West Asia News and Discussions

[uddu]

1. Military Operations in an EEZ During War
In wartime, naval forces of belligerent states may operate in another country’s EEZ.
This can include:
Naval patrols
Surveillance and intelligence gathering
Naval combat operations against enemy vessels
The coastal state cannot automatically prohibit these operations, because the EEZ preserves freedom of navigation and other lawful uses of the sea.
2. Limits: Neutral Coastal State Rights
If the coastal state is neutral in the conflict, it still retains certain rights in its EEZ.
A neutral coastal state may:
Protect its economic resources (e.g., fisheries, offshore platforms)
Prevent military activities that directly threaten those resources
Ensure its EEZ is not used in ways that violate neutrality
However, the coastal state cannot treat the EEZ like territorial waters and completely ban military activity.
3. Combat Between Foreign Warships in an EEZ
If two foreign warships fight each other inside a coastal state’s EEZ, the coastal state generally:
May:
Protest diplomatically
Take measures to protect offshore infrastructure
Conduct search and rescue if ships are damaged
Investigate environmental damage
Usually may not:
Stop the combat directly
Enforce neutrality as strictly as in territorial waters
Arrest belligerent warships
These practices are reflected in the San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea, a widely used guide to naval warfare law.
4. Absolute Protection Zone: Territorial Waters
The situation is very different inside the territorial sea (within 12 nautical miles).
There:
The coastal state has full sovereignty
Belligerent warships generally cannot fight there
The neutral state may enforce neutrality and expel or intern ships
The ship was in Sri Lankan EEZ.
The distance between Vishakapatnam and Galle 720 Nautical Miles.
Top Speed of Iris Dena 30 knots.
If it was travelling top speed, it would have taken just one day to reach Galle.
At 25 knots 28 hours.to 29 hours
At 15 knots 2 days.
Naval ships especially destroyers do cruising around 15-18 knots, OPERATIONAL TRANSIT 18-22 KNOTS,
So at Operational speed as the country ion conflict would have taken 1.5 days to 2 days max.
So the ship left on 27th ( lets say).
Should have reached Galle in two days.
So what was the ship doing in Indian Ocean for 4 - 5 days loitering.
As per protocol for International Fleet Review: ships can carry weapons and ammunition, but whilst in the Host Country Harbour have to comply with the Harbour Masters orders on handlking the weapons and ammunition!!
All very tasty reading!!

This is not related to the incident because the said incident was not even in our EEZ. The Ship was 74 km below Galle is what is reported. So within the EEZ of Sri Lanka, but not ours. If SL want to lodge protest with the U.S it is upto them. I would say they should.
https://kidsnews.top/indias-largest-coa ... igil-2021/


https://www.dailymirror.lk/print/front- ... 238-275174

[Cyrano]

As long as Diego Garcia and Chagos islands are under UK/US occupation, IOR is not our backyard. We have no obligation to protect any country's assets in international waters.

The Iranian ship was foolish to enter the Arabian sea thinking it will merrily sail home right through the flotilla of US warships unopposed and paid a heavy price. Was it right or wrong on the part of US is a moot point now.

[SRajesh]

Udduji
US and Isreal attacked Iran on 28th Feb
Ayotullah Khamenie killed on 28th Feb
Iranian ship leaves Vishakapatnam say 27th Feb
It would have been out of our Maritime Coastal boundary by 27th midnight at least.
Ship attacked on 4th March and sank in Sri Lankan EEZ.
This is what it was probably equipped with:
Armament and Equipment on IRIS Dena
Missiles and Guns
Surface‑to‑air missiles (SAMs) — Sayad‑2 air defence missiles in a vertical launching system for defending against aircraft and missiles.
Anti‑ship missiles — Four Qader (or C‑802/Noor) anti‑ship cruise missiles for attacking other surface vessels.
Main naval gun — One 76 mm Fajr‑27 rapid‑fire cannon for surface and shore bombardment.
Close‑in weapons — A 40 mm Fath‑40 cannon and other smaller automatic guns such as 20 mm Oerlikon cannons and heavy machine guns for close‑range defence.
Torpedoes and ASW
Torpedo tubes — Two triple 533 mm Valfajr or 324 mm torpedo launchers that could fire torpedoes against submarines or surface targets.
Aircraft Facilities
Helicopter deck — A flight deck to support one helicopter for reconnaissance or anti‑submarine missions.
Sensors
Phased‑array radar (Asr) — For long‑range detection and fire control.
Did it carry an Helicopter I dont know but had capabilities
So the question is after leaving our Coastal Boundary and given the outbreak of war/conflict, was it deployed Operationally.
Meaning was it on a Hunting mission given that they had officially declared the demise of their spiritual leader!!

