American Prestige Special - War in the Gulf and the Global Economy w/ Esfandyar Batmanghelidj
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Mar 7, 2026 Esfandyar Batmanghelidj, founder of the Bourse and Bazaar Foundation and Johns Hopkins professor, offers a sharp take on the Iran war’s economic fallout. He discusses strikes on Gulf infrastructure and shipping, risks to logistics hubs like Dubai, threats to energy routes through the Strait of Hormuz, and how regional instability could reshape global supply chains.
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Avoid Piecemeal Maritime Responses
- Reactive naval escorts and ad hoc insurance are insufficient and risky as long-term solutions.
- Esfandyar says piecemeal U.S. measures invite direct confrontation and won't reassure markets sustainably.
Sporadic Attacks Create Prolonged Shipping Risk
- Iran can sustain strategic disruption by sporadically attacking shipping to keep risk calculations high without constant strikes.
- Esfandyar compares this to the Houthi campaign that reduced traffic through the Red Sea for years.
Gulf Cities Are Critical Global Logistics Hubs
- Gulf cities are now global hubs beyond oil, hosting critical logistics, aviation, and petrochemical infrastructure.
- Esfandyar highlights that 10% of global air freight and Jebel Ali port's centrality link Africa, South Asia, and Europe through Dubai and Doha.