Iran faces repercussions after shooting down a passenger plane

Unrest in Iran; Taiwan election implications for US-China in 2020 | World in :60 | GZERO Media

Ian Bremmer joins us from Ethiopia to help us make sense of global political tensions and their origins.

What repercussions will Iran face in the aftermath of shooting down a Ukrainian passenger plane?

Well, big repercussions internationally because the Europeans, the Canadians, plenty met. They lied about it before they finally said, OK. Tried to cover it up. And that means it's going to be much tougher to keep them onside in terms of this Iranian nuclear deal that the Iranians themselves are increasingly pulling away from. Also, big demonstrations on the ground in Iran. That's bad for the Iranians, of course, the worst week they've had in decades.

Where does this leave US-Iran tensions?

Well, I mean, pretty bad in the sense that Trump is now not just talking about no nukes. He's also saying, don't you dare abuse your people, don't go after them. So, is Trump saying that there's going to be hell to pay or further sanctions for repression? I mean, right now, the isolation of the Iranian regime has gone way the heck up. They're in trouble. They're actually in trouble right now.

How will China respond to Taiwan's re-election of anti-unification leader Tsai Ing-wen?

Well, this shows you that US-China relations are going to get worse. Xi Jinping feels like he's in a bit of a box on this after Hong Kong and the repression there. That's why Tsai Ing-wen, the nationalist did so well there. But after this deal is signed between the US and China this week on trade, everything else going in a bad direction: Taiwan, Hong Kong, intellectual property, Uighurs. And watch what happens with the extradition case of the daughter of the Huawei founder in Canada this month.

More from GZERO Media

Syrian forces head to Latakia after fighters linked to Syria's ousted leader Bashar Assad mounted a deadly attack on government forces on Thursday, March 6, 2025.

REUTERS/Mahmoud Hassano

Nearly 50 people were killed on Thursday in the deadliest clashes Syria has seen since the overthrow of Bashar Assad. Pro-Assad militants attacked security checkpoints around the western coastal town of Jableh, a stronghold of the former regime.

The Liberian-flagged tanker Ice Energy, chartered by the US government, takes Iranian oil from Iranian-flagged Lana (formerly Pegas) as part of a civil forfeiture action off the shore of Karystos, on the Island of Evia, Greece, in May 2022.
REUTERS/Costas Baltas/File Photo

The Trump administration is reportedly considering a strategy to disrupt Iran’s oil exports by stopping and inspecting Iranian oil tankers at sea. The US would use the Proliferation Security Initiative, established in 2003 to prevent the trafficking of weapons of mass destruction, as a legal justification for the inspections.

Donald Trump issues a proclamation from the Oval Office
REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

US presidents don’t typically talk to organizations the US government has labeled terrorist groups, but Donald Trump is not a typical US president.

President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the US Capitol on March 4, 2025.

Win McNamee/Pool via REUTERS

You didn’t need to sit through all 99 minutes of Trump’s peroration to know that he gave himself an A++ on his first six weeks in office, writes GZERO Publisher Evan Solomon. But if Trump gets to grade himself, maybe it’s time for a more objective report card — one that looks at two criteria: Trump as a dealmaker and Trump as a manager.

The Energy Security Hub at the 2025 Munich Security Conference featured in-depth discussions on energy innovation, security, and market viability. Fatih Birol, IEA executive director, discussed growing global energy demand, especially the rapid rise in electricity outpacing overall growth. He noted electricity demand is projected to increase six times faster than total energy in 10 years, underscoring the need for electrification and grid expansion. As energy systems become decentralized and digitalized, the CEO of E.ON, Leonhard Birnbaum, said: “You’re either fully digitized – or you’re done.” Key takeaways: Energy security requires developing and securing electricity grids Technological openness is a unifying element for getting to net zero Bridge the “Valley of Death” to scale markets New global partnerships will help Europe stay competitive Public acceptance will strengthen democracy You can read the full Executive Summary from the BMW Foundation here.

a crowd of people outside of a white building

In a 5-4 split decision, the US Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered the Trump administration to disburse nearly $2 billion in foreign aid funds for work completed by contractors and grant recipients under the US Agency for International Development and the State Department. Does this tell us much about how the top court will handle future Trump-related cases?