Bernard Hammelburg on Iran, the US, and Geopolitical Tensions

A joint military operation conducted by the United States and Israel against Iran on February 28, 2026, has escalated into a widespread conflict characterized by retaliatory strikes and significant global market instability.

The conflict intensified following the initial attacks, as Tehran launched a series of retaliations. These developments led to a severe downturn in global markets and a heightening of geopolitical tensions across multiple regions.

Military Escalation and Diplomatic Standoff

Recent military engagements include the downing of a United States A-10 attack plane by Iranian forces near the Strait of Hormuz. In an attempt to halt the violence, the United States offered a 48-hour ceasefire, which Iranian media reported was rejected by Tehran.

The United States has increased its military presence in the region to prepare for further action. Washington has deployed 32 tanker aircraft to the Middle East, a move that analysts suggest indicates a preparation for sustained aerial operations.

Analysis of US Strategy

Bernard Hammelburg, a foreign affairs commentator for BNR Nieuwsradio, has provided analysis on the strategic failures of the current administration. Hammelburg stated that the United States has lost control of the war in Iran.

According to Hammelburg, Donald Trump did not anticipate Iran’s specific reactions regarding the Strait of Hormuz. He further noted that Trump operates under the expectation that iedereen voor hem kruipt (everyone crawls before him).

Hammelburg indicated that there is a grote kans dat VS gaat aanvallen (great chance that the US will attack), citing the deployment of the 32 tanker aircraft as a primary indicator of impending US offensive actions.

Global Economic Impact

The instability resulting from the Middle East conflict has caused significant financial losses among the world’s wealthiest individuals. Seven of the top ten richest people saw their combined fortunes shrink by approximately $170.3 billion so far in 2026.

The most significant wealth declines include:

• Bernard Arnault, CEO of LVMH, saw his fortune decrease by $55.4 billion, leaving him with $153 billion.
• Oracle founder Larry Ellison experienced a decline of $52.4 billion, bringing his total wealth to $195 billion.
• Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg saw a $30.5 billion decline, resulting in a fortune of $203 billion.
• Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos saw his wealth drop by $23.3 billion.
• Google co-founder Larry Page saw a decline of $21.9 billion.
• Google co-founder Sergey Brin experienced a $20.4 billion decrease.
• Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang saw a decline of $10.1 billion.

Broader Geopolitical Tensions

The conflict with Iran is occurring alongside several other international crises that have unsettled global investors. These include a diplomatic crisis between China and Japan and a United States intervention in Venezuela.

reporting indicates that the United States has developed plans to annex Greenland, further contributing to the current state of worldwide geopolitical volatility.

While global markets showed a positive trend at the start of 2026, the combination of the war in the Middle East and these adjacent diplomatic crises has led to severe market downturns.