This is about shipping, not slogans. On Feb 28, 2026, Operation Epic Fury hit Iranian missile sites and air defenses, and the first bill arrives in the Strait of Hormuz with higher war-risk insurance. India imports most of its crude and our refiners do not get paid in moral applause. Watch the incentives: Tehran pressures tankers, Washington talks deterrence, and everyone else pays the freight. Counterargument: leadership targeting is reckless and will invite retaliation. True, but the previous pattern of missiles, proxies, and endless warnings was also escalation, just stretched over months. The practical move for Delhi is boring: fuel buffers, convoy planning for evac flights, and a clear line to both Washington and Tehran that Indian shipping is not a bargaining chip. If the UN Security Council becomes theatre again, we still need plans that work at 3 am when a port shuts. People want a clean side to pick. In crises, the only clean thing is paperwork done early.