Brief #8 — Iran on the Edge, Trade Without Trust, and a World Re-aligning

While the risk of war in the Persian Gulf continues to rise, a quieter but equally important transformation is underway.

In this week’s Frontlines & Backrooms Brief, we examine the mounting pressure on Iran — the demands being placed on it, the risks of escalation, and the consequences a new regional war would have for the world.

At the same time, new trade agreements between the European Union and India, and between Canada and China, reveal how middle powers are reorganizing as trust in the old global order erodes.

This Brief connects military pressure, economic realignment, and the human cost of this moment, ending with the remembrance of Hind Rajab, whose death in Gaza remains a stark reminder of what is at stake.

00:00 - Intro

01:31 - Looming war against Iran

Signals, demands, and risks of escalation

03:47 - What this war would really be about

Nuclear red lines, missiles, and regional consequences

11:03 - New trade deals shaping the changing world

EU–India, Canada–China, and trade without trust

14:52 - Remembering Hind Rajab