Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has suggested that India and China could play crucial roles in resolving the ongoing West Asia conflict, provided US President Donald Trump adopts a diplomatic approach. According to reports from Business Standard, Clinton stated during an interview with C-SPAN that these countries could contribute significantly if Trump chooses to use 'diplomacy instead of bluster' to resolve the crisis. The conflict began on February 28 when the US and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran, triggering retaliatory strikes and leading to the choking of the vital Strait of Hormuz. As Clinton explained, 'The misconceptions on a strategic level have led us to where we are' and emphasized that diplomatic pressure is the key to resolving the current impasse.
Clinton identified China and India as the most strategically positioned countries to influence Iran due to their significant energy purchases. As reported by Business Standard, she explained that China and India are the biggest buyers of oil and gas from Iran, creating potential economic leverage. 'If you want to figure out how Trump could get out of this. I think the key to it is probably China and India, because if you look at who buys the most oil and gas from Iran, it's China and India,' Clinton stated. She noted that China has been building substantial fossil fuel reserves and will likely need Iranian energy sources in the future. 'China is far ahead of that; they have been banking a lot of fossil fuels they got in tankers ... they have been building more reserves ... but they are going to need Iran,' Clinton explained, highlighting China's strategic dependence on Iranian energy supplies.
The Strait of Hormuz remains the central sticking point in the conflict, with shipping disrupted due to the ongoing war. According to Business Standard, roughly a fifth of the world's energy supplies passed through the Gulf chokepoint during normal times. The disruption has created significant economic and strategic challenges for global energy markets. Pakistan, Oman and Qatar are among countries currently trying to mediate between the US and Iran to end the conflict amid heightened tensions. Clinton emphasized that 'It does seem to me that's where the best pressure would come from if Trump were willing to actually use diplomacy instead of bluster' to resolve the Strait of Hormuz crisis.
The conflict has seen several diplomatic developments, including an interim peace agreement signed in June between the US and Iran, which collapsed last month with fresh strikes from both sides. As reported by Business Standard, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently announced new sanctions aimed at Iran while warning every country doing business with the Islamic Republic to sever financial ties or face US retaliation. Tehran has threatened a military response to the US plans for fresh sanctions, adding to the escalating tensions. On August 20, President Trump had announced plans for what he called the 'most crushing economic operation' against Iran if Tehran failed to strike a deal.
Clinton's comments come as the conflict continues to impact global energy markets and regional stability. According to Business Standard, she indicated that China, Turkey and the UAE are Iran's largest trade partners, creating multiple diplomatic avenues for potential resolution. When asked about potential secondary sanctions against China, Clinton stated she would certainly tell the Chinese they would face such measures unless they helped facilitate Iranian cooperation to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and restore the status quo ante. 'I would certainly tell the Chinese I was unless they were going to help us to try to get the Iranians to open the Strait of Hormuz and try to go back at least to the status quo ante,' Clinton emphasized, highlighting the critical importance of China's cooperation in resolving the ongoing crisis.