[Cyrano]

Dena came to VSKP for a fleet review. It may not have been armed to the teeth. What was it doing for nearly a week after leaving VSKP? It just managed to go around SL and got ambushed and sank?

[SRajesh]

Armed to teeth or not was probably upto something.
And might have got Bushwhacked while scooting

[uddu]

Udduji
US and Isreal attacked Iran on 28th Feb
Ayotullah Khamenie killed on 28th Feb
Iranian ship leaves Vishakapatnam say 27th Feb
It would have been out of our Maritime Coastal boundary by 27th midnight at least.
Ship attacked on 4th March and sank in Sri Lankan EEZ.
This is what it was probably equipped with:
Armament and Equipment on IRIS Dena
Missiles and Guns
Surface‑to‑air missiles (SAMs) — Sayad‑2 air defence missiles in a vertical launching system for defending against aircraft and missiles.
Anti‑ship missiles — Four Qader (or C‑802/Noor) anti‑ship cruise missiles for attacking other surface vessels.
Main naval gun — One 76 mm Fajr‑27 rapid‑fire cannon for surface and shore bombardment.
Close‑in weapons — A 40 mm Fath‑40 cannon and other smaller automatic guns such as 20 mm Oerlikon cannons and heavy machine guns for close‑range defence.
Torpedoes and ASW
Torpedo tubes — Two triple 533 mm Valfajr or 324 mm torpedo launchers that could fire torpedoes against submarines or surface targets.
Aircraft Facilities
Helicopter deck — A flight deck to support one helicopter for reconnaissance or anti‑submarine missions.
Sensors
Phased‑array radar (Asr) — For long‑range detection and fire control.
Did it carry an Helicopter I dont know but had capabilities
So the question is after leaving our Coastal Boundary and given the outbreak of war/conflict, was it deployed Operationally.
Meaning was it on a Hunting mission given that they had officially declared the demise of their spiritual leader!!

Yes SRajesh ji. Once it leaves our maritime boundary or even our EEZ, we have 0 responsibility. The Ship obviously as it leaves the maritime boundary of another country is not not duty bound to respect that country's laws and resumes operation as needed. Whether it was deployed in and around the Indian Ocean to target the U.S warships is again not our responsibility, It's between the U.S and Iranians.

[VinodTK]

No win situation for Sri Lanka One more Iranian warship near their coast and asking for permission to anchor



Iran Ship Attacked | 'Another Iran Ship In Our Economic Zone': Claims Lankan MP

A second Iranian vessel has reportedly entered the Exclusive Economic Zone of Sri Lanka and requested an urgent port call, according to Namal Rajapaksa, a Sri Lankan MP. The development comes just a day after an Iranian warship was attacked in the Indian Ocean off Sri Lanka’s coast, resulting in heavy casualties.

[uddu]

No win situation for Sri Lanka One more Iranian warship near their coast and asking for permission to anchor



Iran Ship Attacked | 'Another Iran Ship In Our Economic Zone': Claims Lankan MP

A second Iranian vessel has reportedly entered the Exclusive Economic Zone of Sri Lanka and requested an urgent port call, according to Namal Rajapaksa, a Sri Lankan MP. The development comes just a day after an Iranian warship was attacked in the Indian Ocean off Sri Lanka’s coast, resulting in heavy casualties.

