Israel-Iran war threatens India's regional energy, transport links
Security guards with sniffer dogs patrol in the port of Chabahar, in southeastern Iran in 2017. © AP
KIRAN SHARMA
NEW DELHI -- The increasingly escalating Israel-Iran conflict, coupled with the U.S. announcing its bombing of Iran's nuclear sites on Saturday, puts at risk India's regional connectivity projects -- including one leveraging Iran's port of Chabahar -- and its energy security, experts warn.
"An escalation of conflict in the Middle East puts Indian interests in jeopardy," Harsh V. Pant, vice president of the Delhi-based Observer Research Foundation (ORF), a think tank, told Nikkei Asia before the American B-2 stealth bombers conducted strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites. Pointing out that New Delhi has "good relations" with both countries, he said, "India's energy security is linked to the stability in the Middle East. ... So India has no interest in the widening of this conflict and the conflict continuing in the region."
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Japan Today
42 minutes ago
- Japan Today
Nations react to U.S. strikes on Iran with calls for diplomacy
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NHK
an hour ago
- NHK
Iran foreign minister: US attacks on nuclear sites 'outrageous'
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has condemned the US attacks on nuclear sites in Iran, saying the strikes "are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences." He took to social media on Sunday after US President Donald Trump had announced the attacks. Araghchi said, "The United States, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, has committed a grave violation of the UN Charter, international law and the NPT by attacking Iran's peaceful nuclear installations." The NPT is the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Araghchi said, "Each and every member of the UN must be alarmed over this extremely dangerous, lawless and criminal behavior." He also said, "In accordance with the UN Charter and its provisions allowing a legitimate response in self-defense, Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people."
Japan Times
2 hours ago
- Japan Times
U.S. B-2 bombers and 'bunker-busters' used in Iran strike
The U.S. Air Force's B-2 stealth bombers were involved in strikes on Iran's nuclear sites on Saturday. Three Iranian nuclear sites were struck in a "very successful attack," President Donald Trump said Saturday, adding that the crown jewel of Tehran's nuclear program, Fordo, is gone. The B-2 is one of America's most advanced strategic weapons platforms, capable of entering sophisticated air defenses and delivering precision strikes against hardened targets such as Iran's buried network of nuclear research facilities. B-2 specifications The U.S. B-2 costs about $2.1 billion each, making it the most expensive military aircraft ever built. Made by Northrop Grumman, the bomber, with its cutting-edge stealth technology, began its production run in the late 1980s but was curbed by the fall of the Soviet Union. Only 21 were made after the Pentagon's planned acquisition program was truncated. The bomber's range of over 6,000 nautical miles (11,112 kilometers) without refueling enables global strike capabilities from continental U.S. bases. With aerial refueling, the B-2 can reach virtually any target worldwide, as demonstrated in missions from Missouri to Afghanistan and Libya and now Iran. Its payload capacity of more than 40,000 pounds (18,144 kilograms) allows the aircraft to carry a diverse array of conventional and nuclear weapons. The bomber's internal weapons bays are specifically designed to maintain stealth characteristics while accommodating large ordnance loads which could include two GBU-57A/B MOP (Massive Ordnance Penetrator), a 30,000-pound precision-guided "bunker buster" bomb. Reports said six bunker buster bombs were used on Iran's Fordo research site. The B-2's two-pilot crew configuration reduces personnel requirements while maintaining operational effectiveness through advanced automation systems. The B-2's stealth technology incorporates radar-absorbing materials and angular design features that minimize detection by enemy air defense systems. Its radar cross-section is reportedly comparable to that of a small bird, making it nearly invisible to conventional radar. Massive Ordnance Penetrator The 30,000-pound MOP represents the largest conventional bomb in the U.S. arsenal, specifically engineered to defeat hardened underground bunkers. Its massive size requires the B-2 to carry only one or two MOPs per mission, but provides unmatched bunker-penetration capability. The weapon's 20.5-foot (6.25-meter) length and GPS-guided precision targeting system enable accurate strikes against specific underground facilities. Its penetration capability of over 200 feet through hardened concrete makes it effective against the world's most protected underground installations. Conventional payloads Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) provide the B-2 with precision conventional strike capability against fixed targets. These GPS-guided weapons can be deployed in large numbers, with the bomber capable of simultaneously engaging multiple targets with high accuracy. Joint Standoff Weapons (JSOW) extend the aircraft's engagement range while maintaining stealth characteristics during approach. These glide bombs allow the B-2 to strike targets from outside heavily defended airspace perimeters. Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSM) offer long-range precision strike capability with their own stealth features. The extended-range JASSM-ER variant provides strike options against targets over 500 miles (805 km) away. Nuclear payload capabilities The B-2 serves as a key component of America's nuclear triad, capable of delivering strategic nuclear weapons with stealth and precision. The aircraft can carry up to 16 B83 nuclear bombs.
