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The Hindu
20-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Israel-Iran war: Will the ceasefire hold?
The 12-day Israel-Iran war, backed by U.S. airstrikes on key Iranian nuclear sites, ended with a ceasefire—but without decisive victory. President Trump declared Iran's facilities 'obliterated,' yet U.S. and European intelligence suggested only a temporary setback. Iran had likely dispersed its enriched uranium, and experts say it could resume enrichment within months. For Israel, the war exposed its overdependence on the U.S. and its inability to dismantle Iran's nuclear programme or provoke regime change. While Washington wants to stop a nuclear Iran, it avoids deep military entanglement in West Asia, especially under domestic pressure. For Iran, the attack echoed historical betrayals like the 1953 coup, strengthening its resolve. Many now argue that only nuclear deterrence—like North Korea's—can shield Iran from foreign aggression. As Iran rebuilds its arsenal and Israel stays on high alert, the ceasefire is only a pause. The deeper conflict and its dangers remain unresolved. Presentation - Stanly Johny Camera & Editing - Shivaraj S
The Hindu
23-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
The view from India newsletter Backing the aggressor: Trump the warmonger
(This article is part of the View From India newsletter curated by The Hindu's foreign affairs experts. To get the newsletter in your inbox every Monday, subscribe here.) Israel's war on Iran began on June 13, 2025. A week later, it is as much the Unites States's war. President Donald Trump, who rose to power six months ago promising peace, is hardly a peacemaker. 'He has become a warmonger and a globalist aggressor,' as The Hindu's editorial today notes, in the wake of American B2 bombers dropping bunker-busting bombs at Fordow, Iran's most heavily fortified nuclear facility, while U.S. submarines fired Tomahawk missiles at the Natanz and Isfahan nuclear plants, even as Israel struggled to intercept Iranian ballistic missiles. While the U.S.'s actions against Iran are not surprising, given its long-persisting hostilities with Iran and its much-criticised, yet unwavering support to Israel in the bombardment of Gaza, Mr. Trump's own reckless leadership adds yet another, dangerous layer of volatility to the world that is seeing enormous turbulence and destruction. What is Israel's endgame in Iran? Our International Affairs Editor Stanly Johny addressed this question in our newsletter last week. Do read it for context. Also watch this, where he breaks down Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's objectives—from regime change and diplomatic pressure, to dragging the U.S. into direct conflict. The latter has now been achieved, and West Asia is in for more, deadly turbulence. Also Watch | U.S. strikes Iran's key nuclear sites: What next? Stanly Johny answers key questions. United Nations chief Antonio Guterres has warned against yet 'another cycle of destruction' and retaliation following the U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, which he said marked a 'perilous turn' in the region. 'The people of the region cannot endure another cycle of destruction. And yet, we now risk descending into a rathole of retaliation after retaliation,' he added. The consequences of Israel's provocation will be far-reaching, impacting not just the region but the entire world. Iran's Parliament, the Majlis, has reportedly approved the closure of the Strait of Hormuz in response to the attacks by the U.S. on Iranian nuclear facilities, the country's state-owned media PressTV reported on Sunday (June 22, 2025), citing Esmaeil Kowsari, a member of the Majlis. According to the report, the final decision on the closure of the Strait of Hormuz lies with Iran's Supreme National Security Council. The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, and is one of the world's most important oil trade routes, T.C.A. Sharad Raghavan reports. Impact on India In this comprehensive explainer, our Diplomatic Affairs Editor Suhasini Haidar explains India's stand on the escalation in West Asia, the impact of the war on Indian workers in Israel and Iran, efforts on the evacuation front and more. As the conflict escalated, the MEA and its embassies in Tehran and Tel Aviv put evacuation efforts, as part of what was named 'Operation Sindhu', on priority. Unlike the rest of West Asia, where nearly 10 million Indians reside, relatively fewer numbers live in Iran and Israel. There are about 10,000 students and professionals in Iran and about 25,000 workers, students and researchers in Israel, many of whom only moved recently to fill in for construction and caregiver jobs after Israel dismissed thousands of Palestinian workers in the wake of the October 7 terror attacks in 2023, she writes. In a special gesture, Iran opened its embattled airspace to allow flights carrying 1,000 Indians home. Our colleague Kallol Bhattacherjee tracked updates from the Ministry of External Affairs on the evacuation of Indians. Hours after the U.S. struck three prominent nuclear sites in Iran, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with the President of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday, and called for 'immediate de-escalation'. However, should India play a more proactive role? Suhasini Haidar tells us at what's at stake and what India's responses mean. Watch the latest episode of Worldview. Gaza out of focus Nearly 56,000 Palestinians have been confirmed killed between October 7, 2023 and June 22, 2025, an Al Jazeera graphic reminded us, as Israel's war on Iran displaces every other headline in the world. Although people's resistance to Israel's persisting killings in and bombardment of Gaza is growing significantly, especially in Europe, governments are still reluctant to call out Israel on what many rights groups have unambiguously deemed a genocide. Last week, India had abstained in a UN resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza. Every other member of BRICS, SCO and SAARC and even all G-7 members minus the U.S. had voted in favour of the resolution critical of actions. In a break from older positions, New Delhi has made it clear that India will not criticise Israel. When both, Israel's motivations as well as the mass killings and destruction in Gaza are amply evident, many prominent governments across the world are simply watching, privileging their myopic, strategic calculations over basic humanity. Morality does not inform realpolitik, but overlooking a catastrophe of this magnitude cannot serve even self-interest in the long term. Top 5 stories this week: 1. It is still not too late for India's voice to be heard: New Delhi's silence on the devastation in Gaza and the hostilities against Iran is a disturbing departure from its moral and diplomatic traditions, contends Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party 2. NPT | For the sake of peace, at the cost of war: While Iran has long proclaimed adherence to the NPT's basic tenets and benefited from them vis-à-vis civilian nuclear technology, its covert activities in violation of the treaty's safeguards have progressively undermined trust and led to an international crisis that is still unfolding, writes Vasudevan Mukunth 3. Blaise Metreweli | Licensed to spy: Ramya Kannan profiles the first woman chief of the MI6, said to be well-versed in technology, a prerequisite for espionage operations in an increasingly 'post-truth' world 4. Resetting the India-U.S. partnership in uncertain times: While the structural logic of the partnership remains robust, what is needed is a reset that is marked by clarity and mutual commitment, writes Amitabh Mattoo, Professor and Dean, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University. 5. Lessons from Operation Sindoor's global outreach: The intensive period of public diplomacy affirmed that India, when united, can project its voice with clarity and conviction on international platforms, writes Congress MP Shashi Tharoor.
