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God is said to be on the side of the big battalions, but it seems that the Almighty is unable to decide in the matter of the war in Iran. For the aggressors and flagrant violators of international law and the UN Charter – the United States and Israel –  acting in tandem, a quick and easy victory has proved elusive.

The brazen actions of these irresponsible states have led the world into a military and financial quagmire whose effects could potentially rival the negative consequences of the Second World War.

The US on its own, and certainly in tandem with wholly militarised Israel, is militarily the heavier side by a long chalk, and hence the calculation, according to the US media, was that one week was all it would take. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, it appears, was able to easily convince US President Donald Trump of this, although the US military leadership is said to have been sceptical.

And the fighting is now past one month old and far from abating. The shimmering goal of one week looks a frightful absurdity today in light of Iran’s unsuspected resilience and powers of retaliation.

The US is now reportedly bringing in thousands of specialised infantry for a possible ground assault, probably with the help of a Gulf state as Iran suspects, and is gathering more military assets as well around the region. The aim is to capture the Strait of Hormuz – the very narrow strip of water through which about a quarter of the world’s maritime oil and gas trade is carried – from Iran. The upper region of the strait is in Iran’s territorial waters.

Incessant Israeli attacks on civilian life in Iran and on its nuclear, energy, and industrial infrastructure, are the order of the day. But Iran’s retaliation – from the start only retaliation, no initiation of hostilities – has not ceased either. An Iranian missile also hit Dimona in southern Israel which houses the Zionist state’s nuclear facilities. The smallest miscalculation on any side can bring about the unthinkable.

Also read: In Inserting Itself into the West Asia Crisis, Pakistan’s Diplomacy Has Shown Chutzpah

Iran’s determination, its military prowess, its political capacities, and its national will, have surprised its enemies and the world, earning grudging admiration even from US quarters, even if they hate Iran’s guts. According to a New York Times front page report of March 29, this has turned out to be “a deeply unpopular” war.

India too appears to have mellowed its stance in light of the ground reality. From giving every impression of being with the aggressors initially, in a recent phone conversation with Trump, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has at last spoken of the value of diplomacy. It’s obvious he has now had to improvise since many........

© The Wire