The war involving the United States, Israel and Iran has entered a dangerous phase where escalation seems to have overtaken diplomacy and the world appears to be sleepwalking towards a catastrophe whose consequences could stretch far beyond West Asia. What began with coordinated US-Israeli strikes on Iranian military and nuclear-linked facilities on February 28 has now evolved into a widening regional conflict marked by missile attacks, energy disruptions and growing civilian suffering.

The latest developments underline just how volatile the situation has become. Iranian missile strikes have hit areas near sensitive Israeli installations including its nuclear site Dimona after Israel and the US struck Iran’s nuclear Natanz nuclear site, Israeli and American forces continue to target Iranian infrastructure and military assets. The closure or disruption of the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil passes, has pushed energy prices upward and triggered global economic anxiety. Meanwhile, threats of further escalation, including ultimatums and retaliatory warnings, suggest the conflict risks spiralling into a prolonged war with unpredictable consequences.

Beyond the immediate theatre of conflict, the ripple effects are already visible, from rising fuel prices in distant economies to heightened security fears across the Gulf region. What makes this conflict particularly alarming is not just its increasing intensity but the absence of a credible diplomatic off-ramp. Military logic now seems to dominate political thinking on all sides. Yet history repeatedly shows that wars driven by deterrence and retaliation rarely produce lasting security; they only deepen mistrust and plant the seeds of future conflicts.

At such a moment, the silence or limited engagement of major global powers outside the Western alliance is striking. Major powers such as China, and Russia, along with groupings like BRICS, cannot remain passive observers. These nations have both the geopolitical weight and the diplomatic channels to push for de-escalation. Their collective voice could help revive negotiations, press for ceasefires, and create space for back-channel diplomacy.

India, with its long-standing ties across the region is uniquely placed to advocate restraint. If these powers act in concert, they could help create a framework for dialogue where none currently exists. The world has seen too many wars that began with limited objectives but ended in uncontrollable destruction. The present conflict risks becoming another such tragedy unless cooler heads prevail. The lesson of the 21st century should have been clear: no nation can bomb its way to permanent security in an interconnected world.

© Greater Kashmir