The ongoing Iran conflict is a systemic shock that exposes how fragile the world economy becomes when chokepoints close and diplomacy fails. “ Arthasya mūlam karma ,” wrote Kautilya, wealth is the root of all human endeavour. It is a maxim that has outlived empires, surviving the churn of kingdoms, colonies and modern nation-states. But the present moment suggests a grim inversion of that wisdom. The engines of wealth in form of trade, energy and cooperation are being throttl