Iran

No life insurance for Mojtaba Khamenei, says Israeli PM Netanyahu

Asserting that the joint US-Israel campaign against Iran is "going better than expected" and Israel is "stronger than ever", Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday said there was "no life insurance" for Iran's newly chosen Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. Responding to a question about whether Israel would target Khamenei and Hezbollah leader Naem Qassem, Netanyahu said, "I wouldn't take out a life insurance policy on any of the leaders of the terror organisations." Mojtaba's father, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in joint US-Israel strikes on February 28. Israel launched its campaign dubbed "Roaring Lion" on February 28 against Iran, which was joined by the US which gave it the name "Epic Fury", with the claimed objective of "foiling Iran's nuclear ambitions, dismantling its missile programme and delivering a crushing blow to its regional proxies". On the topic of toppling the regime in Iran, the Israeli prime minister said that the US and

PM Modi speaks to Iranian President on 'serious' West Asia situation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday night spoke to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian over the phone and discussed the "serious situation" in West Asia. Modi expressed deep concern over the escalation of tensions in the region and the loss of civilian lives as well as damage to civilian infrastructure. The prime minister told the Iranian President that the safety and security of Indian nationals, along with the need for unhindered transit of goods and energy, remain India's top priorities. "Had a conversation with Iranian President, Dr Masoud Pezeshkian, to discuss the serious situation in the region. Expressed deep concern over the escalation of tensions and the loss of civilian lives as well as damage to civilian infrastructure," Modi said in a post on X. The prime minister also reiterated India's commitment to peace and stability and urged dialogue and diplomacy to end the crisis. Notably, Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping passage through which India's

Datanomics: India's natural gas squeeze amid rising West Asia conflict

India's LNG imports have more than doubled in the last decade from $6 billion in FY17 to nearly $15 billion in FY25

Why are ships in the Strait of Hormuz identifying themselves as Chinese?

Iran and groups aligned with it have generally avoided targeting ships linked to China, as per analysts, citing Beijing's relatively neutral position in the conflict and its economic ties with Tehran

All about Shahed-136: Iran’s deadly kamikaze drone

Dubai’s skyline. A low-cost drone. A new era of warfare. The Shahed-136 is Iran’s “kamikaze” drone reshaping modern air combat. With a range of up to 2,000 km and designed for mass deployment, it for

Invading our islands will make Gulf run with blood: Iran Parliament speaker

Iran's parliament speaker said Thursday that any invasion of Iran's islands will "make the Persian Gulf run with the blood of invaders." It wasn't immediately clear what prompted Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf's comments, which again escalated the rhetoric surrounding the ongoing Iran war. Iran holds three islands it took from the United Arab Emirates before its formation in 1971. There also has been speculation that the United States could target Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf, Iran's main oil terminal.

US, Israel strikes on Iran raise alarm over damage to historic sites: UN

US and Israeli strikes on Iran have damaged at least four cultural and historical sites, including palaces and an ancient mosque, raising alarms about the impact of the widening war on protected landmarks that are important to Iranian identity and world history. The speed and extent of the damage have so concerned Iran and Lebanon that they sent a request to the United Nations' cultural agency, UNESCO, this week to add more sites to its enhanced protection list. UNESCO confirmed that it has verified damage to the lavish Qajar-era Golestan Palace in Tehran as well as the 17th century Chehel Sotoun palace and the Masjed-e Jame, the country's oldest Friday mosque, both in Isfahan. There also was verified damage at buildings close to the Khorramabad Valley, which includes five prehistoric caves and one rock shelter providing evidence of human occupation dating to 63,000 B.C. At Golestan Palace, shattered glass from the mirrored ceilings blanketed the floors alongside broken archways, ..

Iran lists 3 demands to end war: Reparations, rights, security guarantees

It's unclear if the US is willing to give Iran such a pledge and if it would be able to insist on Israel doing the same

Iran govt not at risk of imminent collapse despite ongoing war: US intel

US intelligence reports indicate that the IRGC and the interim leaders who assumed power after Khamenei's death retain control of the country

From Karbala to Iran: How Shia Islam has evolved across centuries

From the dispute over Ali's succession to the legacy of Karbala, here is how Shia Islam evolved, what its core beliefs are, and where Shia communities are found today

West Asia crisis: EAM Jaishankar speaks to Iranian counterpart Araghchi

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday held a phone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Seyed Abbas Araghchi amid increasing concerns over the fallout of the West Asia crisis, especially on the energy supplies. It was the third time that Jaishankar spoke to Araghchi since the US and Israel launched the joint military strikes on Iran. "A detailed conversation this evening with Foreign Minister @araghchi of Iran on the latest developments regarding the ongoing conflict. We agreed to remain in touch," Jaishankar said on social media. The phone conversation between the two foreign ministers came amid increasing global concerns over disruptions in oil supplies in view of the crisis in West Asia. Global oil and gas prices have surged after Iran has virtually blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow shipping lane between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman that handles roughly 20 per cent of global oil and LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas). Jaishankar conveyed to Araghchi Indi

Iran bets on endurance, energy disruption to outlast US, Israel

The IRGC also played the decisive role in elevating Mojtaba Khamenei as supreme leader after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the opening US-Israeli strikes

West Asia conflict Day 11: Iran warns of oil blockade, India secures LNG

Markets and oil prices remain volatile as the conflict intensifies; India secures additional gas supplies while Gulf nations intercept missiles and drones. Here are the top developments of the day

Who is an Ayatollah? Inside the Shia clerical system shaping Iran

After Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's death, Mojtaba Khamenei became Iran's Supreme Leader despite not being an Ayatollah. Here's how the Shia clerical hierarchy works and why it matters for Iran's politics

Trump calls on Australia to give asylum to Iranian women's soccer team

The Iranians' campaign in the Australian-hosted Asian Cup tournament started just as the US and Israel launched air strikes on Iran, killing the Islamic Republic's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei

FATF adds Kuwait, Papua New Guinea to increased monitoring list

Kuwait and Papua New Guinea have been placed under FATF's increased monitoring, while Iran, DPRK and Myanmar continue on the high-risk list requiring enhanced due diligence

Central banks across Europe face rising rate hike bets amid Iran war

The unusually sharp repricing came as major oil producers cut supply and fears grew of prolonged shipping disruptions, pushing crude above $119 a barrel its highest level since mid-2022

How West Asia conflict threatens LNG supply chain powering India's economy

West Asia conflict and disruption near the Strait of Hormuz threaten LNG shipments vital to India's fertiliser, power and manufacturing sectors, raising risks of supply shocks and higher energy costs

Iran women's football team faces threats after anthem protest in Australia

The situation escalated after members of the Iranian squad refused to sing the national anthem before their opening match against South Korea women's national football team.

Mojtaba Khamenei: Iran's new supreme leader faces US, Israel, anger at home

Mojtaba Khamenei embodies everything that the many thousands of people who have protested against the Islamic Republic in recent years oppose