Chuck Holton
Politics • Culture • News
Is World War III Already Underway? Russia Draws a Red Line on Iran
April 05, 2025

If you’ve been watching global events lately, you know the temperature on the geopolitical thermometer is rising fast. And this week, Russia just threw gasoline on the fire.

On Thursday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova issued a blunt warning to the United States and its allies: Hands off Iran. Her words weren’t vague diplomatic gestures—they were a clear and forceful declaration that any military strike against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure would be “illegal and unacceptable” and could bring “far-reaching and irreversible consequences.”

Let that sink in.

Zakharova’s statement comes on the heels of growing tension between the U.S. and Iran. President Donald Trump, reinstating his maximum pressure campaign, has threatened military action if Tehran doesn’t come to the negotiating table. And earlier this month, he sent a letter directly to Iran’s Supreme Leader, urging diplomacy—but backing it up with a warning that a failure to deal could trigger military strikes.

Iran’s response? Predictable. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made it clear that any aggression would be met with a “severe blow.” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called the letter “more of a threat,” though he admitted it did open a narrow door to negotiation.

Meanwhile, in a show of growing military and strategic alignment, Russia sent a warship into Iranian waters for joint naval drills with Iran and China—an image that should make the hair stand up on the back of every serious analyst’s neck.

A Russian naval ship is seen entering Iranian waters for a joint military drill with Iran and China, in a photo released by the Iranian army on Monday, March 10, 2025. Mohammad Mehdi Dara, Iranian Army/AP

A Russian naval ship is seen entering Iranian waters for a joint military drill with Iran and China, in a photo released by the Iranian army on Monday, March 10, 2025. Mohammad Mehdi Dara, Iranian Army/AP

This isn’t just a game of chicken. This is a chess match with nuclear consequences.

Russia and Iran recently signed a comprehensive strategic partnership. That means any conflict involving Iran now carries the risk of dragging Russia directly into the fight. And when you throw China into that mix—another nation that’s been flexing its muscles in the Pacific—you start to see the outlines of something that looks a lot like... well, a world war.

You think I’m being dramatic?

Look around. You’ve got a U.S. president issuing ultimatums, a sanctioned and desperate Iran pushing forward with its nuclear program, and a nuclear-armed Russia vowing to back Tehran. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent made it plain this week: Washington’s goal is to crush Iran’s ability to fund terror, build weapons, and abuse human rights. That’s not a policy difference—that’s a collision course.

And while the U.S. has emphasized diplomacy backed by sanctions and strength, Moscow is drawing its own red lines.

So here’s the question I want to ask you—and I am running a poll on my YouTube channel about it: Do you think World War III has already begun?
If you answered yes, tell me—when do you think it started?

Because the more we see military alliances forming, red lines being drawn, and nuclear threats thrown around like poker chips, the more it’s starting to look like we’re already living through the early chapters of the next great global conflict.

 

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