| Summary/Abstract |
ension in and around the Persian Gulf is on the rise and any conflict involving Iran would be devastating for the region and harmful for the global economy. Economic sanctions imposed by the US on Iran have inflicted considerable damage to its economy. These sanctions came into full force in May 2019 and coincidentally, since then the region has been witnessing attacks on the energy sector through damage to maritime transportation and onshore assets. These attacks, some of which have been highly sophisticated, and the lack of effective US response has led to considerable reassessment. With the re-imposition of US sanctions, Iran is also no longer keeping its nuclear development programme on hold. While Iran may generally not confront the US directly, it may create considerable difficulties for other Gulf states. In the vitiated atmosphere that exists in the region, accidents can occur leading to the situation spiralling out of control and causing enormous harm globally. Priority should be accorded to avoiding any conflict in the Gulf. Iran can withstand the sanctions and deal with internal dissent. Nevertheless, with a view to find a way out, President Rouhani unveiled the Hormuz Peace Endeavour (HOPE) in the UN in September 2019. President Macron of France too has made considerable efforts to launch confidence-building interactions between Iran and the US. Given that peace and stability in the Gulf region are in its strategic interest, India should play a proactive role, along with other like-minded countries, to promote this.
|