So they were indeed operating there together it seems. This one was not part of any Indian Fleet Review or Milan exercise. Probably using the cover of Fleet review they came together in a region where they could surprise and target U.S ships. After the first one is hit, the second one must have realized they can't fight the Subs and seeking refuge. This destroys the notion of Innocence of the First Iranian ship. They were indeed operating together in this part of the ocean.

[SRajesh]

So probably now you can understand what Iris Dena was upto loitering in IOC.
Probably waiting to team with the second ship.
So we can assume they were operationally deployed.
I wonder if the second ship was followed down to IOC by US hunter killers or was it Arial survaillance that alerted to the fact that second ship coming over.
Whatever it was, it was not coming on a rescue mission??
Dont know what capacity this second ship has, just wonder if it had more ASW capabilities??

[uddu]

The Story changes completely. Unnecessarily dragging India into the story was all deliberate. We have nothing to do with the ship. But SL has.
https://x.com/i/status/2029524505786470708
@aravind
Looks like Sri Lanka has inadvertently or deliberately worked with its partner, the US (which many say installed the current govt removing China friendly Rajapakse govt), to sink Iran's ship.

The ship was safe as long as it was along India's coast. It went to Lanka and waited there for 11 hours before it was sunk. Then propaganda was spread as if India was accountable. Which sadly Indians too were spreading causing India issues with Iran and US.

https://x.com/NewsWireLK/status/2029492986409848930
@NewsWireLK
“The vessel waited for 11 hours about 40 nautical miles off Galle port for permission from the Sri Lankan government to berth at Galle port, as it had difficulties returning to Iran due to the conflict situation. Why didn’t the government allow permission for such a long time?” SJB MP Mujeebur Rahman questioned in Parliament regarding the IRIS Dena, which was attacked by a US submarine on Wednesday.

[Manish_P]

The Story changes completely. Unnecessarily dragging India into the story was all deliberate. We have nothing to do with the ship. But SL has.
...

And we have lots of Indians going hammer and anvils at each other on X. Blaming and putting down the PM, the GoI, the IN. Basically the country itself.

[Cyrano]

Money talks, especially $$$, and if you have just come out of a financial crisis.

[A_Gupta]

How long if the war goes on, Gulf countries will start furloughing Indian workers, and what will the impact on India be?

[SRajesh]

^^ Guptaji
If Eyeran alone, then this would probably go on for two to four weeks max!!
But the question to ask would be what would the peacefuls, especially those who have swapped their green patina passports to Western ones!!
If the Western Alliance holds good (meaning they might make all sorts of noises and may even overtly say we are not part of the US-led strikes) and there areno major terror attacks related to this event, then Eyeran will fold up in a month with successvice leaderships being taken down.
Now the wider question is will the shia world hold together and support Eyeran.
Except for Hezbollah nobody else is making any moves.
Plus Eyeran have shot in the foot by attacking Azerbaijan (I believe they are Shia Majority??) and Iraq is very quiet.

[SRajesh]

Making of Kurdistan is a long drawn project.
The Britshits were the original culprits.
They promised Kurds an Independent state following the end of First WW and Sykes-Picot agreement.
But they double crossed them all because of oil.
Look at the map that General Saab has used in his talk. Northern part of Iraq Kirkut etc has huge deposits of Oil. Likewise the Syrain eastern region and the Truskih eastern regoins have some deposits.
Initially the Britshits agreed on independent Kurdistan but discovery of Oil and Gas changed all their calculations. They formed phony kingdoms and potentates established their lackeys as kings.
I doubt if Iraq will give up Kirkut and Iran the northern regions.
But who knows what will happen.
Once again its Oil and Gas that will determine boundaries. And this time around US wants to break the Arab monopoly on OPEC and wants to rule by proxies.
A lot of India based artologers are predicting major redrawing of boundraies in the Middle East and in the Sub Continent.
I believe that it will still be a Unipolar world ( a modern day Roman Empire a Pax Americana. And probably OM's legacy both to the US and rest of the world).
Hurrah to the leader!!

