Prof. Steve Hanke: China Defying Trump, Gulf States Open Iran Backchannel as Qatar Economy Goes Down

This interview examines the unintended consequences of the U.S. economic war on Iran. Despite heavy sanctions, Iran’s economy outperformed Gulf peers from 2008–2025. New escalated sanctions threaten severe collateral damage to regional allies like Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, with Qatar already facing major economic contraction and infrastructure damage.

The discussion highlights how failed U.S. objectives have shifted leverage to Iran, while aggressive tariffs and financial weaponization are accelerating a global pivot away from the U.S. dollar and SWIFT. Nations are increasingly exploring alternative financial systems, signaling long-term geopolitical shifts. A crucial warning is issued against "sleepwalking" into broader global conflict as these marginal economic changes reshape international alliances.

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