Well it did say major players, plural. If you have major players directly in opposition and both feeling the need for conscription...

whether you or me like them or not, they are a major player.

No Russia is not a major player. Remember those estimates about Russia taking Ukraine in a week, two weeks tops? Those estimates were based on Russia being a near peer. That assessment was incorrect. Russia is not a near peer.

Also Russia's capabilities have been significantly diminished because of the war in Ukraine. They can't project power anymore. Russia is devolving down to the level of North Korea. They have nukes, so have to be considered, but no real capability to project power. Not a major player.

And other countries are involved. China is somewhat involved on the diplomatic front. But guess what their priorities are? They're against Iran's "Axis of Resistance" attacking shipping routes between Europe and Asia. Because obviously.

So it's basically just Russia+Iran against everyone else in the world. At this point it seems like Iran is struggling to keep their proxies under control. Not exactly WW3.