West Asia in turmoil: India’s tightrope walk gets tougher

THE killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei by the US and Israel has plunged West Asia into a crisis with global ramifications. The large-scale strikes that targeted Iran’s leadership and strategic infrastructure are an alarming escalation by Western powers against Tehran. The attacks also killed senior Iranian military officers and damaged key installations. Retaliatory attacks have been reported across the Gulf, raising fears of prolonged turmoil.

Global reactions reflect deep anxiety amid disrupted oil supplies and heightened security risks. For the region — and the world — this is not simply another flare-up but a crisis with a geopolitical and economic fallout that could reshape alliances and redefine the global strategic balance. Much depends on how soon — or whether — the Iranian regime can recover from this onslaught. US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu won’t find it easy to go the whole hog if the regime regroups strongly and the conflict spreads.

The US-Israel military operation has triggered protests not only in Iran but also in countries such as Iraq, India and Pakistan. The strikes have come close on the heels of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel, where he reinforced bilateral ties and strategic cooperation. India’s good relations with Iran have made the tightrope walk even more difficult for Delhi. The Opposition has questioned the timing of the Israel trip, accusing the government of moral failure. India’s foreign policy is under fire for closely aligning with the US and Israel at the expense of regional stability. Delhi’s much-touted strategic autonomy will be put to the test. The challenge is to maintain diverse partnerships, even as global power dynamics shift in an increasingly volatile region.