Upon his return to Russia, Bout received a hero’s welcome and soon after ventured into politics.
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It appeared that Bout had shifted his focus to politics, when he joined a pro-Kremlin ultra-nationalist party. And he even won a seat in a local assembly in 2023.
But just when it seemed like his days of arms dealing were behind him Putin tasked him with a new project.
In August 2024, Houthi emissaries visiting Moscow to negotiate a $10 million arms deal encountered Bout. According to security officials, Putin has reactivated Bout to broker this deal, reinforcing Russia’s ties with Iran.
The Iranian-backed Houthis have been seizing ships in the Red Sea as part of Iran’s proxy wars. They are seeking small arms such as rifles and grenades—potentially to aid their efforts in capturing vessels in the Red Sea.
As the Middle East continues to destabilize, Bout’s reemergence comes at a critical time in the relationship between Moscow and Tehran. It also signals that Russia is gearing up for more war.
