Making the Argument with Nick Freitas Will Iran Trigger An Economic Crisis? w/ Bonus Episode at the End
Mar 25, 2026
Kevin DeMeritt, founder and CEO of Lear Capital and precious metals expert, joins to discuss gold, silver, and physical metals investing. They tackle Iran’s ability to threaten the Strait of Hormuz, why oil and gas prices are spiking, and the odd reasons gold can fall during geopolitical crises. Multiple conflict scenarios and their market and political consequences are explored in short, pointed conversations.
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Crisis Drives Demand For US Dollar Liquidity
- The dollar often strengthens in crises as investors flock to liquid, widely accepted US currency, increasing demand even if the dollar outlook is weak.
- Christian Hines points to the DXY rising since the war began as markets buy dollars to pay debts and buy essentials.
Forced Selling In Oil Hubs Depresses Gold
- Forced selling in regional markets (e.g., Dubai) creates a feedback loop: asset crashes trigger margin calls that force gold liquidation into dollars.
- Christian Hines uses UAE real-estate crashes and wealthy margin calls as a concrete driver of gold price weakness.
Ceasefire Could Bring Noticeable Oil Relief
- A negotiated settlement with Iran would likely drop oil by $10–$25 and ease inflation fears, enabling the Fed to resume cuts and easing political pressure before midterms.
- Nick Freitas notes Trump’s pause for talks already sent oil down 11%, showing predictive markets price reduced escalation risk.