The global economy is on the brink of a potential crisis, and the blame lies squarely on the shoulders of those who advocate for military action against Iran. While Western governments, including Australia and New Zealand, have expressed support for the US and Israeli strikes, the consequences could be catastrophic. The decision to intervene risks not only economic disaster but also regional escalation and the further erosion of international law. But here's where it gets controversial: the Iranian state, if it survives the onslaught, has threatened to retaliate in ways that could crash the global economy. The closure of civilian airports in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane, are just two early signs of their potential to do so. The knock-on effects of a prolonged war are almost incalculable, but the shockwaves will soon transfer to our own economies. Countries like Australia and New Zealand may end up on the losing end of a bidding war for oil, LNG, and agricultural petrochemicals if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. The Iranian state has vowed to strike back, and its short-range missiles and mines along the coastline will be all-but-impossible to suppress. The assassination of the Supreme Leader may see champagne corks popping in Western capitals, but a decapitation strike could lead a furious or desperate Iran to lash out, sinking a US aircraft carrier or taking out Qatar’s liquefaction trains. The risk of nuclear weapons being used by the US and Israel is also non-trivial. The West is behaving like tyrants on a rampage, and we must be stopped. The Spanish Prime Minister slammed the US and Israeli strikes on Iran, and Cuba, under a brutal blockade by the Trump regime, condemned the attacks as a violation of international law. The New York Times expressed surprise at Australia's bellicose position, and New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon threw his copy of the UN Charter down the lavatory. We should all fear victory by the US and Israel, as they will see it as a stepping stone to more crimes against humanity. Unilateral violence must not trump law, and we must stand against this aggressive and expansionist behavior.
