DeProgram with John Kiriakou and Ted Rall Iran to US: Drop Dead! | DeProgram with Ted Rall and John Kiriakou
Mar 24, 2026
They dig into escalating U.S.-Iran tensions, threats to the Strait of Hormuz, and soaring oil prices. They debate regional escalation risks, missile reach and attacks like Diego Garcia. They cover airport disruptions, ICE at airports, and biometric security concerns. They also discuss geopolitical restraint from Russia and China and possible electoral and economic fallout.
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Threat To Obliterate Iran Looked Like A Blink
- Trump publicly threatened to “obliterate” Iranian civilian power plants, then extended the deadline, which looked like a market-driven policy reversal.
- John Kiriakou notes this is a war crime and the extension signaled a U.S. blink that calmed markets and cut oil prices.
Gulf States Have Only Days Of Water Reserves
- Iran threatened to mine the Strait of Hormuz and to attack Gulf desalination and power plants, which would cause immediate humanitarian crisis in water‑dependent Gulf states.
- Kiriakou explains many Gulf states have only about five days of freshwater reserves and rely on electricity for desalination.
This Oil Shock Could Trigger A Prolonged Recession
- The current oil shock is already worse than the 1970s oil shocks combined and has hit gas worse than the Russia‑Ukraine fallout, threatening a prolonged global recession.
- Ted Rall and John cite IEA head Fatih Birol and historical parallels to 1973–74 rationing and long recovery.