LARRY:China Signed Off,as Trump Reportedly Favors First Strike on Iran Pakistan Backs Iran,Warns MBS

Summary

The host opened with claims from a senior Pakistani military source, saying Pakistan’s leadership had decided to stand with Iran and resist pressure from the United States and Saudi Arabia. The source reportedly said Pakistan had reopened crossings and restored access to six commercial corridors, though traffic might take time to resume. He also claimed the decision followed consultations with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi. These claims—including the account of the corridors and China’s role—were presented as the host’s sourcing and were not independently verified in the video.

The host said Pakistan was angered by a meeting in Abu Dhabi involving Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid and Western representatives, and had effectively told Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) to choose between working with Pakistan or with those countries. He argued that Pakistan would not come to MBS’s aid and described the kingdom’s position as increasingly precarious. The host also pointed to planned defense-production and technology-sharing discussions involving Pakistan, Turkey, Indonesia, and Qatar.

Larry Johnson cited a Haaretz report describing an apparent shift in Washington toward favoring a preemptive strike on Iran, following Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Johnson also referred to an explosion near an Iranian missile unit in southern Iraq and said the reported withdrawal of U.S. embassy personnel from several Gulf states suggested Washington expected Iranian retaliation.

Johnson warned that renewed war could disrupt oil flows, worsen a global diesel shortage, and trigger a severe recession. The discussion of possible nuclear use was based on an account the host attributed to a Pakistani source, not on independently verified evidence.

Strategic assessment

Johnson argued that Russia and China were supporting Iran, while Pakistan was under pressure to balance its ties with Iran, the United States, and Saudi Arabia. He also discussed U.S. policy toward Ukraine, predicting political constraints on President Trump after the midterm elections and describing Russia’s battlefield position as stronger than Western commentary acknowledged.

Johnson said Russia had offered to help mediate a settlement involving Iran and maintained that diplomacy could still prevent an attack.

The host added that Pakistan faced domestic pressure to avoid acting against Iran or Yemen’s Ansar Allah (the Houthis), while also relying on Saudi financial support and needing to manage its relationship with the United States and the IMF. He said Iran’s message to Washington was to demonstrate good faith before expecting nuclear negotiations, and portrayed Iranian leaders as pragmatic and open to talks.

Both speakers predicted that Iran would emerge from the conflict as a stronger regional power. They also speculated that Saudi Arabia’s position could weaken further if the Houthis continued their advances in Yemen.

Verification caveat

The speakers repeatedly presented their forecasts as analysis and described some claims as information from confidential sources. The most consequential claims about Pakistan’s decision, private diplomatic messages, and the likelihood of military escalation were not independently verified in the video.

Presenters and contributors

• Zulfiqar Ali — host
• Larry Johnson — military and political analyst