New Delhi, March 6 (ANI) — Bonnie Glick, Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defence of Democracies, said the United States is prioritising the “destruction of ballistic missile capability” in Iran and seeking a definitive end to Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.
“The United States is looking at its ultimate goal, which is ensuring that Iran is never able to have a nuclear weapon, and it is the destruction of ballistic missile capability coming out of Iran,” Glick told ANI. She added that Israel and other allies are also deeply concerned about Iran’s funding of proxy groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis.
Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue 2026, Glick described current military actions as a “final response” to years of regional instability. She claimed the “Khamenei regime has been crushed” and noted subsequent leaders have been assassinated, underscoring global worries over Iran-backed proxies.
On the expected duration of military operations, Glick relayed optimism. “President Trump anticipates that this will go four to five weeks. I’m hopeful that he is correct,” she said. She emphasised close coordination between US and Israeli air forces to remove Iran’s ability to attack and pose a wider threat.
Glick also commented on a 30-day waiver allowing Indian refineries to buy Russian oil, saying the US is mindful of global economic stability despite conflicts in Iran and Europe. “The United States certainly does not have, as part of its interest, a shutdown of the global economy,” she said, stressing that key trading partners should be allowed to continue to flourish.
Responding to US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau’s remarks suggesting India may not receive the same benefits once extended to China, Glick called the two cases “apples and oranges.” She argued admitting China to the WTO was a “miscalculation” because of unfair trade practices, while describing India as “a vibrant democracy and a free market economy.” She echoed the principle that “friends should trade fairly with each other,” which underlies Landau’s comments.
Dhruva Jaishankar, Executive Director of ORF America, told ANI India’s top priority is the safety and security of its large Gulf diaspora — almost 1 crore people, comparable to Israel’s population. He said energy and commodities are the second major concern for India’s economy and that New Delhi wants the conflict to end quickly while using its diplomatic channels to stay engaged with all parties.
On US-India economic ties, Jaishankar characterised candid disagreements as part of a mature partnership. “The US is acting in the way they see their interests. India is acting in the way it sees its interests,” he said, noting such differences are often discussed privately and sometimes become public.
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