Former Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao Warns India: Stay Away From Iran Crisis

• Former Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao advises India to adopt a measured approach and maintain distance from the Iran crisis, stating "If Iran burns, the flames will reach us too."
• Rao emphasizes that external actors cannot control the situation in Iran, and intervention could lead to trouble for India.
• She stresses the paramount importance of protecting Indian citizens in Iran and the surrounding region, urging embassies to prepare evacuation plans (Plan B and C).
• India should prepare for all scenarios, including civil war or fragmentation, and maintain contact with all factions in Iran for safe evacuation.
• Rao identifies four major threats: rising crude oil prices, disruption of trade routes via the Strait of Hormuz, safety of Indians in the Gulf, and increased terrorism/drug trafficking in South Asia.

Why It Matters: India must prioritize citizen safety and adopt a cautious, non-interventionist stance on the volatile Iran situation.