The us-israel versus iran war now in its 29th day has divided public opinion around the world. Whether it is a just war — a fight between good and evil — has perplexed right-thinking people. However, there is no doubt it is an unequal war. The US armed forces are the mightiest and most formidable war machine in world history supported by an annual defence budget of $900 billion that is 2.5 multiples of Iran’s GDP. Moreover Israel, America’s staunch ally, is militarily the most powerful nation in the Middle East having won three major wars against Arab coalition countries since it was established as a nation state by a United Nations resolution in 1948.

Ranged against this goliath coalition is Iran (pop. 90 million), formerly Persia whose empire in the 8th century BCE included most of the Middle East and Central Asia. A nation with a rich civilisation and refined cultural attainments, Iran deserves respect within the comity of nations.

But since 1979, an austere theocratic government has been ruling in Tehran after a despotic, unpopular monarchy was overthrown by popular revolt. However since then, this theocracy which enforces a rigorous, archaic Shia interpretation of the Holy Quran has been practising a despotism equal, if not worse, than of the ousted Shah of Iran who had terrorised the population through his Savak, secret police.

In particular, the rights of Iran’s women who until the 1979 Islamic revolution led by Ayatollah Khomeini, were the most well-educated and emancipated in the entire Middle East, have been completely obliterated by the oppressive theocracy operating through its ruthless Guidance Patrols or morality police (supported by the regime’s fiercely loyal Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)) which enforces strict full hijab and ill-defined modesty rules for women and girls. All protests and resistance from Iran’s youth against denial of fundamental rights have been brutally supressed.

Quite clearly, regime change in Iran — where all elections are stage managed by the theocracy and the Supreme Leader — is overdue. News that this regime has enriched uranium for developing nuclear weapons has compounded the apprehension of Israel, America’s trusted ally in the Middle East. Hence the US-Israel air strikes began on February 28 to eliminate Iran’s top leadership and destroy its nuclear programme.

In retrospect, it’s quite clear that the better option for the US/Israel coalition would have been to fund and encourage the rise of a popular revolt against Iran’s oppressive rulers. Instead by availing the military option, they have united the people of Iran behind their obsolete and cruel regime which has resorted to choking the Strait of Hormuz, sparking an oil supply crisis that has disrupted the global economy.

Although it may be unfashionable to say so, the BJP/NDA government’s policy of silent observation, maintaining good relations with all warring parties to safeguard India’s interests while simultaneously advocating diplomacy to end this conflict, has been exemplary.