What Are the Hidden Costs of the War with Iran?

What Are the Hidden Costs of the War with Iran?

From State of Play by Center for Strategic and International Studies

March 25, 2026 · 49 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the hidden costs of the war with Iran, focusing on its implications for food and economic security.

Beyond increasing gas prices, the war with Iran has had significant ripple effects for food security, economic security, and humanitarian crises in the Middle East and beyond. Emily Harding, Caitlin Welsh, and Mona Yacoubian joined Will to discuss the short- and long-term implications of the war that are getting less attention, and what can be done to mitigate their worst effects. Emily Harding, "Data Is Now the Front Line of Warfare," CSIS, March 19, 2026 David Michel, "Could Iran Disrupt the Gulf Countries’ Desalinated Water Supplies?" CSIS, March 19, 2026. Mona Yacoubian, "Iran’s War Strategy: Don’t Calibrate—Escalate," CSIS, March 16, 2026. Emma Curtis, Joely Virzi, and Caitlin Welsh, "Chokepoint: How the War with Iran Threatens Global Food Security," CSIS, March 11, 2026.

People in this episode

Host: Will

Guests: Emily Harding, Caitlin Welsh, Mona Yacoubian

Topics covered

  • war with Iran
  • food security
  • economic security
  • humanitarian crises
  • Middle East

Keywords

  • Iran
  • war
  • food security
  • economic security
  • humanitarian crises
  • Middle East

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Center for Strategic and International Studies

Books & works: Data Is Now the Front Line of Warfare, Could Iran Disrupt the Gulf Countries’ Desalinated Water Supplies?, Iran’s War Strategy: Don’t Calibrate—Escalate, Chokepoint: How the War with Iran Threatens Global Food Security

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