WASHINGTON — In a chilling sit-down that has sent shockwaves through global financial markets, Chinese-Canadian scholar Professor Chang has warned that the United States is “trapped” in a terminal conflict with Iran that could effectively end the American era.
Speaking with journalist Tucker Carlson on Saturday, March 21, 2026, Chang laid out a nightmare scenario where the war in the Middle East mirrors the prolonged attrition seen in Ukraine. He predicted that as the conflict expands, global oil prices will skyrocket to a staggering $200 per barrel, a price point he claims will trigger a worldwide food shortage and economic meltdown.
According to Chang, the U.S. has no “off-ramp.” He argued that if Washington tries to sue for peace, Tehran will demand nothing less than $1 trillion in reparations and the total withdrawal of U.S. forces from the Middle East. Such a retreat, he warns, would be the final nail in the coffin for the “petrodollar deal.”
“If the U.S. withdraws from the Gulf, the petrodollar deal, which the American economy depends on, could end,” Chang told a visibly stunned Carlson. He explained that once Arab nations stop selling oil exclusively in dollars, the global demand for the greenback will vanish, leaving the U.S. economy in a freefall.
The interview comes as the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively choked, with Iran reportedly demanding “transit permits” from international shipping vessels. While the White House continues to project strength, Chang’s analysis suggests that the real battle isn’t just on the frontlines, but in the very foundations of the global financial system.
