How US Leaders’ Attempts To Dominate The World Are Weakening One Of Our Greatest Advantages
World
How US Leaders’ Attempts To Dominate The World Are Weakening One Of Our Greatest Advantages
(Photo by Kenny HOLSTON / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)
Spencer Lombardo
Contributor
June 25, 2026
4:34 PM ET
June 25, 2026 4:34 PM ET
Spencer Lombardo
Contributor
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Washington’s attempts to dominate global finance through tight sanctions could be strengthening America’s adversaries.
Iran has been avoiding U.S. sanctions by using Chinese yuan to sell its oil, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported Tuesday. This avenue opened amid years of American leaders making it less desirable for China, Iran, and Russia to use the U.S. dollar. (RELATED: Trump Temporarily Lifts Sanctions On Iranian Oil After Pledge To Allow Nuclear Inspectors Into The Country)
Among the White House’s bargaining chips in the ongoing Iran nuclear deal talks is relief from U.S. sanctions, which could unfreeze some of the approximately $100 billion in frozen Iranian assets, according to WSJ. However, the U.S. Treasury reportedly said most of Iran’s $43 billion in oil revenue from 2024 were paid for in yuan.
Russia also increased yuan use amid U.S. sanctions spurred by the Russo-Ukrainian War, according to WSJ. Over 90% of trade between Russia and China is now conducted through yuan and Russian rubles, according to Russian officials, up from the pre-war 2%.
A gas flare on an oil production platform in the Soroush oil fields is seen alongside an Iranian flag in the Persian Gulf, Iran, July 25, 2005. REUTERS/Raheb Homavandi – RC170D19B320
Republican Sens. Chuck Grassley of Iowa and John Cornyn of Texas introduced a bill to give stolen Russian assets to Ukraine.
These actions come as Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and six other nations comprise the BRICS coalition to create alternatives to dollar-based financial systems.
“[Yuan-based systems] make it easier to work around U.S. sanctions,” former International Monetary Fund staffer Josh Lipsky said, WSJ reported. “They cloud the U.S. intelligence community’s ability to see financial flows.”
Lipsky is now the Atlantic Council’s vice president and chair of international economics.
In addition to yuan, ships paid Iran cryptocurrency for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, the WSJ reported in April.
The U.S. seized approximately $1 billion total in Iranian crypto assets since the White House launched Operation Economic Fury in April to counter Iran’s sanction evasion systems, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced May 29.
“[The U.S. Department of Treasury] has successfully targeted Iran’s international shadow banking infrastructure, exploitation of crypto, shadow fleet, weapons procurement networks, funding for its terrorist proxies in the region, and independent ‘teapot’ refineries that support Iran’s oil trade,” a U.S. Treasury official told the Daily Caller News Foundation. “These actions have disrupted tens of billions of dollars in revenue that would otherwise be used to fund terrorism.”
“The U.S. dollar is the strongest currency in the world. Under President Trump’s leadership, the United States will continue to leverage its economic strength to protect American interests and hold sanctions violators accountable,” the official added.
Iran will likely start using U.S. dollars again if the negotiations succeed, according to Bessent.
“[Venezuela was] not allowed to translate or to transact in dollars. And now … the dollar is going to be the centerpiece of their trade. They were selling discounted oil to China and not getting dollars,” the treasury secretary told CNBC in a Wednesday interview. “We’re seeing in the Iranian negotiations, the Iranians will be invoicing in dollars. So, everything we are doing is pushing the dollar back. It’s never left as the centerpiece for the global currency system, but we’re reinforcing it.”
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
