A Short Lesson in Cause and Effect There is nothing complicated about this. The United States buys Russian diesel, which puts money in Moscow's pocket. Moscow then spends part of that money on backing, arming and shielding Iran. Iran, in turn, uses that support to hit American bases, ships and soldiers. So the money leaves America as a fuel payment and comes back as incoming fire, which is about as clear a result as foreign policy ever produces. I would love to say this takes some expertise to grasp, but it really doesn't. Most people work out by the age of ten that you shouldn't pay the people who are helping someone hurt you. The Trump administration has had rather longer than that to think it over.