Interviews 02
Interviews 02
May 15, 2026

Larry Johnson & Col. Wilkerson: China JUST Said NO to Trump! Iran’s Hammer Falls on Strait of Hormuz

YouTube · gBADeqy_nKg

Quick Read

Larry Johnson and Colonel Wilkerson dissect China's dismissive reception of Donald Trump, the escalating crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, and the emerging Russia-China-Iran-Pakistan axis poised to reshape Gulf security and global commerce.
China deliberately diminished Trump's visit, signaling US irrelevance in key diplomatic matters.
A new security architecture is forming in the Gulf, aiming to expel US military presence.
The Strait of Hormuz blockade is causing severe global shortages of critical commodities.

Summary

Larry Johnson and Colonel Wilkerson analyze the geopolitical landscape following Donald Trump's perceived 'nothing burger' meeting in China. They highlight China's deliberate diplomatic snubs, signaling a shift in global power dynamics and a lack of interest in Trump's requests regarding Iran. The discussion emphasizes the critical economic impact of the ongoing blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, which is disrupting the flow of essential commodities like oil, LNG, urea, sulfur, and helium, leading to global supply shortages. A significant revelation is the behind-the-scenes effort by China, Russia, Iran, and Pakistan to establish a new security architecture in the Persian Gulf, aiming to expel the US military presence and create non-aggression pacts with Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The analysts also debate Iran's nuclear ambitions, framing the US's focus on it as a pretext to destabilize the Iranian government, while acknowledging Iran's potential shift towards nuclear deterrence due to perceived Western betrayals.
This analysis reveals a significant realignment of global power, with China asserting its dominance and actively working with Russia, Iran, and Pakistan to diminish US influence in the Middle East. The ongoing disruption of the Strait of Hormuz is not just a regional conflict but a looming global economic crisis, threatening essential commodity supplies and potentially leading to widespread shortages. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for anticipating shifts in international trade, energy markets, and geopolitical stability, as the US faces a challenging transition from its hegemonic role.

Takeaways

  • China gave Donald Trump a dismissive reception, sending low-level officials and prioritizing other diplomatic news, indicating a lack of importance placed on his visit.
  • China explicitly rejected Trump's requests regarding Iran, telling him to 'go pound sand' and framing the US as the problem in the region.
  • A new security architecture is being negotiated in the Persian Gulf, led by China, Russia, Iran, and Pakistan, with the goal of expelling US military presence.
  • The ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is causing a global economic crisis by disrupting the supply of five critical commodities: oil, liquid natural gas, urea, sulfur, and helium.
  • Iran has started allowing ships through the Strait of Hormuz under its own terms, shifting the perception that the US is now the primary blockader.
  • Saudi Arabia and Qatar hold the key to potential US military operations against Iran, as their refusal to host US bases would severely limit US capabilities.
  • The US's focus on Iran's nuclear program is presented as a 'red herring' or excuse to destroy the Islamic Republic, rather than a genuine concern about proliferation.

Insights

1China's Deliberate Snub of Trump

China sent clear signals of disrespect and disinterest during Donald Trump's visit. This included keeping Tajik flags up before his arrival, relegating his meeting to a sidebar in state media, and sending second-level officials to greet him at the airport, a stark contrast to the reception given to leaders like Putin or Kim Jong-un. This indicates China did not view the meeting as important and was sending a message about the US's diminished standing.

Tajik flags still adorning light posts upon Trump's arrival, China Daily's main headline featuring Tajikistan talks with Trump as a sidebar, Xi Jinping sending second-level people to greet Trump at the airport, unlike for Putin or Kim Jong-un.

2China's Rejection of US Demands on Iran

China explicitly told Trump to 'go pound sand' regarding his requests about Iran. This firm rejection highlights China's independent foreign policy and its growing alignment with Iran, viewing the US as the primary destabilizing force in the region rather than Iran.

Larry Johnson's source in the White House confirming Xi Jinping told Trump to 'go pound sand' on Iran requests.

3Emerging Gulf Security Architecture to Expel US

Behind the scenes, China, Russia, Iran, and Pakistan are actively planning a new security architecture for the Persian Gulf. This initiative aims to expel the US military presence from the region, create non-aggression pacts, and incentivize Saudi Arabia and Qatar to distance themselves from the United States. Pakistan is playing a leading role due to its bilateral security treaty with Saudi Arabia.

Larry Johnson's source with access to Pakistan's intelligence service, comments by Putin and Wang Yi about a new security architecture for the Gulf, focus on Qatar and Saudi Arabia due to their critical commodity production.

4Strait of Hormuz Blockade: Global Economic 'Gut Punch'

The ongoing disruption of the Strait of Hormuz, approaching 80 days, is causing a severe global economic crisis. It is blocking the flow of five essential commodities: oil, liquid natural gas (LNG), urea, sulfur, and helium. These shortages are beginning to manifest in consumer markets, with impacts on industries like agriculture (fertilizer, diesel) and automotive (motor oil). China, understanding this, is positioned to suffer less than the rest of the world.

Colonel Wilkerson's Iowa farmer contact reporting fertilizer and diesel shortages, Larry Johnson detailing shortages of motor oil at Costco and Walmart, Toyota issuing bulletins about alternative oil weights.

