SKEPTICISM still hovers over the planned round of peace talks between the United States and Iran in Pakistan. Conflicting reports are emerging over the status of delegations from both countries even as threats and mixed messages continue from Washington and Tehran over the Strait of Hormuz. A diplomatic breakthrough is eagerly awaited from the second round of talks though uncertainty still hangs over the ceasefire with continuation of US President Mr. Donald Trump’s histrionics. However, an important development that is taking place parallely is the growing clamour from other countries, including China, which are pressing for reopening of Hormuz. This development is seen as a new pressure group led by China which can make Iran cede to the request of opening the ‘international waterway’, as rightly described by Chinese President Mr. Xi Jinping. Amid assertions by Iran that it has an inalienable right over the Strait of Hormuz, the call from China and the demand of making the waterway ‘toll-free’ by the United Kingdom are working as equal diplomatic channels to bring normalcy in the region. The Strait has to remain open as a normal passage as it aligns with the shared interests of countries in the region and the international community. Iran has used the Strait as a fantastic leverage to nail the US but in the process the world is bearing the brunt of shortage of fuel supplies.

  

The US blockade of the waterway in the Gulf of Oman is an additional tension for cargo vessels managing to get out of the danger zone making the world jittery about the future of their energy needs. Many countries have already tapped their strategic oil reserves as fuel supply continues to get affected by the closure of the Hormuz Gulf. The world is staring at a dangerous crisis as most economies are set to receive a violent shock due to rise in oil prices. The situation of opening up of strategic oil reserves does not bode well for the future as it will create extreme unease within countries. India has managed the situation well so far by absorbing the losses at Government level but it might not be able to maintain this situation for long. With only a fortnight’s oil reserves left (as per original Government calculations), energy crisis looms over India at the peak of summer across the country. This calls for an urgent and drastic response at the diplomatic level from the Centre. India has been calling for a space for dialogue and diplomacy since the beginning of the war on February 28. It had reached Governments for all three involved parties -- the US, Israel and Iran -- through backchannels.

 

The message was well received by the three Governments all of whom publicly appreciated India’s stand on the conflict and its efforts in facilitating a status quo ante. US President Mr. Donald Trump’s two calls to Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi also reflected the progress Indian diplomacy has made on the complex and sensitive situation. At the same time, India should not shy away from joining the Chinese efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. History has shown that a parallel track of diplomacy has always worked during major conflicts. Be it the Cuban Missile crisis of 1962 or wars in the Middle-East, diplomatic channels involving third parties have always paved the way for major breakthroughs.

 

Even in the current fight, diplomatic efforts undertaken by an Oman-led group had brought both the US and Iran to the negotiations table before Mr. Trump was bluffed by Israel Prime Minister Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu into an armed conflict a night before scheduled talks. Over the last month, many countries have been working silently to bring the warring sides into the dialogue room. India, too, has been one of the sides engaged with all parties. It has to now take a proactive role, like China, to ensure that the Strait of Hormuz remains a safe waterway for its energy supplies. If it requires calling out the US misadventure, then India must give it a chance for people’s sake.