The war that erupted on February 28, 2026 between the United States, Israel, and Iran has triggered one of the most significant geopolitical and economic shocks in recent history. Yet the conflict has not gone to plan for the US-Israel side, with Iran reconsolidating under the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to reach a strategic stalemate. Meanwhile, the region is rapidly reconfiguring through the new Mecca Joint Defence Agreement (Makkah Alliance), a Saudi-Turkish-Pakistani bloc signaling a reduced reliance on US protection. So, how will this protracted conflict shape Iran’s future? What kind of global order will emerge from this upheaval? And as persistent disruptions hit regional oil shipments, are we witnessing a lasting shift away from Western-led economic dominance? Asia development researcher Assoc Prof Nadeem Malik from Asia Institute joins presenter Sami Shah to examine how this war is reshaping West Asia — and potentially the global trading system.
An Asia Institute podcast. Produced and edited by profactual.com. Music by audionautix.com. Transcript forthcoming.
Main image: Associate Professor Nadeem Malik. Listing image: An aerial view of the Strait of Hormuz. Credit: European Space Agency/Wiki Commons.
