• Source:JND
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US-Iran War: Iran has been in a deadly war for the last 11 days. The West Asian country has lost the life of its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on the first day of war after Israel and the US launched airstrikes, calling it 'Operation Epic Fury' to uproot Iran's nuclear programme, which America and Israel termed an 'existential threat' to them. Tehran has been burning since February 28. According to the Iranian government, at least 1,332 Iranian civilians have died till Friday in the conflict. Despite US President Donald Trump's threat that the United States will hit Iran "twenty times harder", Iran retaliated, saying the fate of the war would be decided by Tehran.

While the US and Israel are getting strategic and logistic support from NATO countries, allies in the Gulf like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE and others, Iran finds itself alone in the war, which pushed it on the back foot, yet Tehran showed no sign of surrender or seeking a diplomatic solution.

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Who Are Iran's Allies?

Iran shares ties with superpowers like China and Russia. Chinese and Russian governments issued only formal, restrained sentiments, which had zero impact on the ongoing war. Also, Iran has very good bonding with nuclear power, North Korea, but in the crisis, no friendly country provided logistic support to Tehran. Some countries like India, consoled the death of Khamenei and sought solutions through diplomatic channels.

Here Is Why Iran's Allies Did Not Join War

1. The answer to the question: Why is Iran alone in the war? depends on multiple factors and the rapidly changing geopolitical order. Iran's top allies like Russia and China share bonds, but they are not in a formal military alliance. Recently, Moscow and Tehran signed a comprehensive strategic partnership, covering trade and defence cooperation, yet it does not obligate Russia to enter the war on another front. Russia has been preoccupied in a war with Ukraine since 2022. Russia and China condemned the attacks on Iran and called for a ceasefire, but they have not shown any interest in fighting for Iran.

2. Key allies - China, Russia and North Korea see more losses in direct involvement than benefits. They also understand that if they jumped into the battleground, the war would spiral and may lead to another World War. Russia would never want a destabilising oil market as its economy largely depends on the oil trade amid a 4-year-long war.

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3. China gives importance to its economic interests as it is emerging as a global power. It does not want to lose the economic race with the US. Entering a war means a huge economic loss, which will pull the GDP many years back.

4. Iran engaged in the war with the support of the "Axis of Resistance", which includes proxies like Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and Iraqi militias. They are not state actors, and no country wishes to join a war that is being fought with non-state actors.

5. Most Gulf nations (Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, etc.) prioritise stability, economic recovery, and the oil market. Also, no country wants to face US sanctions. Even Muslim countries are upset with Iran as it targeted all neighbouring nations for providing logistic support to the US and Israel

has few supporters due to the Shia-Sunni divide and its proximity to the US.


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