Iran War: 'This Vortex Will Engulf Us,' Warns Former Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao

• Former Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao warns that the Iran war's consequences, including the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, will directly impact India.
• Rao states that the assassination of a leader, reframed as liberation, normalizes violence and erodes international norms, leading to a 'widening gyre' that affects global order.
• India faces direct impacts: disruption of crude oil supply via the Strait of Hormuz, safety concerns for millions of Indian expatriates in the Gulf, and uncertainty for investments like Chabahar Port.
• Fluctuations in global crude oil prices due to the conflict will lead to increased inflation in India, posing a significant concern for the government.
• Rao emphasizes that India's strategic autonomy means securing national interests and promoting moderation, sovereignty, and maritime security, not detachment, in a post-unipolar world.