Can Vladimir Putin End the War in Iran?

March 13, 2026

TL;DR

Autocrats often launch regime-change wars expecting quick victories, only to become trapped without a clear path to success or retreat.
Putin reportedly offered Trump proposals to mediate an end to a US conflict with Iran.
The article compares the potential US-Iran conflict, with Putin as mediator, to the Russia-Ukraine war, with Trump as a potential mediator.
Putin's goal in Ukraine is a strategic defeat for the US, while Trump's stance on Ukraine is neutral at best.
Putin appears committed to the long haul in Ukraine, whereas Trump, a traditional bully, may seek to exit a conflict he cannot easily win.
Trump is struggling to restart commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, making him potentially receptive to Russian intervention.

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