Glenn Diesen: the reasons behind the war against Iran. Power, economics and the future of Europe

As the war between the United States, Israel, and Iran escalates into one of the most consequential geopolitical crises in recent memory, fundamental questions about power, strategy, and global order have returned to the forefront. What began as a regional confrontation has rapidly evolved into a conflict with worldwide economic and political repercussions – from disruptions in energy markets to renewed fears of great-power confrontation. In this interview, we speak with Glenn Diesen, a geopolitical analyst known for his work on shifting global power structures and the emergence of a multipolar world. Our discussion centers on one of the most contested questions surrounding the current war: whether Israel succeeded in drawing the United States into a broader conflict with Iran, or whether Washington itself initiated and expanded the war as part of a larger strategy – potentially linked to economic pressures and the need to sustain its global dominance. Beyond the real causes of the war, we also examine its wider implications. What does this conflict reveal about the durability of U.S. hegemony? Is the war accelerating the transition toward a multipolar international system? And perhaps most critically for the European continent: what future awaits the European union as it navigates the economic strain, political fragmentation, and strategic dependence exposed by yet another major war on its periphery?