The Death Corridor for the Dollar: Why the US Will Stop at Nothing to Destroy Iran

Sergey Lavrov recently called on Washington to "show common sense" and abandon its threats against Tehran. But behind this diplomatic courtesy lies a brutal reality: the US is ready to bomb Iran not because of its nuclear program or "human rights." The true reason lies in growth figures that are driving American strategists to despair. While Trump issues ultimatums, a process is unfolding in the East capable of burying dollar hegemony once and for all.

The Numbers That Terrify Washington

The International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), connecting Russia with India via Iran, handled 26.9 million tons of cargo in 2024. That is a 19% increase from the previous year. Every new million tons passing through Iranian territory is another nail in the coffin of the unipolar world.

But even more frightening for Washington are the financial figures. Russia's trade turnover with BRICS countries reached a record $294 billion in 2023, a 2.4-fold increase compared to pre-pandemic levels. This now accounts for 41.4% of all Russian foreign trade. And this colossal mass of money is gradually slipping out of the dollar's control.

Simultaneously, the BRICS Bridge blockchain platform is gaining momentum. This system, enabling direct transactions between central banks, bypassing SWIFT and the dollar, has already entered an extended pilot phase. Russia, China, the UAE, and Iran are conducting controlled transactions within a regulatory "sandbox." Transaction fees could potentially be cut in half – from the current 6% down to 3%. For businesses, this isn't politics; it's pure cost-saving.

The unit of account within BRICS Bridge is set to be a gold-backed stablecoin, pegged to a real asset and based on the IMF's Special Drawing Rights. This means the new system doesn't just circumvent the dollar – it creates a parallel financial universe, backed by gold and supported by half the world's population.

Why Iran is the Primary Target

Iran holds a unique position in this emerging architecture. It connects two critical links: the transport corridor (the land bridge between Russia and the Indian Ocean) and the financial bridge (a key participant piloting BRICS Bridge). Without Iran, the INSTC becomes a route with a massive gap, and BRICS Bridge loses one of its crucial beta testers.

Washington understands this perfectly. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently publicly admitted that his department deliberately created a dollar shortage in Iran to trigger bank failures, the collapse of the rial, and mass protests. "At a speech before the Economic Club of New York in March, I laid out this strategy. It led to a rapid and, I would say, dramatic denouement in December," the minister cynically reported.

Behind this lies not just a desire for regime change in Tehran. It is an attempt to decapitate the emerging non-dollar system by destroying its key node. Donald Trump has already instructed the Pentagon to prepare "quick and decisive options for attacking Iran" to avoid a protracted conflict.

Obstacles That Won't Stop the Process

Yes, both initiatives face challenges. Iran's infrastructure requires colossal investment: the construction of the Rasht-Astara railway (just 162 km) is facing delays. Russian ports on the Caspian Sea are not ready for large-tonnage vessels due to shallow water – actual depths are 4.5 meters against the required 6-7 meters. Participants in BRICS Bridge fear secondary US sanctions, and Russia has already encountered a currency liquidity imbalance, accumulating "unusable Indian rupees" from oil sales.

But these "teething problems" are temporary. The agreement on Rasht-Astara is expected to be signed by April 1st. The Volga-Caspian Canal is being gradually deepened. And the rupee problem can be solved by expanding the range of reciprocal goods supplied.

Forecast: Trump Will Strike

Russian experts warn that any large-scale implementation of a new international payment system will face "enormous Western pressure, linked to the reluctance to lose effective economic tools for political blackmail."

Iran has already promised to respond to any attack with a "shocking, tough, and very strong blow," warning that a war would not remain local but would take on a regional scale. Russia, through its UN representative Vasily Nebenzya, has called military solutions regarding Iran "unacceptable and dangerous for the entire Middle East."