The Long Haul

The combatants are doubling down

Even as US President Donald Trump said that it was possible that he would be willing to talk with Iran, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth promised the ‘most intense days of strikes against Iran since the start of the war.’ Iran vowed to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed for the duration of the war, even though the US Energy Secretary claimed in a post on X that the US Navy had escorted an oil tanker through them. The claim was later removed, and the White House Press Secretary later denied it. Mr Trump’s remarks may have been designed to calm troubled global oil markets, because it should be remembered that he is probably hurting most from the closure of the Strait, because the resulting constriction of the global oil supply means that his Repub;icans face a tough campaign, and then a tough midterm election in November, because of a sputtering economy.

Though many countries, among them Pakistan, are making efforts to move towards peace, the increasing involvement of China seems the only development that might lead in this direction. However, even this is no certainty, considering the blood lust that Israel is showing. Not only is it engaged in attacking Iran, but it has got a separate war going with Lebanon. The Pakistan Foreign Office finally woke up to this on Tuesday, with a standard condemnatory statement, though it showed awareness of a looming danger when it said that the regional crisis was deepening. Pakistan itself faces the prospect of oil going up to $150 a barrel, even as a strange lopsidedness prevails, with petrol landing at Karachi and more to come in a few days, while no diesel cargoes are coming through. Crude oil is landing, though it will have to be refined before more diesel becomes available. Diesel becomes crucial, as the shortage will hit tractors needed to prepare for the harvesting of the wheat crop and then the preparation for Kharif crops.

Though the USA and Israel are indulging in a lot of macho talk, the war has become senseless. It should not have taken place at all, and has caused sufffering not just to the countries concerned, or even the region, but the whole world, because of the oil and gas crisis it has led to. It will be inevitable that all mull over what the war signified, but the tiem is not now: now is the time to end it.