakening America. - Title: Trump and Putin fight wars the same way · Foreign Policy - Summary: The U.S. war on Iran mirrors Russia's tactics in Ukraine, helping Moscow while weakening America. By adopting Russia's approach to warfare, abandoning legal… - Keywords: donald trump, vladimir putin, iran war, ukraine war, russia, united states, military strategy, war crimes, civilian harm, geopolitics, operation epic fury, strait of hormuz - Source: Foreign Policy — https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/09/18/keir-giles-american-overthrow-book-trump-putin-war-iran-ukraine-russia - Author: Keir Giles - Published: 2026-09-22T00:00:00+00:00 - Read time: 4 min - Topics: donald trump, vladimir putin, iran war, ukraine war, russia, united states, military strategy, war crimes, civilian harm, geopolitics, operation epic fury, strait of hormuz ## Trump's Iran war benefits Russia The closure of the Strait of Hormuz sent oil prices soaring, turning Russia's predicted budget deficit into a surplus and boosting fertilizer demand. The U.S. then suspended sanctions on Russian oil, further enriching Moscow. ## Munitions diverted from Ukraine In three days of war on Iran, the U.S. used over 800 Patriot anti-missile interceptors, more than Ukraine received in four years of fighting Russia. Weapons already promised to Europe were also redirected. ## Russia helps Iran strike back Moscow shared intelligence and targeting information with Iran, including locations of U.S. military assets. The Trump administration dismissed its own intelligence about this assistance. ## Hegseth rejects legal warfare Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called for maximum lethality over legality, abandoning the moral high ground the U.S. military had maintained for decades. He also declared there would be no quarter or mercy for enemies. > "maximum lethality, not tepid legality" ## Targeting civilian infrastructure Trump threatened to obliterate Iranian power plants and bomb the country back to the Stone Ages. These threats mirrored Russia's doctrine of destroying vital infrastructure to eliminate an adversary's will to fight. ## Pentagon purges civilian oversight The Trump administration reduced the Pentagon's Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response program by nearly 90 percent, lowered the threshold for lethal force, and expanded target categories. This suggests premeditation for war crimes. ## War aims shift constantly By week three, the administration had offered dozens of justifications for the war: preventing nuclear weapons, stopping militias, regime change, countering election interference. The strategic language was incoherent and incomprehensible. ## Nuclear weapons claim was false Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard assessed that Iran's nuclear enrichment program was already obliterated by 2025 strikes and had not been rebuilt. This undermined Trump's primary justification for the war. ## Both leaders avoid saying war Putin called his invasion a special military operation. Trump called his campaign a military operation to avoid needing Congressional approval, explaining it was for legal reasons. > "It's for legal reasons. Because as a military operation, I don't need any approvals." ## Both claim they didn't start it Russian propagandists say Russia finishes wars, not starts them. Trump supporters made identical claims despite Trump bragging about launching the war. Both leaders echoed the same propaganda talking points. ## Both expected swift victory Russia anticipated taking Ukraine in three days. The U.S. reportedly told Turkey the Iran war would be completed in four days. Both leaders believed their own propaganda and prepared for no prolonged conflict. ## Nuclear threats escalate tensions Trump's threats to Iran echoed Putin's warnings to the West, but with added profanity. Foreign policy analysts seriously considered whether Trump, not Putin, might be the first to use nuclear weapons to salvage a failing war. ## Planning failures ignored warnings The administration failed to anticipate Iran's retaliation, including closing the Strait of Hormuz, despite decades of war-gaming scenarios. It eliminated the dedicated Iran office at State before launching the war. ## National Security Council gutted The Trump administration neutralized the National Security Council's interagency coordinating function, removing structures vital to crisis management. This left the military without civilian oversight and intelligence advice was ignored. ## War propaganda trivializes combat Official White House social media mixed airstrike footage with video game clips and cartoon scenes. Military veterans and families of the fallen accused the administration of turning war into entertainment. ## Casualties and damage hidden Both Russia and the U.S. generated unreliable claims about their wars. The U.S. broke from decades of relative transparency, hiding the human cost to prevent erosion of domestic support. ## Iran now controls global oil By closing the Strait of Hormuz, Iran now controls about 20 percent of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas supply. The war removed any deterrent preventing this move, handing Tehran immense diplomatic leverage. ## U.S. munitions depleted rapidly In 39 days, the U.S. expended more than half its prewar inventory of key munitions. Rebuilding stocks will take four years or more, leaving America unprepared for China and convincing allies of U.S. unreliability. ## U.S. credibility shattered globally The war revealed U.S. military vulnerabilities to asymmetric threats and showed that a resource-limited country can hold back the world's most powerful military. This emboldens other challengers worldwide. ## America loses moral authority By abandoning legal constraints and advocating unconstrained brutality, the U.S. has surrendered the moral standing that previously distinguished it from Russia. Allies are now building coalitions to protect themselves without American help. ## Key takeaway By adopting Russia's approach to warfare, abandoning legal constraints, targeting civilian infrastructure, and hiding casualties, the Trump administration has inadvertently strengthened Russia while damaging U.S. credibility and military readiness.