An analysis published in The Hindu offered a sobering assessment: the US-Israeli war on Iran “has not just failed to achieve its declared objectives but also reinforced Iran’s standing as a major regional power in West Asia.” Despite the ceasefire, Tehran emerges from the conflict with its regional influence arguably intact, its military apparatus battle-tested, and its negotiating position strengthened — a paradox that will likely shape the Islamabad talks and any lasting settlement.
The conflict’s disruption even reached Formula 1: races scheduled in Bahrain (April 10–12) and Saudi Arabia (April 17–19) were cancelled due to the war. World champion Max Verstappen, suddenly free for the month, announced he would race at the Nürburgring 24-hour qualifiers instead — a small but telling sign of how the conflict has scrambled life far beyond the battlefield.