[A_Gupta]

To trust or not to trust - via Al Jazeera:

For the Kurds, acting as the tip of the American spear has historically ended in disaster. In the 1970s, the US and Iran heavily armed Iraqi Kurdish rebels to bleed the government in Baghdad. Yet, once the shah of Iran secured a territorial concession from Iraq in 1975, he cut off the Kurds overnight with Washington’s approval. He himself was deposed in a revolution four years later.

This scenario repeated itself with devastating consequences in 1991. After then-US President George HW Bush encouraged Iraqis – both the Kurdish and Shia communities persecuted under Saddam Hussein – to rise up, the US military stood by as loyalist forces regrouped and used helicopter gunships to indiscriminately slaughter tens of thousands of civilians and rebels.

However, David Romano, a Middle East politics expert at Missouri State University, countered in a statement on his Facebook page that the aftermath of the 1991 catastrophe eventually forced the US to launch Operation Provide Comfort and a no-fly zone, which laid the groundwork for the semiautonomous Kurdish region in Iraq. “At important junctures, the Kurds have done exceedingly well as a result of cooperation with the US,” Romano wrote although he noted the opposite was true in 1975.

[uddu]

The Story changes completely. Unnecessarily dragging India into the story was all deliberate. We have nothing to do with the ship. But SL has.
...

And we have lots of Indians going hammer and anvils at each other on X. Blaming and putting down the PM, the GoI, the IN. Basically the country itself.

Usually what the opposition does is to take the current event, hit the government (irrespective of the damage being done to the nation) and then as it gets exposed move on to the next current event. BJP must not let go of the wrong doing of their agents, every attempt they have made to tarnish the image of the nation need to be exposed and kept alive for lot more time and keep exposing them. Then as they latch onto the next thing keep putting out their old fallacies one by one in a collage and call them out. That will be a huge list.

[Amber G.]

Sharing a Times of Israel story.. and my thought..

According to the The Times of Israel, Iran has threatened to strike Israel's Dimona nuclear facility if the U.S. and Israel attempt to overthrow the Iranian government.

Link: Iran threatens to hit Dimona nuclear site if Israel and US try to topple regime


>> A military official cited by the semi-official ISNA news agency stated that the Shimon Peres Negev Nuclear Research Center would be targeted if "regime change" is sought.

Located in the Negev desert, the Dimona site is Israel’s most secretive facility. Built in the 1950s.. it was famously first described as a "textile factory" to maintain secrecy.

While Israel officially maintains a policy of "nuclear ambiguity," the center is to be the production site for nuclear weapons.
(The Shimon Peres Negev Nuclear Research Center, commonly known as the Dimona reactor, is a highly secretive Israeli nuclear facility located in the Negev desert. Israel officially claims the center is for peaceful research into atomic science, it is believed to be the production site for Israel's undeclared nuclear arsenal, including plutonium and tritium. (The facility became active in the early 1960s and some US scientists "visited this but declassified documents later revealed that Israel reportedly used elaborate deceptions—such as building false walls and fake control rooms—to hide stuff from the US visitors.. these visits ended in 1970 - now outsiders are not allowed..IAEA who have visited other centers in Israel but not this site -- and it has highest security. )
Amber G.

[Amber G.]

Meanwhile:
US issues temporary wavier to India to buy Russian Oil.

Australia confirms that there were 3 Australians in the US submarine which torpedoed Iran frigate.. but they took NO part in drowning the submarine.

[uddu]

Meanwhile:
US issues temporary wavier to India to buy Russian Oil.

Australia confirms that there were 3 Australians in the US submarine which torpedoed Iran frigate.. but they took NO part in drowning the submarine.

This is American's managing to save their own Sanction rules from being overrun by Indian actions. Already Russian tankers are on the way to India.
Russian Oil Tankers Divert to India Amid Hormuz Crisis, 1.4 Million Barrels Expected | India Today


India’s Daring Step to Buy Unlimited Russian Oil. Russia Taunts West: Shares LNG Ship Route to India

[Amber G.]

