This edition of the CLAWS West Asia Dispatch presents a comprehensive account of key geopolitical developments across West Asia during the second fortnight of April 2025. It tracks major diplomatic engagements, security shifts, and regional realignments, while examining how the evolving multipolar order continues to shape India’s extended neighbourhood. The lead story this fortnight is the regional response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in India and the subsequent escalation in Indo-Pakistani tensions. The Dispatch captures how key West Asian states reacted to the incident and its broader implications. On April 26, Iran suffered a major tragedy with a deadly explosion and fire at its primary port—an event analyzed here for its causes and consequences. The issue also covers the state of Israel-Hamas negotiations, with recent developments in Cairo, and highlights significant defence-related activities in the region, including the UAE-hosted Desert Flag exercise, which saw Indian participation. Notably, India and Israel marked another milestone as the Barak MRSAM achieved a successful naval trial. This fortnight’s analysis features the strategic recalibration in Iran-Saudi ties, reflected in Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman’s landmark visit to Tehran, and Iranian President Pezeshkian’s outreach to Azerbaijan amid rising South Caucasus tensions. The Dispatch also explores Iraq’s preparations to host the 34th Arab League Summit—an event that underscores Baghdad’s aspiration to reclaim diplomatic leadership in the region. At the same time, Syria’s uneasy reintegration into Arab diplomacy, coupled with Iran’s quiet military resurgence in post-Assad Syria, reflects deeper strategic rivalries shaping the future regional order. The edition also assesses India’s high-level diplomatic engagements in West Asia, with a particular focus on Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Saudi Arabia and its far-reaching outcomes for bilateral cooperation and regional positioning.
