Changing geo-political dynamics.

The West Asian region, also referred to as the Middle-East is significant due to its geographical location and proximity to continents and countries-South Asia, Central Asia, Europe and Africa. The region contains enormous energy resources and provides trade route links to different parts of the globe. It is the world's largest oil-producing region, accounting for 34 percent of world production, 45 percent of crude oil exports and 48 percent of oil proven reserves. All major powers seek a stake in the affairs of the region because of the abundance of natural resources. In contemporary times, geo-political dynamics of the region are changing.

The major policies of US president Donald Trump apropos the region were, isolation of Iran by unilaterally withdrawing from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) agreement, imposing heavy sanctions, aggressive posture by assassination of Iranian personalities and Arab-Israel alignment.

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was an agreement also referred to as the Iran Nuclear Deal, signed between Iran and P5+1 countries (US, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany) on July 14, 2015. The six countries agreed to lift sanctions imposed on Iran, giving it greater access to the global economy. In return, Iran agreed to take steps to curb its ability to make a nuclear bomb. The Trump administration, on May 8, 2018, unilaterally withdrew from the aforementioned agreement. Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies saw it as a political victory over Iran, their rival for regional influence. The immediate effect of this decision was the re-imposition of US sanctions that were lifted. It not only put Iran into isolation despite being the major exporter of crude oil but hit its economy hard as well. Trump's attempt was based on building a new regional order in the Middle East that is more supportive of US allies, namely Saudi Arabia, Israel, and the Persian Gulf states, as all consider Iran the major threat.

The Trump Administration created further trouble for Iran by the assassination of General Suleimani on January 3, 2020 who was Iran's most powerful security and intelligence commander. He was known as the mastermind behind the Islamic Republic's regional influence stretching from Iraq and Lebanon to Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan. Recently a month back, Iran's top nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was assassinated by using the latest technology of artificial intelligence and a machine gun equipped...