At exactly 11:01 p.m. Pacific Time on Tuesday, March 3, the night sky over California was lit up by the launch of an unarmed Minuteman III ICBM from Vandenberg Space Force Base. The operational test, officially designated as GT 255, was initiated.
'Doomsday warning': Why US just fired a nuclear-capable Minuteman III ICBM from California?

This launch is as much about internal assurance (proving the old missiles still work amidst program delays) as it is about external deterrence (showing global adversaries that the U.S. strike capability remains "doomsday" ready).
(I think timing is NOT wise)

[Manish_P]

...
Usually what the opposition does is to take the current event, hit the government (irrespective of the damage being done to the nation) and then as it gets exposed move on to the next current event. ...

That is expected. But here I am referring to common indians. Both self-proclaimed ultra-jingoistic RWs as well as the common left wing idiots.

Our information ministry must work better & much faster at putting out the facts to stop such narratives in the bud.

[Manish_P]

....
One could expect around 6 or so in the Indian ocean as well. Add to that large number of Ships as well. Add to that satellite tracking. Iranian ship having some surface capability, they choose to engage it with Submarine. Also not necessary that the submarine, that tracked it leaving was the submarine that engaged it.
....

<Kanspiracy hat on>
Don't forget the P-8s... including the P-8Is which India bought from the US.

Who knows what kind of data they might be sending out secretly to US systems.
</Kanspiracy hat off>

[Luxtor]

About the Iranian warship sunk by the U.S. submarine, India should lodge a strong protest with the U.S. because that Iranian ship was not in combat, it was of no threat to U.S. interests. Besides the Iranian ship just left India after a joint exercise. So this is the U.S. spitting in the face of India as well, no respect to India what so ever. Not just sinking the Iranian warship and not rendering any aid to the survivors or coordinating rescue operations with nearby countries. How would the U.S. react if an Indian submarine sunk an Australian, Japanese, or S. Korean warship that just left the territorial waters of the U.S. after a military exercise? I hope to god that India didn't setup that Iranian warship for it be sunk by the U.S. submarine.

Some food for thought:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqnLkxjvwko
Not withstanding that the guy is Chinese, but his points are still valid in relation to what he says about India if you have a fair mindset.
Make sure you also read the comment(s) in the comment section.

[chetak]

About the Iranian warship sunk by the U.S. submarine, India should lodge a strong protest with the U.S. because that Iranian ship was not in combat, it was of no threat to U.S. interests. Besides the Iranian ship just left India after a joint exercise. So this is the U.S. spitting in the face of India as well, no respect to India what so ever. Not just sinking the Iranian warship and not rendering any aid to the survivors or coordinating rescue operations with nearby countries. How would the U.S. react if an Indian submarine sunk an Australian, Japanese, or S. Korean warship that just left the territorial waters of the U.S. after a military exercise? I hope to god that India didn't setup that Iranian warship for it be sunk by the U.S. submarine.

Luxtor ji,

why should a disinterested India be drawn into a fight in which she has no dog

our major cities, vital military bases and critical refinery assets are well within range of these mad mullahs who have always seen us as inferior, and pointedly treated us as such

the eyetaalian mafia and their cheen masters are already trying to push India in this very direction

no one has elected this govt to pander to the lowest common denominator of the schadenfreude driven, geopolitically active i$l@m0 f@$ci$t opinion

This sectarian based i$l@mic bullying was very active during neverwho and IG's time, and it will not run under this govt.

We have more domestically driven geopolitical interests to protect in the gulf than most other countries.

As far as India is concerned, what the eyeraanians or the amrikis did or did not do, whose father what goes.

Modi ji has wisely refused to take sides, no matter which mongrels or how many street dogs bark in the Indian parliament / media, he wants the Indian caravan to move onwards

For the first time in a very long while, India's supreme national interests are being unequivocally placed above those of hostile geopolitical formations, anti India and anti national BIF forces which dictated what our country should do so that their interests were protected.

and just to show solidarity with a mullah run country that has always belittled us, and supported our enemies, armed and financed them, taken their side in the UN and other international fora, they were doing all this while encouraging separatists and armed rebellion in India, you want that India should piss off another unpredictable and unstable superpower.

Are you guys for real...........or what........

