International Man: We've seen President Trump issue sharper warnings toward Iran. In your view, are US–Iran tensions headed toward open war, or is it just tough negotiating?

Doug Casey: Trump fancies himself as the world's best negotiator. But the world increasingly sees him as an unpredictable schizophrenic, unguided by reason. No one can tell what he'll do or say next. But we know that he's concentrating air and naval armadas around Iran.

Since Iran presents no risk to anyone but Israel, any US attack on Iran would be unprovoked. They've been accused of so-called terrorist actions in the past. But what have they done against the US in recent years? The answer, I think, is nothing except for name-calling—the US is "The Great Satan." Considering the country's history since the CIA overthrew its elected president in 1953 to install the Shah, it's understandable that the occasional mob chants "Death to America." US media naturally paints Iranians as lunatics who froth at the mouth…

I wish I could offer a personal assurance on that score. But, although I've been to about 160 countries, Iran isn't one of them. It's one of my great regrets that, some years ago, when I was invited to play polo in three Iranian cities with the New Zealand Ambassadors team, I had to beg off because of an injury. All I can say is that any country that maintains an active polo culture, and invites "farangs" to join them qualifies as civilized and worth knowing.