Putin Praises Iran’s ‘Courage’ As US Gloats Over Oil Blockade & ‘Zero’ Exports

The Trump administration has been busy boasting that it has brought Iran’s economy to its knees through the navy enforced oil blockade and through sweeping ‘Economic D-Day’ sanctions, but in direct contradiction to this, Russia is busy hailing Tehran’s ‘courage’.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone call Wednesday, on the occasion of Putin’s birthday, wherein the two leaders pledged to strengthen bilateral cooperation, per readouts from both sides.

Putin pointed to their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty as staying steadfast, despite “current developments and events in the region” – a reference to the ongoing conflict between Iran and the United States.

Russia supports these diplomatic efforts, Putin continued, and “Iranian friends can be assured” that Moscow is ready to help, he informed Pezeshkian. And crucially there was this line which is a direct provocation to Washington:

Putin also praised what he called Iran’s “courage” in the face of attacks.

Also, according to Iranian state media, “Putin pointed to the Iranian nation’s historic and epic steadfastness in the face of enemy aggression, stating that Iran’s courage has been put at the focal attention of many countries across the world.”

It must be remembered that US anonymous officials and media have accused Moscow of providing Tehran with targeting support during the height of Epic Fury. China too stands accused of this.

Such Kremlin messaging on Iranian courage is in direct opposition to what’s being put out by the White House. For example, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has been gloating this week that Iranian crude exports have been taken to near “zero” by the US Navy’s ongoing blockade.

On Tuesday, he again mocked the Iranians, questioning what is their oil minister “managing”?

Iran has a new oil minister. Considering Iran has not loaded a single barrel of crude onto a vessel since August 25th, what is the oil minister managing?

— Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (@SecScottBessent) October 6, 2026

TankerTrackers data has lately indicated that Iranian oil terminals were inactive for crude loadings throughout September, which has resulted in Iran’s military ramping up drone attacks on foreign vessels engaged in ‘unauthorized’ passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

This month alone has already seen at least ten attacks on ships, but which has had surprisingly little impact on oil prices. The mainstream media has also been relatively quiet on these latest attacks.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also been trying to spike the football, even as Iranian attacks on international shipping in the region continue, and after US bases have by and large been forced to be abandoned in Gulf states.

JUST IN: Secretary of State Rubio states that Iran has Lost Complete Control of the Strait of Hormuz Oil is passing through (around 10 Million Barrels Per Day) the Strait of Hormuz – The IRGC has struck more than 10 ships over the past week but this hasn’t deterred the oil tankers – Sources in Iran indicate that the current situation could continue until the US’s Midterm Elections (beginning in November)

— Iran Observer (@IranObserver0) October 7, 2026

Tehran is still saying it would be open to a peace deal, but that it ultimately doesn’t trust Trump, and that if the situation of the blockade on its oil persists, it may have to launch ‘preemptive attack’ on American assets in the region.

“If necessary, we will carry out preemptive operations in the future to deter the enemy from any aggression or attack,” an Iranian military spokesman said Wednesday.