Russia has issued a stark warning that a global conflict could be on the horizon, with one of Vladimir Putin’s closest allies claiming World War 3 will “undoubtedly begin” if Donald Trump continues on what he described as an “insane course.”
The warning comes amid rapidly escalating tensions following renewed missile strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran, attacks which officials say resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The situation has intensified geopolitical tensions across the Middle East, with Russia condemning the strikes in some of its strongest language yet.
Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev delivered the chilling warning during an interview with Russian state news agency TASS, claiming the current trajectory of US foreign policy could spark a global war at any moment, per The Mirror.
Russia warns WW3 could begin if Trump continues “insane course”
Asked directly whether World War 3 had already begun, Medvedev responded with a blunt assessment.
“Formally, no, but if Trump continues his insane course of criminal regime change, it will undoubtedly begin. And any event could be the trigger. Any event,” he said.
Medvedev, who is a close ally of Vladimir Putin and previously served as Russia’s president, did not hold back when describing the actions of the US and its allies in Iran.
He continued: “This is a war by the US and its allies to preserve their global dominance. The pigs don’t want to give up their trough.”
The comments come after Trump confirmed that the United States and Israel could continue the current wave of strikes against Iran for several more weeks.
According to Trump, the objectives of the campaign are to wipe out Iran’s missile capabilities and naval forces, prevent the country from developing nuclear weapons, and stop the Iranian government from supplying terrorist groups.
Russia condemns US and Israel strikes on Iran
Immediately after the strikes were launched, Russia issued a strong condemnation of the operation.
Moscow described the attack as “a preplanned and unprovoked act of armed aggression against a sovereign and independent UN member state”, while demanding an immediate halt to the military campaign and a return to diplomacy.
Russian officials also warned the consequences could be catastrophic for the region.
They cautioned that the attacks risk triggering a “humanitarian, economic and possibly radiological catastrophe” and accused the United States and Israel of “plunging the Middle East into an abyss of uncontrolled escalation.”
The situation has drawn further attention because Iran has been a key ally of Russia, supplying Shahed 136 drones that have been used in Moscow’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
That conflict has now stretched beyond four years, despite originally being described by Russia as a three-day “special military operation.”
Medvedev says Trump has put Americans “at potential risk”
Medvedev also claimed the decision to strike Iran could have serious consequences for the United States itself.
“Trump has made a grave mistake. With his decision, he has put all Americans at potential risk, even though the Iranian regime is not popular in neighbouring Arab countries,” he said.
He also pointed to the significance of the Ayatollah’s influence across the Shia Muslim world.
“More importantly, the late Ayatollah was the spiritual father of nearly 300 million Shiites. And now he is also a martyr. You can imagine the rest. And now there is no doubt that Iran will pursue the creation of nuclear weapons with redoubled energy.”
Medvedev issues chilling nuclear conflict warning
The Russian politician is known for using provocative language, often delivering the sort of rhetoric many believe Vladimir Putin prefers not to say publicly.
Given that Trump has reportedly taken out two heads of state within the first months of 2026, Medvedev was also asked whether the United States might attempt to remove Putin in the same way as Iran’s leader.
His response contained one of the starkest warnings yet about the potential consequences of nuclear conflict.
“There is no magic cure for the actions of complete idiots and clinical b*******, nor can there ever be.”
“There is no magic cure for the actions of complete idiots and clinical bulls**t, nor can there ever be,” he said. “There is only one guarantee: the US fears Russia and knows the price of nuclear conflict. If it happens, Hiroshima and Nagasaki will seem like child’s play in the sandbox.”
Why Russia is unlikely to intervene militarily
Despite the fierce rhetoric and Russia’s condemnation of the strikes, experts believe it is highly unlikely Moscow will directly support Iran in a military conflict with the United States.
There are several reasons analysts believe Russia will avoid becoming directly involved.
Israel and Russia are currently believed to have an informal agreement not to attack one another, which complicates Moscow’s ability to intervene on Iran’s behalf.
Israel has also remained one of the few places where Western sanctions against Russia do not apply, making the country a safe haven for wealthy Russian elites.
Analysts also point out that Russia’s military and economy have already been heavily strained by the ongoing war in Ukraine and the impact of Western sanctions.
Matt Gerken, chief geopolitical strategist at BCA Research, told CNBC that Russia is wary of overstretching its military resources.
Meanwhile, instability in the Middle East has another consequence that indirectly benefits Moscow: rising oil prices.
“Putin’s got to be thrilled, because anything that raises the price of oil is good for him,” Ellen Wald, president of Transversal Consulting, told CNBC. “He’s definitely able to say: if you can’t get oil from the Gulf, hey, we’ve got a great supply.”
Global tensions continue to rise
The crisis has unfolded during a turbulent start to 2026. In addition to the strikes against Iran, the United States has reportedly abducted Venezuelan head of state Nicolas Maduro, further escalating tensions between Washington and several geopolitical rivals.
While Russia’s leadership has issued sharp warnings about the potential for a global conflict, analysts say the situation remains highly unpredictable.
As Medvedev himself suggested, in a climate of rapidly escalating tensions, it may only take a single incident to push the world into a much larger confrontation.
