The Iran War Was Supposed to Cripple China. It Backfired Spectacularly. | Silk and Steel

The Iran War Was Supposed to Cripple China. It Backfired Spectacularly. | Silk and Steel

Author: UK Column May 5, 2026 Duration: 56:46

In this episode of Silk and Steel, Ahmad sits down with Carl Zha (geopolitical analyst and host of the Silk and Steel Podcast) to dissect the Iran war, US strategy to choke off China's energy, and why the empire looks increasingly like a paper tiger.


The big picture:


• The US has had a 30-year plan to control global oil flows and corner China (going back to the 2003 Iraq war)


• But having a plan and executing it competently are two very different things


• China has 1.4 billion barrels in strategic oil reserves – larger than the US, Europe, and Japan combined


• While the US Navy struggles to feed its sailors, China is lifting export bans on gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel


We break down:


• The "Clean Break" plan (1997) – the Israeli blueprint to remake the Middle East for the "Greater Israel" project


• Why seven US presidents resisted war with Iran – and why Trump didn't


• The Epstein files theory – why Israel may have compromising material on Trump


• How China prepared for this crisis while the US drained its strategic reserves


• The difference between heavy crude (Venezuela) and light sweet crude (Persian Gulf) – and why it matters


• Why the US Navy's food crisis is a symptom of a much larger logistics breakdown


• The fertilizer crisis – 20% of world's natural gas offline, planting season is NOW


Plus: The Top Gun: Persian Edition (Iranian pilots flying 60-year-old F-5 jets over US bases), why the "pivot to Asia" became a pivot to West Asia, and why China's energy independence is accelerating.



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Tune in to UK Column News, a daily podcast from the independent news organisation of the same name. This isn't a recap of headlines from the mainstream wire services. Instead, the team at UK Column digs into the stories and narratives shaping public perception, focusing on what they term the 'information war.' Each episode provides analysis you're unlikely to find elsewhere, examining the interplay between government policy, media reporting, and institutional influence. Because they operate without any corporate backing, advertising, or funding from political groups, their perspective is uniquely supported by their audience through memberships and donations. This independence is the core of the podcast, allowing for straightforward commentary free from external pressures. Listeners will hear detailed discussions on current events in the UK and beyond, often connecting dots between seemingly separate issues to present a broader picture of governance and societal change. The tone is analytical and deliberate, prioritising depth over soundbites. For those seeking an alternative to conventional news cycles and curious about the mechanics behind the stories that dominate the day, this podcast offers a consistent and critical voice. It’s for anyone who questions the prevailing narrative and wants news analysis that answers to its listeners, not to sponsors or shareholders.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

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