Our enemies have always been wolves dressed in sheep's clothing, both with in and with out

except for gora and commie traitors within, has it registered on anyone that the world at large has not blamed India for anything, specially for the sinking of that ship by the amrikis

That torpedoed ship waited for over 11 hours, 40 miles from a lankan port, awaiting permission from the lankan govt to enter a lankan port

The party that is currently in power in lanka is a commie terrorist party JVP.

has anyone asked yet as to why the lankans kept that ship waiting for so long, were they anxiously waiting for their amriki pals to arrive and line up the turkey shoot.

after all, like the pakis, and the beedis, the lankans also well know, that the IMF is totally amriki owned and disbursements controlled by the sweet will and wish of these very amrikis

[uddu]

https://x.com/sgurumurthy/status/2029373664479826092
@sgurumurthy
This is the biggest takeaway of the Gulf war. Wahhabism which Saudis weaponised funded and virtually destroyed India’s internal peace between Hindus and Muslims thro Dsobandis its cousins is now dead. Deobandis will not Rupee for their destructive work from Middle East.

https://x.com/QBilqist/status/2028986106260111373
@QBilqist
MBS saying he doesn’t follow Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahab’s Dawah and believes even the Sharia can be reinterpreted based on a different era and the mindset of people.

[chetak]

About the Iranian warship sunk by the U.S. submarine, India should lodge a strong protest with the U.S. because that Iranian ship was not in combat, it was of no threat to U.S. interests. Besides the Iranian ship just left India after a joint exercise. So this is the U.S. spitting in the face of India as well, no respect to India what so ever. Not just sinking the Iranian warship and not rendering any aid to the survivors or coordinating rescue operations with nearby countries. How would the U.S. react if an Indian submarine sunk an Australian, Japanese, or S. Korean warship that just left the territorial waters of the U.S. after a military exercise? I hope to god that India didn't setup that Iranian warship for it be sunk by the U.S. submarine.

Some food for thought:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqnLkxjvwko
Not withstanding that the guy is Chinese, but his points are still valid in relation to what he says about India if you have a fair mindset.

Make sure you also read the comment(s) in the comment section.

BTW, Luxtor ji, regarding the fair mindset..........., specifically when applied to our great well wishers, the cheenis or the amrikis, how is it any different from a gaping hole in the head............



your cheeni guy is @CarlZha, and it looks like he may be both cheeni and amriki, and that's a double whammy in anyone's book, a fair mindset would have to admit

@CarlZha Account Withheld
@CarlZha has been withheld in IN in response to a legal demand.

Indians have no requirement to listen to some gloating chinamen mouthing off against India, we anyway seem to have a surfeit of "loyal" Indians in India already doing that...........(or the pakis, beedis, lankans, nepalese, maldives, the abrahamics, cheen, eyeraan, turkey, wokes and commies et al, and many of these worthies have been at it for over 70 years now, with some others taking their inherent hostility and hatred back many tens of centuries)

[chetak]

here is another dirt bag who believes in Aladdin and the forty thieves fantasy of political treasures, hoping that jihadi vote banks, enthused by some concocted "black swan event" will catapult the samajwadi party (and him) into the the seat of power, just like the eyetaalian mafioso also fondly believe





The "author" of this piece of idiotic journalistic excrescence is the samajwadi party spokesperson ghanshyam tiwari, and for him, the eyeraan war is that ‘Black Swan’ event.

he accused the Modi government of “failing to warn” nearly 1 million Indian expatriates in the Gulf, despite being in contact with the US President and officials, and having warm relations with the Israeli PM as well as the leaders of the Gulf countries.

“Yet, the Government of India did nothing to warn the nearly one crore Indians in Dubai and elsewhere in the Gulf. This has the makings of a black swan, where those impacted are blissfully unaware, and those who are aware and responsible do not warn,” tiwari wrote.

these are the bought and paid for newspaper owners and their hired guns, the presstitute editors who are desperately trying to manufacture and set a narrative

this jihadi crap will doubtless be amplified and spread far and wide in the urdu press, which never lets any good crisis go to waste

these low level scum just do not have the intellectual B/W to have thought this up on their own.

