It is a grave mistake to forget that, in theory, every war is a continuation of politics by other means. The current imperialist war is a continuation of the imperialist policies of two major blocs of states, and these policies have been created and fueled by the entire complex of imperialist-era relations.[1]
These words, spoken by Lenin in 1916, seem to describe the Iran-U.S./Israel war that has been unfolding right before our eyes for over a month now.
War is an inevitable consequence of the capitalist system. In the early days of capitalism, competition between companies took place within the boundaries of nation-states or national markets. However, in subsequent years, the growth and globalization of companies led to the globalization of competition as well. As companies grew, some went out of business, while others were swallowed up by larger corporations. As similar competition began to play out among nation-states, wars also began to emerge.
In this sense, companies cannot sustain global competition on their own. To sustain this competition, they require a power that possesses central authority, diplomatic tools, and armed forces—and the only institutions that possess these are states; thus, companies sustain this competition through states. This process leads to increasingly large companies becoming intertwined with states and economic competition increasingly merging with geopolitical competition. The result of this competition is the savagery known as war.
The most classic and ancient cause of wars is the desire of developed capitalist countries to exploit the surface and underground resources of underdeveloped countries. This oldest cause of war remains valid to this day. The presence of the United States in the Gulf Region, the existence of its military bases, and its economic and political ties with Gulf countries are all driven by the presence of oil reserves in this region.
Another cause of wars is the search for markets beyond national borders, driven by declining profits and productivity in goods produced within those borders. This search for markets can occur in both developing and developed countries. The United States’ establishment of bases in Gulf countries and the sale of defense industry products constitute this search for markets.
Similarly, in situations such as the intensification of the capital accumulation process, overproduction, and excess supply, companies and states require the export of capital and goods beyond national borders. This export of capital and goods, which does not occur under normal economic conditions, can lead to wars. The imperialist U.S. economy, facing declining growth rates, rising inflation, and increasing unemployment, has sought to revive its economy and boost growth rates by exporting and imposing arms and defense industry products on Gulf countries, and, moreover, has resorted to using war to liquidate these products that have accumulated in stockpiles.
War does not always manifest itself in the same way. It can sometimes be regional in scope and at other times global, but at its core lie capitalist competition, the export of capital and commodities, the pursuit of increased profits, and the exploitation of resources.
The justifications for war that we have listed today continue to play out among many countries, but the fundamental rivalry lies between the global hegemon, the United States, and its greatest rival, China. In this regard, examining the current state of the U.S. economy is crucial to understanding the political economy of war.
Looking at the U.S. economy, based on the 2026 nominal GDP forecast, the United States has a GDP of $32.38 trillion, while China’s stands at $20.85 trillion. The U.S. economy, which grew by 1.3% in 2024, showed a slower performance of 1.1% in 2025. High interest rates and a slowdown in household spending are affecting the growth rate. The U.S. national debt has reached historic highs, nearing the $39 trillion mark, posing a long-term risk to economic stability.
In summary, while the U.S. economy is fundamentally strong, rising debt and managing inflation are among the key challenges for 2026.
While growth rates in the U.S. are hovering around 2%, China continues to grow at a rate of 5–6% and is projected to surpass the U.S. in 20-year forecasts.
This economic situation is the main reason why the U.S. is attacking Iran!
-The United States and U.S.-owned companies have launched an offensive against Iran with the aim of sidelining China and its companies in global competition and gaining control over profitable sectors and new markets.
-The U.S. sought to gain control of global oil trade by seizing Iran and the Strait of Hormuz.
-It attacked Iran to break the economic stagnation, reduce the excessive buildup in the arms and defense industries, and revive its economy.
-They launched an attack to halt the growth of China’s expanding economy, to end Iran’s role as a supplier of oil and natural gas to China, and to deal a blow to the Chinese economy; they attacked in order to gain control of Iranian and Gulf oil.
Trump’s direct statement on this matter is as follows: “To be honest, what I want most is to take Iran’s oil, but some idiots in the U.S. are asking, ‘Why are you doing this?’ But they’re just idiots. Maybe we’ll take Hark Island, maybe we won’t. We have plenty of options. Plus, this means we’ll have to stay there for a while. I don’t think they have any defenses there (on Hark Island). We could take it very easily..”[2]
The underlying motives behind the U.S.-Israel bloc’s attack on Iran are not the rhetoric Trump has occasionally voiced—such as regime change in Iran, eliminating Iran’s uranium production capacity, or bringing democracy to the Iranian people. The real aim is to bring the Gulf region under control driven by imperialist ambitions, seize control of oil reserves, hinder China’s development in global competition, prevent the economic stagnation in the U.S., and reduce the excessive surplus in the arms and defense industry.
- V.I. Lenin. Socialism and War. ↑
- Trump: What I want most is Iranian oil; maybe we’ll get Kharg Island. https://www.diken.com.tr/trump-en-cok-istedigim-sey-iran-petrolu-belki-hark-adasini-aliriz/ ↑