5Iran's Shifting Stance on Nuclear Weapons

While Iran's Shia theology traditionally views indiscriminate killing (and thus nuclear weapons) as a sin, Colonel Wilkerson suggests that Iran's military leadership (IRGC) may now be pursuing nuclear weapons as a deterrent. This shift is influenced by the perceived betrayal of the JCPOA by the US and the 'Gaddafi experience' (disarming led to his demise), seeing nuclear weapons as essential for survival in a dangerous region.

Colonel Wilkerson's assessment of the IRGC's rational approach and the lessons from North Korea and Gaddafi, contrasting with Larry Johnson's emphasis on Shia theology.

Bottom Line

The US is now perceived as the primary blockader of the Strait of Hormuz, not Iran, as Iran has begun allowing compliant ships through.

So What?

This narrative shift undermines US diplomatic efforts and international legitimacy, potentially isolating the US further in the region and globally.

Impact

Nations seeking to bypass US sanctions or influence could align with Iran's terms for passage, further normalizing Iran's control over the Strait and challenging US naval dominance.

The economic impact of the Strait of Hormuz blockade is a 'slow-motion gut punch' that will force the US to 'cave' when the full rage of shortages becomes undeniable.

So What?

This suggests that economic pressure, rather than military or diplomatic means, will ultimately dictate US policy in the Gulf, potentially leading to a forced withdrawal or significant concessions.

Impact

Companies and nations that can secure alternative supply chains or develop substitutes for the affected commodities will gain a significant competitive advantage as global shortages intensify.

Key Concepts

Thucydides Trap

The concept, referenced by the speakers, describes the historical pattern where a rising power (China) challenges an established power (US), often leading to conflict. The podcast suggests China is navigating this transition by allowing the US to 'kill itself' through self-destructive policies.

Sherpa Work in Diplomacy

This diplomatic term refers to the extensive preparatory work done by lower-level diplomats to iron out details and agreements before high-level meetings between principals. Its absence in Trump's China visit signaled a lack of serious negotiation or Chinese interest.

Lessons

  • Monitor global commodity prices and supply chain disruptions, particularly for oil, LNG, urea, sulfur, and helium, as shortages are expected to worsen.
  • Observe diplomatic and military movements in the Persian Gulf for signs of the proposed new security architecture taking shape, especially regarding US base access in Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
  • Analyze statements from China, Russia, and Iran for further indications of their coordinated efforts to challenge US hegemony and reshape regional alliances.

Notable Moments

Colonel Wilkerson highlights the Chinese diplomatic choreography during Trump's visit, noting Xi Jinping's deliberate lack of advancement to meet Trump, making Trump walk across the room.

This seemingly minor detail is a significant diplomatic signal of disrespect and a clear indication of China's perceived superiority and Trump's diminished status.

Larry Johnson reveals that a White House source confirmed Xi Jinping told Trump to 'go pound sand' regarding Iran.

This direct rejection underscores China's firm stance against US interventionist policies in the Middle East and its growing confidence to defy US demands.

Larry Johnson details the five critical commodities from the Persian Gulf (oil, LNG, urea, sulfur, helium) and their global economic importance, explaining how their disruption is a 'gut punch'.

This provides concrete evidence of the widespread economic consequences of the Strait of Hormuz blockade, moving beyond abstract geopolitical discussions to tangible impacts on global industries and consumers.

Colonel Wilkerson and Larry Johnson debate Iran's nuclear intentions, with Wilkerson suggesting Iran's military may now pursue nuclear weapons for deterrence, while Johnson emphasizes Shia theology's prohibition against indiscriminate killing.

This internal disagreement among experts highlights the complexity and uncertainty surrounding Iran's strategic calculations, which are critical for understanding future regional stability.

Quotes

"

"He said she basically told Trump with respect to requests Trump made about Iran to go pound sand."

Larry Johnson
"

"The Chinese are absolutely superb in choreographing visits and other things too."

Colonel Wilkerson
"

"If the straight of Hormuz were open, we'd all be better off. So if you want help opening the straight of Hormuz, here it is. Lay off the Iranians, let them control the straight, you know, that sort of thing."

Colonel Wilkerson
"

"The one who's blockading now the straight of Hormuz is the United States."

Larry Johnson
"

"China's position in its grandest scheme is do nothing to stop the suicide."

Colonel Wilkerson
"

"The entire idea behind this new security architecture is to to expel the US military presence from the Persian Gulf because the only reason it's there is to attack Iran."

Larry Johnson
"

"The amount of propaganda that's put out about it, is just it's absurd because you realize it was a it was a robust agreement."

Larry Johnson
"

"I think they have a undisclosed facility deep underground. And I think they are very capable of now making a warhead, matching it with one of their faster missiles and somehow, as the North Koreans did, announcing it."

Colonel Wilkerson
"

"Benjamin Netanyahu. He is out to stir the pot to get other people to to cause disruption within the Gulf Arabs as much as possible."

Larry Johnson
"

"A dying elephant can thrash a lot of grass again. And the Jewish influence may be dying, but it can still thrash a lot of grass. And Donald Trump is grass that's thrashable."

Larry Johnson

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