The BIF has commenced its regime change efforts once again

[chetak]

बाप की चड्डी फटी पड़ी है

Sri Lanka has decided to formally take charge of the Iranian vessel IRIS Bushehr (422) and its 208 crew, following days of discussions with relevant authorities, diplomatic missions and the ship’s captain.

SLNS Sagara (P622) and SLNS Gajabahu (P626) and several tugs are currently offloading 208 Iranian sailors
from the ship who will then be disembarked at Colombo Port.
Sri Lankan naval personnel and necessary members of the ship’s crew, will jointly sail the vessel to the Trincomalee Port area.

The composition of IRIS Bushehr (422) is the following
53 officers
84 cadet officers
48 senior sailors
21 sailors

[chetak]

कौन है ये लोग कहाँ से आते है

This is how dangerous disinformation is spread against India. A ‘Strategic Expert’ makes a highly speculative and mischievous claim that Indian Navy may have provided location data to the US which enabled it to sink the Iranian naval ship Dena.

This claim is then amplified by an Indian media house in an article. Now this article is being used by Foreign Journalists to spread this disinformation further.

This claim is clearly malicious and it could cause long term damage to India’s reputation and affect our diplomatic relations.

@MEAIndia should call out this disinformation campaign unleashed by our ‘experts’

[chetak]

There is a blowback that is now beginning to form and it will gather strength until it becomes a storm

you don't fail to protect your allies, especially after using them for years on end to prop up your dollar and your economy and after assuring them for years that their safety was your responsibility, and promising them that you would always be there for them and yet when push came to shove, you bailed on them and chose to protect yourself instead

Three of the four largest Gulf economies — Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Kuwait — are reportedly discussing withdrawing from U.S. and other international investments as the economic toll from the escalating war with Iran grows, according to the Financial Times.

Officials say “budget strains” are mounting as energy revenues decline and disruptions hit shipping and tourism across the region. As a result, some Gulf governments are considering reassessing major foreign investment commitments, including those in the United States.

Sources described the potential shift as a “precautionary measure,” but the implications could be enormous. Gulf sovereign wealth funds collectively hold more than $2 trillion in U.S. investments, meaning any pullback could send shockwaves through markets and financial institutions.

The move is also being viewed as potential pressure on Donald Trump as the conflict continues to escalate — signaling that the economic consequences of the war may be spreading far beyond the battlefield.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Kuwait are discussing withdrawing from U.S. and international investments as the 2026 Iran conflict escalates. Rising budget pressures, declining energy revenues, and disrupted shipping/tourism have caused these nations to reevaluate their over $2 trillion in U.S. holdings, signaling a potential shift in regional geopolitical alignment.

Key Drivers: Mounting economic strain from regional conflict is forcing a reassessment of foreign capital commitments.

Scale of Assets: Gulf sovereign wealth funds hold an estimated $2 trillion in U.S. assets (equities, bonds, real estate).

Strategic Shift: The move is characterized as a "precautionary measure" against deepening instability.

Context: Escalation includes the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting global oil supplies and hitting Gulf economies, which are now prioritizing domestic fiscal stability.

This potential withdrawal could create significant volatility for international markets and represents a strategic shift in Gulf financial relations with Western nations.

[Aditya_V]

Quite Frankly this is BS, US has enough resources to create Coups in these countries, I have a Gut feeling that once the snow melts and rasputisa season is over, Ukraine is toast, EU , China and Qatar are going to be the big losers here.

BTW pakis have shot dead 36 Shias in Skardu. Iran has only 1 or 2 refineries, logically US/Israel should have taken them out, then Iran Logitics/ Trucks/ TEL stop moving.

If Iran and Qatar oil going off the market, Pakis and BD will be toast. Plus I hope with IWT dead, Pakis are going to have a fun summer, they will definitely try something stupid.

[chetak]

Quite Frankly this is BS, US has enough resources to create Coups in these countries, I have a Gut feeling that once the snow melts and rasputisa season is over, Ukraine is toast, EU , China and Qatar are going to be the big losers here.

