New Delhi [India], April 2 (ANI): Reacting to US President Donald Trump’s recent address on the conflict with Iran, former Ambassador to Iran Dinkar P Srivastava warned Thursday that Washington’s evolving strategy could deepen instability in West Asia and leaves little room for diplomacy.
In an interview with ANI, Srivastava said the US appears to be avoiding a full-scale ground invasion while preparing intensified aerial strikes within a self-imposed operational window of two to three weeks, signaling a limited but high-impact military approach rather than a prolonged ground war.
He noted a key gap: responsibility for securing and reopening the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz has effectively been shifted to US partners, many of whom are reluctant to engage militarily in what they consider “not their war”.
“President Trump’s address shows that a ground offensive will be avoided, but bombing will be intensified. He has also put a two- to three-week limit on the US operation. The task of opening up the Persian Gulf has been left to US allies who are reluctant to fight a war they do not see as ‘their war’,” Srivastava said.
He warned that continued US and Israeli bombing of Iran would undermine prospects for reopening maritime routes through negotiation with Tehran and would likely provoke Iranian retaliation. Both Iran and Gulf states would suffer greater damage, he said, with global economic consequences for energy-importing countries such as India.
“Continued bombing of Iran by Israel and the US will undermine any chances of opening of the Persian Gulf through negotiation with Iran. It will inevitably bring Iranian retaliation. Iran as well as Gulf countries, will suffer more damage. The oil and LNG prices will rise and shortages become more acute. India and indeed the global economy, already affected, will have to bear more pain,” he added.
Trump delivered his first major national address since hostilities began in late February, praising US forces for what he called a “decisive” blow against the Iranian regime and saying core objectives of the campaign were nearing completion. Speaking from the White House, he updated the month-long “Operation Epic Fury,” which he said targeted “the world’s number one state sponsor of terror,” claiming “swift, decisive, overwhelming victories on the battlefield.”
“Tonight, I am pleased to say that these core strategic objectives are nearing completion,” Trump said, adding that the US would continue striking Iran if a deal is not reached.
“We will continue till our objectives are achieved. We are going to hit them hard over the next two to three weeks; we will take them to stone age. Regime change has occurred; all their old leaders are gone the new group is less radical. We have our eyes on key targets; if there is no deal, we will hit their electric plants, we have so far not hit their oil but we could do that and they can’t do anything, we are unstoppable,” he said.
Trump’s remarks indicate the US campaign may be winding down, though more strikes are likely in the coming weeks. (ANI)
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