New Delhi, 22 June

After the US and Israel targeted three nuclear sites in Iran, former Indian Diplomat Mahesh Sachdev on Sunday said the situation could have severe global repercussions, including for India. Sachdev stated that much depends on whether Iran decides to retaliate.

Sachdev added that the strikes could lead to more US attacks or push Iran to restart its nuclear program, which would have implications for global peace and India's interests in the Middle East.

Speaking to ANI, Mahesh Sachdev said, "... A lot would depend on whether Iran decides to carry out its threatened retaliation for such an action. It will require a slightly longer-term assessment of whether the three sides in question have been totally destroyed, as President Trump mentioned... If it is not confirmed, it might involve further American raids, or might involve Iran repledging itself to exercise its nuclear option. Either way, it has ramifications for the entire world and specifically for India because India has a well-known stake in stability and peace in the Middle East for reasons of oil dependence, presence of Indian diaspora and remittances, trade, as well as investments."

Meanwhile, Trump announced on Sunday that the US had conducted massive precision strikes" on the nuclear sites in Iran. In his remarks after the strike, the US President warned Iran of retaliation if peace is not achieved soon.

The underground site at Fordow and the larger Natanz plant were Iran's two primary uranium enrichment facilities, out of which Natanz had already been hit by Israel with smaller weapons earlier in the week, the New York Times reported.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that history will record the US President who "acted to deny the world's most dangerous regime, the world's most dangerous weapons."

Iran, in a statement, acknowledged that the sites had been hit and called it "savage aggression--an act in violation of international laws", stressing particularly the NPT. It alleged "indifference and complicity" by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of indifference and complicity and said that it expects the international community to condemn these actions.

The conflict between Israel and Iran entered its ninth day on Saturday, with the US now joining in support of Israel. The conflict started after Israel, on 13 June, launched a massive airstrike on Iranian military and nuclear sites, dubbed 'Operation Rising Lion.'

In response, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a large-scale drone and missile operation, 'Operation True Promise 3', targeting Israeli fighter jet fuel production facilities and energy supply centres.