Geopolitical expert on how Iran war is going to benefit US-India ties

As the US-Iran war enters its third week, geopolitical shifts triggered by the conflict could reshape alliances and strengthen partnerships such as that between the United States and India, geopolitical consultant Adelle Nazarian said at the India Today Conclave 2026 on Saturday.

Nazarian said that while no one benefits from the war at a human level, the conflict is intensifying geopolitical competition over the future global order. “On a human level, no one benefits from this war. But geopolitically it is a tremendous challenge and competition for the global order,” she said.

Nazarian added that the crisis is likely to push Gulf nations closer to Western powers while strengthening strategic ties with countries like India. “I feel it’s going to bring about a stronger US-India relationship, and it’s also going to result in a strategic realignment of GCC nations towards the West. Ultimately, the West and middle nations like India are going to benefit,” she said.

‘IRANIANS WANT A DIFFERENT FUTURE’

Nazarian, an American of Iranian heritage, said conversations with people inside Iran indicate a growing desire for political change and a leadership structure that is not defined by religious authority.

“I have been speaking with people inside Iran frequently and what I’ve seen is a huge mix, depending on who you’re speaking to,” she said.

“But what I have been hearing is that they are supportive of having a more democratic, non-religiously aligned leadership,” she added.

According to her, many Iranians are increasingly exhausted by decades of economic hardship and political restrictions.“The majority of people are tired of struggling to be able to support their homes and families,” Nazarian said.

‘IRANIANS MUST DECIDE THEIR OWN DESTINY’

Nazarian said any meaningful change in Iran ultimately depends on decisions made by the Iranian people themselves, although the country may have reached a turning point. “We’ve come to a breaking point now where America has constantly said it’s up to the Iranian people to decide their destiny,” she said.

However, she suggested that internal power centres within Iran could play a decisive role in determining the country’s political direction.

Nazarian said elements within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) may eventually face a critical choice: whether to continue supporting the current system or align with public demands for change.

“Are they going to be on the side of continuity – of what’s been going on for the past 47 years – or are they going to be on the side of the people and change?” she asked.

She added that if Iranians choose to take control of their future, the country could move toward a destiny very different from the political reality it has experienced for the past four decades.

- Ends

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