The conflict in West Asia is escalating quickly as Iran has fired more than a dozen rockets at two Iraqi military bases hosting US troops.

What does this mean for India and the world? KC Singh, former Indian ambassador to the UAE and Iran thinks the latest attack by Iran on US bases is largely symbolic.

“Looking at the outpouring of anger and the reaction of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who said Tehran would take direct and proportionate action, they could not be seen sitting and waiting for one of their surrogates to act. But it is interesting that they have chosen three bases and which are isolated and large, and away from the population areas, and not having many Americans there,” he added.

Singh believes that any escalation might work against Donald Trump during the November elections. “The Democrats are criticising it, they are not buying the argument that there was any imminent danger to US assets. Secondly, there is impeachment. The election is in November, it is too far away and if he is escalating for November elections, certainly the Iranians can increase the cost to the US president and that would not be helpful in the election,” he added.

Speaking about how powerful would be Europe and the rest of the world as a restraining force, he said: “The US is no longer dependent on Gulf oil and gas. Ironically, if the oil prices go up, the US benefits from it because they are a net exporter of oil now. So, it is a reverse factor now that the increase in oil prices is actually benefitting the US, it is not harming Americans. So, that is no longer a restraining factor. However, Europe is an important factor. They want the nuclear deal with Iran not to collapse, they want stability in the region, and so their voice would count.”

First Published:Jan 8, 2020 2:08 PM IST