Dr I John Mohan Razu
Professor of Social Ethics
A war that America and Israel waged against Iran 100-days ago based on the assumption that their military and technological power could decimate Iran in such ways forcing Iran to come to its knees.
Again and again, American President Trump kept saying that the Persian civilisation would be obliterated and even wiped out by America. Then on he has been saying that the final deal would be anytime and then kept on repeating that the war would end at any time. He said on several occasion a peace deal is in the offing any time and is close to an agreement, etc, etc.
100-days passed by, there is no ceasefire and the war is not yet over. America is caught in the limbo. Trump is trying hard to bring this war to an end, but not happening. Trump is now caught between the American people, law makers of America, and his political destiny for another 2-years or so. He is caught in the web of Iranians who learnt that the American deceptive moves from experience. They have learnt in the hard way over the years; and now strategically cleverer and diplomatically shrewd. Games and cards that Trump uses and the baits offered have been deflected back to the American administration. Iran is determined and clear in its war objectives and it hardly to predict when the war would come to an end.
Because of the war, the world has entered into a new situation. Petrol if the war continues for another few weeks would by all means touch $200 per gallon. America has more oil in its reserves and manages by conquering or intimating oil-rich countries to supply oil or taking control of oil-rich countries by offering security in return for military and naval bases. America bombards intensely Iran and Iran attacks American naval ships and its proxies. The intensity and gravity of attacks goes on and on in the last 100-days.
The impact of the war is so massive especially to those living in Global South. The rise of prices and gas and petrol has directly and indirectly affected the prices of all the commodities especially consumer products. Natural gas has hiked up particularly the prices of commercial gas. As a result, millions of small vendors have lost their businesses. By closing down their petty business pushed them to poverty levels. Another affected area is fertilisers for agriculture.
Fertilizers are concomitant product which is direly needed for agriculture. The commercial vessels that carry those products are stranded for weeks and months near the Strait of Hormuz, as United States and Iran have failed to working out a definitive agreement. Blockade of Hormuz has primarily affected the Global South. Rising inflation has pushed millions to abject poverty in the countries of the Global South. Tourism and other small-scale industries have hugely been affected. Energy is the most important component for any production.
Market is increasingly becoming anxious. How many times American President can invoke ‘we are close to come to an agreement’, so that he could play with the market. Market plays on logic of ‘supply and demand’ dynamic. The entire world is caught up with less supply and more demand. If there are less supply and more demand, it would certainly lead to inflation and increase in the consumer items. As I am writing this article, Donald Trump says Iran war deal close, as Strait of Hormuz tensions linger.
Donald Trump somehow wants to end this war by claiming victory. While on the other, Iran does not want Trump to claim victory. As the elections for primaries are due during the end of this year, Trump wants to win by showcasing Iran war and how he managed to end the war to victory. He thinks that the American people do not know what is happening between America and Iran. People across the world have come to know the war games that these countries play, especially America and Israel are playing with the rest of the world.
This war has completely exposed both Israel and America. America and Israel thought that they could subdue Iran in no time or in a couple of days. While on other, Iran has managed to counter the attacks and surpassed 100-days signalling to the world at large with a clear reminder that, despite not having sophisticated weaponries, technological superiority, and many proxies in that region, it can thwart the aggression. Iran showed its guts and resolve to defy the powerful and mightiest powers for more 100-days, and still war is on. Iran in its long civilisational trajectory has seen the ups and downs of the global politics for centuries.
