Bridgewater founder Ray Dalio said U.S. pressure on countries to back sanctions on Iran has become a key test of great-power competition, as Washington seeks support for a plan aimed at securing shipping through the Strait of Hormuz by economically isolating Iran. Dalio said countries are being forced to quickly decide whether to join the effort. He wrote that China and Pakistan have clearly declined to cooperate, while the UAE has expressed support. At the same time, CIA Director John Ratcliffe made a sudden visit to Moscow to discuss Ukraine- and Iran-related arrangements and assess whether Russia is willing to pursue a broader deal covering both issues. Dalio compared the moment to Britain’s test during the Suez Canal crisis, describing the situation as a classic great-power cycle confrontation centered on shifts in currency, domestic politics, geopolitics, and technological strength.