Iran losing friends due to maximalist posturing: Report
New Delhi, May 20
While diplomacy could have reduced tensions in the Persian Gulf, Iran has chosen the path of "maximalist posturing" to choke the Gulf of Hormuz, resulting in the disruption of supply chains which have caused fuel, fertiliser and food prices to soar, leading to immense economic hardship in the developing countries, according to an article in International Business Times.
During ceasefire discussions with the United States and other mediators, Iran reportedly attached multiple conditions that made meaningful progress nearly impossible.
"Instead of using diplomacy to calm already volatile markets, Tehran doubled down on confrontation. Even during recent discussions within the BRICS framework, where many developing nations were hoping for stability and economic cooperation, Iran continued projecting defiance rather than flexibility," states the article authored by Shujaat Ali Quadri.
It also highlights that Iran is making a strategic miscalculation with its extreme posturing to hold the world economy to ransom. By continuously projecting unpredictability, Iran risks alienating even those countries that traditionally avoided taking sides against it.
"Nations in Asia and the Global South want stable energy supplies, not ideological standoffs in shipping lanes. They may sympathise with Iran's grievances, but they cannot support actions that directly damage their own economies. A nation has every right to defend its sovereignty. But there is a difference between defending national interests and holding the world economy hostage," the article observes.
The irony is that many developing countries that maintained balanced relations with Iran are now being punished by Tehran's brinkmanship.
Iran's repeated hints about imposing tolls on vessels crossing the Strait of Hormuz are especially alarming. International maritime law does not permit any single country to arbitrarily weaponise one of the world's most critical trade corridors.
Iran's defenders often argue that Western sanctions and military pressure pushed Tehran into a corner. The answer to economic isolation cannot be economic blackmail, the article points out.
What is equally troubling is the mixed messaging from Iran itself. On one hand, Iranian officials speak of regional stability and cooperation. On the other, state-linked rhetoric repeatedly invokes the possibility of disruption in Hormuz whenever tensions escalate.
While the world does not expect Iran to surrender its national interests, it does expect Iran to act like a responsible stakeholder in the international system. Closing vital trade routes, threatening shipping access and leveraging global energy dependence as a political tool is not resistance. It is recklessness, the article added.
— IANS
Reader Comments
I lived in India for a few years and I can tell you, when fuel prices spike there, it's not just an inconvenience—it's a crisis for millions of families. Iran's brinkmanship is hitting the poorest the hardest. This is not how you win friends.
Iran's grievances with the West are legitimate, but threatening the Strait of Hormuz is like cutting your nose to spite your face. India imports a lot of oil, and we're already struggling with inflation. Time for Tehran to act like a mature state, not a cornered cat. 😤
The article's point about 'maximalist posturing' is spot on. Iran could have used its position in BRICS to build bridges with India and others, but instead they're alienating everyone. Even Russia and China must be getting frustrated with this unpredictability.
Let's be fair: Western sanctions have pushed Iran into a corner. But two wrongs don't make a right. Using the Strait of Hormuz as a bargaining chip hurts innocent people in countries that have nothing to do with the US-Iran rivalry. 😔
India has always maintained a balanced relationship with Iran, but this kind of behaviour makes it hard to justify continued engagement. If Iran wants respect, it needs to show it can be a reliable partner, not a loose cannon in global trade.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.