The Professor Who Predicted the 2026 Iran War — in 2024

The US and Israel Will Strike Iran

This was his most controversial call. Jiang predicted that a Trump administration would escalate pressure on Iran — potentially including military action. He specifically mentioned that Israel and the US might jointly target Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

At the time, many dismissed this as alarmist. But the logic was clear: Trump’s “maximum pressure” doctrine, combined with Israel’s existential security concerns, created conditions where military escalation became increasingly probable.

America Will Win Battles… But Lose the War

Here’s where Jiang shocked many analysts. He didn’t predict an American defeat on the battlefield. He predicted a strategic defeat.

The distinction matters: military superiority doesn’t guarantee geopolitical success. Jiang argued that even a successful strike on Iranian facilities would trigger cascading consequences — regional destabilization, fractured alliances, economic blowback, and a strengthened Iranian resolve that makes long-term resolution impossible.

Global Economic Ripple Effects

Jiang warned this wouldn’t stay a “Middle East problem.” The interconnected nature of the global economy means that a conflict 10,000 miles away hits your wallet directly.