The Hindu
17-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Has Israel's objective in attacking Iran shifted – from de-nuclearization to regime change?
On June 13, Israel launched an all-out war against Iran. It carried out what has been described as a 'decapitation strike' – taking out much of the country's military leadership, as well as top nuclear scientists. It also attacked the country's nuclear facilities and air defences, and subsequently it's economic infrastructure and oil installations as well. Iran responded with missile strikes of its own, targeting Tel Avi and Haifa among other sites and military targets. While more than 200 people have been killed in Iran, more than 20 casualties have been reported in Israel. The two sides have been trading steadily escalating strikes since, and now Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pressing hard for the US to join his war. How credible is Israel's justification for starting the war – namely, that it wants to shut down Iran's nuclear program – given that it is now speaking of regime change? How do the two sides stack up militarily if the conflict were to drag on? What are Iran's options if the US joins the war? Guest: Stanly Johny, The Hindu's International Affairs Editor. Host: G. Sampath Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian. Listen to more In Focus podcasts:
The Hindu
13-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Ukraine: Europe's war with Russia
The Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 marked more than a territorial conflict — it triggered a seismic shift in global geopolitics. This e-book from The Hindu Group unpacks the layers of this ongoing crisis, revealing how a war in Eastern Europe revived NATO, fractured old certainties, and redrew the contours of great power rivalry. As the U.S. reasserted its role in European security and NATO welcomed new members, Ukraine became a symbol of resistance — until geopolitical pressures shifted the narrative yet again. This e-book traces these dramatic developments with clarity and depth, featuring expert perspectives on war, diplomacy, and the reshaping of Europe's future. What's inside: · Introduction: Return of great power rivalry, by Stanly Johny · Russia-Ukraine conflict: Appraisal and strategic dimension, by Maj. Gen. B.K. Sharma · The defence of Ukraine: U.S., Europe & NATO, by P.S. Raghavan · Reorienting Europe, by Ravinder Kaur · India's policy towards the Russia-Ukraine war and its impact, by Happymon Jacob Editor's Note: War is rarely, if ever, between just two countries. The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 shook up Europe and energised NATO. War was no longer a distant memory; it wasn't in geologically remote parts of Asia and Africa; the battles were now in Europe. NATO got new members in Finland and Sweden; the United States was again in the forefront of defending Europe. In many ways it was Russia against NATO as Ukraine symbolised the fight against Russian expansionism. Until it wasn't. Donald Trump as U.S. President changed many things, Ukraine one among them. He pushed both Ukraine and Russia to end the war; and since he had more influence over Ukraine than over Russia, it was Ukraine that was under greater pressure to agree to a ceasefire. In Ukraine: Europe's war with Russia, we trace the great power rivalry playing out in Ukraine, the centrality of NATO for Europe's security, and the reinventing of the idea of Europe and the liberal West. This digital book series is available for free for subscribers of The Hindu's online edition, including the e-paper, and can be purchased by non-subscribers on Amazon. Each e-book focuses on a single theme and provides a comprehensive perspective, featuring insights from subject experts. We hope this series serves as a valuable resource for our readers and enhances our expanding digital library. Suresh Nambath Editor, The Hindu To download a sample of the e-book : To buy the e-book from Amazon: To download the PDF version for the book, subscribe here: Content - Ukraine
The Hindu
05-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
What are the implications of Ukraine's unprecedented drone attacks deep inside Russian territory?
At a time when Russia and Ukraine have been exchanging peace proposals, seemingly in a bid to start direct peace talks, Ukraine has carried out an unprecedented drone attack deep inside Russian territory. Ukrainian officials have claimed to have destroyed at least 40 Russian warplanes, including strategic bombers, and say they have imposed losses on Russia worth $7 billion dollars. This attack comes when Ukraine and Russia have just agreed on a prisoner swap deal. But there has been little progress on peace talks. On the military front, too, there have been no dramatic changes in the frontlines, and that trend seems likely to continue. What are the implications of Ukraine's unprecedented drone strikes? How serious are the damages for Russia? Will Russia President Vladimir Putin be under pressure to retaliate harder or will he be more amenable to come to the negotiating table? Guest: Stanly Johny, The Hindu's International Affairs Editor. Host: G. Sampath, Social Affairs Editor, The Hindu. Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian. Listen to more In Focus podcasts:
