Relations between the United States and Iran have been strained since the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Tensions significantly escalated following the US withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018 under the Trump administration. The JCPOA, signed in 2015 by Iran and the P5+1 group (China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, United States, plus Germany), aimed to limit Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. After the US withdrawal, it reimposed stringent sanctions on Iran, which in turn led Iran to gradually scale back its commitments under the deal, increasing fears of nuclear proliferation and regional instability.

Escalating tensions between the US and Iran have profound global implications. They directly impact the stability of the West Asian region, a critical geopolitical hotspot. The potential for conflict threatens global energy markets, particularly crude oil supplies passing through the Strait of Hormuz, affecting prices and supply chains worldwide. For India, a major energy importer, such instability poses significant economic and strategic challenges, including the safety of its diaspora in the region and the viability of projects like the Chabahar Port, which is crucial for trade connectivity to Afghanistan and Central Asia.