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Trump's Strangulation Strategy

September 1, 2026 · 58 min

Show notes

Aimen's prediction on 4 August came true, and in the intervening weeks the United States have ramped up the economic pressure on the Iranian regime. The question is: how with the IRGC react? The war re-escalated over the weekend, and as the Iranian people began to make their feelings felt, all indications are that peace is farther away than ever.

Aimen and Thomas discuss:

  • Operation Economic Outcast: US sanctions and regional trade restrictions tighten Iran’s economic isolation.
  • Strait of Hormuz: US demining, Gulf oil exports and Iran’s new underwater drone threat reshape the naval war.
  • Iran’s economic crisis: collapsing rial, inflation, shortages and possible unrest increase pressure on the IRGC.
  • UAE-Iran trade: Dubai’s historic commercial role shrinks as Gulf states join Washington’s economic campaign.
  • US strategy in the Gulf: Trump administration cohesion, long-term military deployment and growing concern about China.
  • Iran escalation risks: attacks on Gulf infrastructure, domestic repression and renewed US-Iran fighting.
  • Tactical nuclear weapons: Aimen warns the conflict could cross the nuclear threshold if escalation continues.

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Conflicted is a Message Heard production.

Executive Producers: Jake Warren & Max Warren.

Produced and edited by Thomas Small.

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