- Title: Putin says Iran war consequences could be as serious as those of COVID pandemic
- Date: 26th March 2026
- Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (MARCH 26, 2026) (RUSSIAN POOL) VARIOUS OF RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN ARRIVING ON STAGE VARIOUS OF AUDIENCE APPLAUDING AND SITTING DOWN VARIOUS OF PUTIN SPEAKING VARIOUS OF AUDIENCE LISTENING AUDIENCE MEMBER FILMING PUTIN ON SMARTPHONE (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING: "(STARTS OVER WIDE OF AUDIENCE LISTENING) The armed c
- Embargoed:
- Keywords: Iran Putin Russia consequences crisis economy
- Location: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
- City: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
- Country: Russia
- Topics: Europe,Government/Politics,International Trade
- Reuters ID: LVA001761726032026RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday (March 26) that it was hard to predict the consequences of the conflict in the Middle East but that some had compared the potential impact to that of the COVID pandemic.
The conflict, Putin said, was causing significant damage to international logistics, production and supply chains while putting intense pressure on hydrocarbon, metals and fertilizer companies.
"The consequences of the conflict in the Middle East are still difficult to accurately predict," Putin told business leaders in Moscow.
"It seems to me that those who are involved in the conflict cannot predict anything themselves, but for us it is even more difficult."
"However, there are already estimates that they can be compared with the coronavirus epidemic," Putin said. "Let me remind you that it has dramatically slowed down the development of all regions and continents, without exception." - Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
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