What Jiang Xueqin has said about United States war with Iran

Jiang argues the current Middle East conflict differs from 2003 because four coordinated but decentralized Shia forces cannot be defeated by shock-and-awe tactics.

“The United States military is not very good at fighting guerrilla insurgents”

The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett: Professor Jiang: Three Predictions On the Collapse of the World Order (Sep 14, 2026) · Listen from 18:11

Jiang says Chinese and Russian support means Iran could in theory sustain the war indefinitely.

“Both China... And Russia are supporting Iran in this conflict”

The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett: Professor Jiang: Three Predictions On the Collapse of the World Order (Sep 14, 2026) · Listen from 20:09

Jiang says Iran's optimal strategy is random coordinated strikes to destroy confidence in shipping insurance and paralyse global trade.

“If you can't insure global shipping, global shipping ceases to work. So this is the madman theory, and this is Iran's best play moving forward”

The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett: Professor Jiang: Three Predictions On the Collapse of the World Order (Sep 14, 2026) · Listen from 41:48

Jiang predicts the United States will be forced to attack Iran's power plants and desalination infrastructure, causing starvation in Tehran.

“this response is, is to attack Iran's critical civilian infrastructure, which includes desalination plants and power plants”

The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett: Professor Jiang: Three Predictions On the Collapse of the World Order (Sep 14, 2026) · Listen from 44:30

Jiang predicts the Middle East conflict will only escalate, though he declines to specify how.

“My prediction is this will only escalate. How it will escalate, I don't know”

The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett: Professor Jiang: Three Predictions On the Collapse of the World Order (Sep 14, 2026) · Listen from 44:30