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A defiant Tehran has spelt out its terms for bringing the war to an end, saying it wants foolproof guarantees that it won’t be a victim of aggression once again. President Masoud Pezeshkian, in a rejoinder to calls for de-escalation, demanded of the international community to “recognise Iran’s legitimate rights, payment of reparations, and guarantees against future aggression”.
In toto these are lawful prerequisites from any sovereign state, and the Islamic Republic is well within its rights to claim such an indemnity. The million-dollar question is whether the US-Israel duo is listening or not, as they went over the brink to attack Iran on a presumptive note that it is at the threshold of going nuclear. It reminds one of the US invading Iraq on the false pretense of the Arab state possessing weapons of mass destruction.
The war, nonetheless, in its 14th day is a tale of extensive collateral damages and unending mutually assured annihilation. Israel as well as the US bases in the Middle East are on the receiving end to the surprise of the pundits of doom who thought that the Islamic Republic will collapse like a house of cards. The energy shock, moreover, is creating ripples forcing the IEA to release 400 million barrels of oil, as more than six oil tankers came under fire in the Strait of Hormuz.
The worst to be get affected are Gulf economies that have literally come down on their knees. An estimate says the UAE and Qatar are losing a staggering $600 million a day as tourism and aviation have come to a standstill. Likewise, Tehran’s warning to attack financial institutions, especially American banks in the region, as well as hi-tech giants in retaliation has compounded the hallmarks of warfare.
The need of the hour is to resort to diplomacy. However, the resolution passed by the UNSC condemning Iran’s attacks on the GCC states is one-sided and does no justice given the evolving ground realities of the day. The aggression on Iran too deserves to be condemned if fair play has to set in for a broader rapprochement on the war path.
