International Relations
Operation Sankalp
- 09 Jan 2020
- 2 min read
Why in News
Indian Navy continues to deploy one warship for Operation SANKALP in order to ensure the safe passage of Indian Flag Vessels transiting through the Strait of Hormuz amidst deteriorating US-Iran relations.
- Indian Navy launched Operation SANKALP in the Gulf Region on 19th June 2019.
- Indian Navy warships and aircraft are deployed to establish presence, provide a sense of reassurance to the Indian merchantmen, monitor the ongoing situation and respond to any emergent crises like deteriorating US-Iran relations in the recent times.
US-Iran
- 1979: US-backed Shah of Iran was overthrown and the country became an Islamic republic.
- Dozens of Americans were taken hostage inside the US embassy in the capital Tehran.
- 2015: Iran agreed on a landmark deal to limit its nuclear programme in return for the lifting of tough economic sanctions.
- This move improved Iran’s diplomatic relations with other nations.
- 2018: The US President abandoned the Nuclear Accord and reinstated US sanctions to force Iran's leaders to agree to a new deal.
- Iran rejected it even the economy of the country was sent into recession.
- 2019: The pressure was stepped up in May by application of secondary sanctions on countries that continued to do business with Iran.
- Relations further deteriorated when oil tankers were sabotaged in the Gulf of Oman.
- Later, Tehran started suspending some of the commitments under the nuclear deal.
- It was followed by attacks and counter-attacks by both countries until January 2020.
- 2020: On 3 January, Qasem Soleimani was killed in a US drone strike at Baghdad airport.
- Iran abandoned the last limit on its enrichment of uranium imposed by the nuclear accord as a way of revenge.
- These issues have led to turbulent situations in the Gulf region.
