DW NewsAs the standoff between the United States and Iran drags on, attention is shifting beyond the battlefield to who is actually benefiting. With the Strait of Hormuz partially closed, global energy markets are under pressure, shipping is disrupted, and oil prices are rising. But while Washington and Tehran remain locked in confrontation, analysts say Russia and China may be emerging as the biggest winners. US envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are heading to Pakistan for what could be a renewed round of talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, after negotiations collapsed two weeks ago. Meanwhile, tensions remain high at sea, with Iran restricting shipping and the US enforcing a blockade on Iranian ports. What this video explains:
- Why Russia benefits from rising oil prices
- How China gains economically and strategically
- Whether Moscow and Beijing are quietly backing Tehran
- The impact on global energy markets and trade
- And whether US actions are weakening its global influence
We speak to Jon Alterman, Chair in Global Security at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, about the hidden geopolitical winners of this conflict. As the war continues, the question is no longer just how it ends — but how it is reshaping the global balance of power.
