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"The War Is Turning Iran Into a Major World Power": U. of Chicago Professor Robert Pape

2026-04-09 News & Politics
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Support our work: https://democracynow.org/donate/sm-desc-yt Will Iran join China, Russia and the United States as a fourth major power on the world stage? Iran's resilience in the face of the U.S.-Israeli war is already shifting the global balance of power, says American political scientist Robert Pape. "What you are seeing with Iran is that its geography, in combination with a level of drone technology that we simply cannot destroy," is demonstrating to other countries that they may not have to stay beholden to U.S. hegemony. "What makes us think we're really going to stop Iran from becoming a nuclear power in the next six months or a year?" asks Pape. "Iran is far stronger than it was just 40 days ago. It is in control of 20% of the world's oil. It is now an emerging fourth center of power. … The United States is on one side, and the rivals are China, Russia and now Iran." Democracy Now! is an independent global news hour that airs on over 1,500 TV and radio stations Monday through Friday. Watch our livestream at democracynow.org Mondays to Fridays 8-9 a.m. ET. Subscribe to our Daily Email Digest: https://democracynow.org/subscribe

Top Comments (10)

@EsmailLotfi-l3c 2026-04-09

The world can no longer be held hostage by the dollar and sanctions.

587 42 replies
@ronaldronald8819 2026-04-09

How incredibly stupid that the US to let itself be dragged into this WAR by Israel.

1.0k 98 replies
@maryamathari9888 2026-04-09

Iran did not threaten any states! Israel and US unjustifiably attacked Iran

886 67 replies
@fawzaansports7129 2026-04-10

Netanyahu virtually ended up making Iran a superpower despite wanting to collapse their government. How stupid?😂

137 6 replies
@ewalichorowicz4614 2026-04-13

The "unintended" consequences of an attack on an independent country

45 2 replies
@zoe_ward 2026-04-09

47 years of unjustifiable sanctions on iran and iranians to suffer tremendously and now the empire is butthurt that iran for the first time in its history use control of the strait to its pure survival as a nation and a people

206 8 replies
@theresamarie3353 2026-04-09

It’s not only about the surge of power it’s about being unable to trust the US!

352 25 replies
@al92653 2026-04-09

This is good. The more super powers the less chances for the terrorist governments of the USA and Israel to bully weaker countries. ❤

244 8 replies
@SoloRed-w5p 2026-04-11

Hegseth is crazy

71 2 replies
@zenios9117 2026-04-12

Iran must nationalize the Strait of Hurmuz.

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