BTW pakis have shot dead 36 Shias in Skardu. Iran has only 1 or 2 refineries, logically US/Israel should have taken them out, then Iran Logitics/ Trucks/ TEL stop moving.

If Iran and Qatar oil going off the market, Pakis and BD will be toast. Plus I hope with IWT dead, Pakis are going to have a fun summer, they will definitely try something stupid.

Aditya_V ji,

It is often the cornered snake that one has the most to fear from

After this fiasco, the US has lost its mojo and and with it, its ability to blackmail, coerce and extort.

look at how quickly the US "allowed" India to buy russian oil for 30 days, all because it desperately needed a face saver, and with this oil, comes russian gas too

No amriki permission was ever asked for by India and Modi ji would never ever have done so and demeaned the nation on the global arena

truth be told, tariff or no tariff, India never stopped buying russian oil

ukr is toast anyway because no one has the money anymore to pay zelenski to fight the russkis

The option that the gulf states had of using the very expensively paid amrikis as the net security provider in the region is now permanently off the table.

They trusted a clown and ended up with country by country $hit$h0w$ that have damaged all the rulers in front of their own peoples. There can be no greater insult to the eyeraab mentality. The eyeraanians have done what they wanted to do all these years, both to the rulers and the amrikis

[SRajesh]

Chetakji
More in the news today that India agreed for a safe harbour to another Iranian ship in Kochi.
Safe harbour request by the iranian ship due to technical issues as per newspaper reports.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ind ... 162870.cms 06/03/26
Hmm all these make interesting reading,
Wonder if Iris Dena was actually hiding in the IOC for few days after leaving India.
Only after being pursued probably rushed to Galle and requested safe berthing which the Lankans dilly dallied for 40hrs and then US sunk it.
Following the outrage they then gave safe harbour to another Iranian ship.
Now news of India giving safe harbour to another ship.
Probably Iranian regime wanted their assets to be moved far out for Straits of Hormuz (albeit all the bravado in the press and SM) to save them from being sunk.
No wonder Indian Government made no statements despite opposition bow-bow!!

[Jay]

why should a disinterested India be drawn into a fight in which she has no dog

Chetak ji, it is in out interest to register a protest with the americans for conducting a war operation in Indian Ocean and that too this close to our MEZ/EEZ. The US might dump that protest paper in garbage, but that's not the point. If you do not let the world know what you think is your sphere of influence, then it will be challenged and promptly ignored by everyone. One need to assert the influence and even the perception of that influence to stay relevant in global geo politics.

[Amber G.]

"Our ship's aim was not to go to war. IRIS Dena went for an exercise by the Indian Navy. It was all peaceful so they didn't need weapons. They went for this training before the war started," says Iran's Foreign Minister after US sinks its ship in the Indian Ocean

[Amber G.]

Putin is openly humiliating Trump again, sure that he has total impunity.


WaPo: "Russia is providing Iran intel to target Americans"

Bloomberg: "US Treasury eases oil sanctions on the Kremlin"

[A_Gupta]

There is a serious discussion to be had about the future security architecture of the Gulf states, and India’s role in that.

If hosting the US military means not security but getting drawn into an unwanted war at Israel’s direction and Trump’s whim, the Gulf States are going to rethink it.

Will they rebalance with a no-show China?

India has a huge stake in the region with energy, trade, and of the order of a crore people working there. But India may lack the clout to be a security guarantor — by clout I mean no one wants to take the risk of provoking India.

Further, that one crore people pose a threat to the Gulf governments in that suppose some day they demand more rights?

India needs to think long term strategy here of how to keep its interests secure and how to keep hostile or untrustworthy powers out of the region.

[Amber G.]

Did that Kuwaiti Hornet pilot “go rogue against an ally” and deliberately shoot down 3 American F-15s?

“That actually seems possible based on the evidence,” says @CombatAir, but says that it is “hard to believe.”
LINK: Kuwaiti F/A-18’s Triple Friendly Fire Shootdown Gets Stranger By The Day