[Salon] China & geopolitics expert John Ross on the stakes in the U.S.-Iran war

[Helena Cobban <hcobban@gmail.com>]

“If Iran is left after the war in control of the Straits of Hormuz, this is a tremendous strategic defeat for the United States.”

This was the money quote in the 47-minute conversation I had with John this morning. He was quite clear that for the Chinese government, what is at stake is the ability of the U.S. to continue to unilaterally impose its control on global trade in all the world's seas. (Not, mainly, the nuclear issue...)

With Trump heading for Beijing this week, this was a rich and timely convo. John also talked a bit about the careful and committed diplomacy China has been pursuing in re the war.

The video is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2nH5lHtqC4

For a summary and links to the audio and the full transcript, go here: https://justworldeducational.org/2026/05/john-ross-on-the-global-impact-of-the-u-s-war-on-iran-and-chinas-perspective/

~ HC

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Helena Cobban

She/her/they | Honoring the lives & legacies of the Piscataways in whose lands I live

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