In the wake of the disastrous and reckless attack on Iran by America and Israel, and the consequent economic crisis gravely affecting the entire world, it is salutary to recall first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s prescient remarks of June 11, 1951. At a press conference in Delhi, he said, “…if anything happens there [in Iran], it is apt to lead to a breach of world peace and so we are greatly interested in a peaceful settlement.”World peace is now imperilled by the unprovoked military assault on Iran by the US and Israel. The events that began on February 28 with the joint strikes on Iran have certainly led to a global crisis that has impacted the energy security of almost all countries. In India, the impact is already acute. Nehru’s observations are thus playing out in 2026 amid a grave threat to global economic stability and severe consequences for the West Asian region, on which most of humanity depends for fossil fuels.Iran’s resilienceDespite suffering crippling consequences due to US sanctions, Iran has sustained an asymmetrical war strategy against the US and Israel and has repeatedly gained the upper hand by adopting what is termed “escalating dominance”. It has intensified the use of missiles and drones against both countries in this conflict against an overwhelmingly superior American military power, which has inflicted heavy damage on it.The assassination of Iran’s top leadership and the constant bombardment of its territory by US and Israeli fighter aircraft have further compounded the challenges faced by Iranian authorities.Strike on F-35Despite the existential challenges it faces, Iran has demonstrated resilience. On 19 February, US military authorities confirmed that an F-35 stealth combat aircraft – costing upwards of USD 80 million and regarded the crown jewel of its fighter programme – was hit by a suspected Iranian missile and forced to make an emergency landing. This sent shock waves across the military establishment. Few within the strategic decision-making community could believe that a supposedly invincible aircraft like the F-35, symbolising American air superiority, could be struck not by Russia or China but by Iran.This incident has shattered the widely proclaimed notion of American invincibility in the military sphere. In recent weeks, the US has reportedly lost several such aircraft, including those meant for aerial refuelling during combat operations. This represents a clear success for Iran in this asymmetrical conflict, marked by overwhelming American-Israeli air power over it.Also read: Interview | ‘There Will Be No Winners in This War, Only Losers,’ Says Noted Jewish-American Political ScientistThe reported relocation of US aircraft carriers including USS Abraham Lincoln – worth billions of dollars and carrying thousands of personnel – to “safe distances” away from the Red Sea and Omani coast further underlines the extent to which American dominance has been challeneged in this conflict.Iran’s strategy has also been evident in the oil domain, particularly through the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. This has contributed to a sharp rise in global oil prices, with pump prices in the US surging 30% and crude oil exceeding USD 110 per barrel. Such pressure has reportedly compelled the US to relax sanctions on Iranian oil. It has been stated by the US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent that Iranian oil would be exempt from US sanctions for 30 days (an offer Iran reportedly rejected).This announcement suggests that the US establishment, led by President Donald Trump, has suffered a significant setback in this conflict. First, Israel attacked Iran’s South Pars gas field – part of the world’s largest natural gas field and a crucial source of fuel for Iran – and Iran sent retaliatory missile strikes to energy infrastructure in Qatar and across the Gulf.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu soon acknowledged that the decision to strike South Pars was taken without informing Trump, who, upon learning of it, advised him against taking such actions in the future. This confusion highlights erosion of credibility in the middle of a conflict. Iran’s attacks on American military bases across the Gulf – it last struck the joint US-UK base in Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean – weakens President Trump’s authority as Commander-in-Chief – while reports in the US indicate the percetion in the US intelligence community that the Iranian government has strengthened itself since February 28.US sanctions on Russian oil have also been relaxed (India was recently permitted to purchase it, amounting to embarrassment for India, but also letting Russian oil supplies to regain momentum, contrary to US objectives to starve Russia of oil revenues).Refusal of NATO countriesThe Trump administration suffered a loss of face when NATO countries refused outright to deploy their naval forces and aircraft carriers in response to the US call to help him reopen the Strait of Hormuz. This refusal reflected the absence of a coherent and coordinated strategy behind the US decision to wage war against Iran. Former French General Michel Yakovleff’s comparison of joining Trump’s Iran campaign to “buying cheap tickets for the Titanic” after it had struck the iceberg is one instance of how the American war strategy is being mocked.Global responses to the attack on Iran, and the threat it poses to lives and livelihoods worldwide, have largely been characterised by disapproval and disdain for the manner in which Iran’s sovereignty was violated with impunity by the US and Israel.A lesson for IndiaThe silence of the Modi government on the attack on Iran, coupled with its perceived alignment with the US and Israel, is inconsistent with the core principles of India’s independent foreign policy and with the widespread global criticism of the assault. In this context, Nehru’s warning resonates strongly in 2026. It is essential that these warnings are heeded in order to restore India’s stature, credibility and global standing.S.N. Sahu served as Officer on Special Duty to President of India K.R. Narayanan.