Renowned investor and author Robert has Kiyosaki issued a stark warning on Iran’s decision to accept Chinese Yuan for oil payments, including conditioning passage through the critical Strait of Hormuz.
According to Kiyosaki via a post on X, the move away from the “petrodollar” system, where global oil transactions are largely conducted in U.S. dollars, could weaken global demand for the American currency over time. He further stressed that the development could have long-term implications for inflation, global trade, and the purchasing power of the U.S. dollar.
He wrote,
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“WORSE THAN WAR in IRAN Death of the US Dollar? Iran began accepting payment for oil in Chinese Yuan. What does that mean to you and your future and the future of the US dollar? I strongly encourage you to invest about and hour in your financial education. I strongly suggest you tune into Ray Dalio’s podcast “Iran just killed the petro dollar.”
“This is the biggest news in world financial history and no one is explaing it save for Ray Dalio. Ray keeps it simple and offers concrete actions almost anyone can take to not become a victim of this massive change and crisis in money. Please do not hesitate to tune into the wisdom Ray Dalio offers, wisdom very few will tune into. Remember your best investment is your investment into your financial education….education our schools will never cover.”
As a strong advocate for assets such as gold, silver, real estate, and digital assets like Bitcoin, which he frequently describes as hedges against inflation and currency devaluation, Kiyosaki post suggests that people should protect themselves by investing in these assets to avoid falling victim to dollar crash.
While the U.S. dollar remains the world’s leading reserve currency, he believes the growing trend of countries reducing reliance on the dollar could reshape the future of global finance in the years ahead.
What Iran Is Doing
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most vital energy chokepoints, through which roughly 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas passes. Amid escalating tensions in 2026, Iran has reportedly begun allowing limited tanker passage only if oil transactions are settled in Chinese Yuan rather than US dollars.
This builds on years of bilateral trade. Iran has sold most of its oil to China in Yuan since at least 2012 due to Western sanctions. The new escalation ties transit fees and oil cargo payments directly to the Yuan, effectively creating a “toll booth” that favors non-dollar trade.
China, which buys over 80% of Iran’s oil exports, stands to gain significantly as this strengthens the Yuan’s role in global energy markets and bypasses the US-dominated financial system.
The Petrodollar System Under Threat
Since the 1970s, the petrodollar system has been a cornerstone of US economic power. Major oil producers price and settle oil in US dollars, creating constant global demand for the currency. Oil-exporting nations recycle these “petrodollars” into US Treasuries and other dollar assets, helping finance US deficits and keeping borrowing costs low.
Iran’s move, combined with broader de-dollarization trends (such as BRICS nations exploring alternatives), challenges this architecture. While the US dollar still accounts for around 57-58% of global reserves, its share has been declining gradually. Analysts note that shifts like this could accelerate if more countries follow suit.
Kiyosaki argues this financial shift could have a more long-term impact than military conflict, potentially leading to higher inflation, a weaker dollar, rising import costs, and pressure on US debt markets.
However, many observers note that the dollar’s dominance won’t disappear overnight. The US financial markets remain the deepest and most liquid in the world, and full convertibility issues limit the Yuan’s global reach.
Outlook
Robert Kiyosaki recent warning echoes that philosophy in his book Rich Dad Poor Dad, which says in times of massive change, those who are financially literate will thrive while others suffer.
The situation around Iran and the Strait of Hormuz remains fluid. Whether this marks the beginning of the end for petrodollar dominance or another chapter in a slow transition is still unfolding.