The Iran War: Enter Sting Interceptors

Peter Zeihan 6 min

Preserving global infrastructure now runs through Kiev, as Gulf states realize the need for Ukrainian tech. The best chance for preserving infrastructure runs through Kiev, and Gulf states will likely invest immense cash there.

  • Donald Trump
  • Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Chapters

  1. 0:00

    Depleted Interceptors and Escalating Threats

    Kuwait and UAE are nearly out of interceptors, leading to warnings about destroying military facilities and ports. Israel is also running out of interceptors, while the US lacks replacement stock to help any country.

  2. 1:16

    Trump's Demand for Warships and Its Flaws

    The Trump administration demands warships from other nations, but Japan lacks range and Korea cannot reach.

  3. 2:06

    Russian Assistance to Iran via Ukraine

    Ukrainian President Zelensky provides proof that Russia assists Iran with intel programming and hardware. Arab states will likely invest immense cash in Ukraine to build counter-drone weaponry and interceptors.

  4. 3:21

    Cost Efficiency of Ukrainian Sting Interceptors

    The Sting interceptor costs between $1,000 and $3,000, compared to millions for US PAC-3 interceptors. Iranians could make 700 Shaheds in a week, while the US only makes about 700 PAC-3s in a year. Preserving global infrastructure now runs through Kiev, as Gulf states realize the need for Ukrainian tech.

Key points

  • 0:00

    Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates are almost entirely out of interceptors.

  • 0:00

    Iranians warn citizens near military facilities to move due to impending destruction.

  • 0:00

    Israel is almost completely out of interceptors as well.

  • 0:00

    The United States does not have a replacement stock to help any country.

  • 0:00

    Donald Trump demands other countries start sending warships to attack Iran.

  • 1:16

    Koreans do not have the range to effectively assist in the conflict.

  • 1:16

    Japan lacks the military capacity and time to send a meaningful contingent quickly.

  • 2:06

    Ukrainian President Zelensky provides proof of Russian assistance to Iran via intel and hardware.

  • 2:06

    Gulf states will likely invest immense cash in Ukraine to build counter-drone weaponry.

  • 3:21

    The Sting interceptor costs between $1,000 and $3,000 each.

  • 3:21

    The United States can only make about 700 PAC-3s in a year.

Who and where

People · 2

  • Drawing of Donald Trump

    Donald Trump 3

    President of the United States (2017–2021; since 2025)

    Photo 1

  • Drawing of Volodymyr Zelenskyy

    Volodymyr Zelenskyy 1

    President of Ukraine since 2019

    Photo 2

1. Photo: Daniel Torok, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons · Wikidata · redrawn in our house style (Donald Trump)

2. Photo: Press Service of the President of Ukraine, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons · Wikidata · redrawn in our house style (Volodymyr Zelenskyy)

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