Page 12 - Latest Updates on West Asia Conflict

UK, France to host nations for talks on mission to escort ships via Hormuz

We are turning diplomatic agreement into practical military plans to restore confidence for shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, UK Defence Secretary John Healey said

Iran makes new offer on uranium stockpile in response to US peace proposal

As a series of incidents continues to threaten a shaky ceasefire, Tehran hasn't yet given any public indication it would accept Donald Trump's plan

Iran warns France, Britain against naval presence in Strait of Hormuz

Iran's deputy foreign minister warned against a planned French-British effort that aims to support maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz after hostilities are over. "The presence of French and British vessels, or those of any other country, for any possible cooperation with illegal US actions in the Strait of Hormuz that violate international law will be met with a decisive and immediate response from the armed forces," Kazem Gharibabadi said on social media. French President Emmanuel Macron responded by saying it won't be a military deployment but an international mission to secure shipping once conditions allow. Several attacks against ships in the Persian Gulf have occurred over the past week, and a US effort to "guide" ships through the strait was quickly paused. South Korea announced initial findings from an investigation that said two unidentified airborne objects struck the South Korean-operated vessel HMM NAMU about one minute apart while it was anchored in the strait l

Iran responds to US ceasefire proposal but Trump rejects it as unacceptable

Iran sent its response to the latest US ceasefire proposal via Pakistani mediators and wants negotiations to focus on permanently ending the war, but President Donald Trump quickly rejected it as "TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!" with no details. Iran seeks to end the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon, where Israel is fighting the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group, and to ensure the security of shipping, state TV said. Washington's latest proposal addressed a deal to end the war, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and roll back Iran's nuclear program. Trump earlier on social media accused Tehran of "playing games" with the United States for nearly 50 years, adding: "They will be laughing no longer!" Trump is giving diplomacy "every chance we possibly can before going back to hostilities," the US ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, told ABC earlier. Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not been seen or heard publicly since the war began, "issued new and decisiv

West Asia conflict highlights need for India to build natural gas reserves

Rising import dependence and supply disruptions amid West Asia tensions underscore the urgency for India to build strategic natural gas reserves and strengthen LNG storage capacity

Iranian businesses buckle under strain of record internet shutdown

Iran imposed heavy restrictions on internet after Israel and US started their war on the country in late February, having earlier blocked online access during nationwide protests the previous month

Qatar LNG tanker makes fresh attempt to transit through Hormuz Strait

The ship is navigating the Tehran-approved northern route near Qeshm and Larak islands, the tracking data show

Long overlooked, Caspian Sea provides strategic trade route for Iran

The landlocked body of water has taken on new significance, with Russia shipping military and commercial goods to bolster Tehran's ability to withstand the US assault

US, Iran remain deadlocked as Gulf clashes test fragile ceasefire

Sporadic clashes continued on Friday between Iranian forces and US vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's semi-official Fars news agency reported

Global oil stockpiles deplete at record pace due to Iran war disruptions

The sharp depletion will also mean the market stays vulnerable for longer to future disruptions even after the conflict ends

UK moves warship to West Asia for potential Strait of Hormuz mission

France recently announced it had moved its Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier to the Red Sea in a move aimed at signaling that the coalition stood ready to secure the strait

1 Indian sailor killed, several injured in dhow fire near Strait of Hormuz

An Indian sailor was killed and several others injured after their wooden dhow caught fire near the Strait of Hormuz, government sources said on Saturday Seventeen other Indian crew members were rescued following the incident on Friday, they said, noting that the exact cause of the blaze is still being ascertained. The crew members were rescued by a vessel which was passing by in the area, the sources said. The incident came amid increasing hostilities between Iran and the US in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime chokepoint between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman through which a significant portion of the world's oil supply passes. "A wooden Dhow, carrying general cargo, with 18 Indian crew capsized yesterday close to the Strait of Hormuz after it caught fire," said a source. "In this incident, one Indian on the dhow died while four received burn injuries. The injured are receiving medical treatment in Dubai and are safe," the source said. Officials from the Indian Cons

Trump warns of 'Project Freedom plus' to escort vessels if Iran talks fail

If a deal is not reached with Iran, Trump added that the renewed effort would be expanded into what he called 'Project Freedom plus'

US fires on, disables 2 more Iranian tankers as tensions rise in Hormuz

US forces have fired on and disabled two Iranian oil tankers after exchanging fire with Iranian forces in the Strait of Hormuz overnight. The United Arab Emirates, meanwhile, reported another Iranian missile and drone attack. The attacks on Friday cast more doubt on a tenuous month-old ceasefire that the United States has insisted is still in effect. Washington is awaiting an Iranian response to its latest proposal for a deal to end the war, reopen the strait and roll back Tehran's disputed nuclear program. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he hopes to receive "a serious offer" from Iran later Friday. The US military said Friday that its forces had disabled two Iranian tankers that were trying to breach an American blockade of Iran's ports. Hours earlier, the military said it thwarted attacks on three Navy ships and struck Iranian military facilities in the strait. Iran has mostly blocked the critical waterway for global energy since the US and Israel launched the war on Feb.

Marco Rubio urges Europe to act on Iran during Italy, Vatican visit

He also stressed the importance of continued US troop presence in Europe amid concerns about possible reductions

US expects Iran's response to peace plan aimed at ending Gulf war

Araghchi accuses the US of undermining diplomatic efforts to end war

Toyota expects $4.3 bn hit from Iran war fallout amid supply disruptions

Toyota posted an operating profit of 569.4 billion yen ($3.6 billion) for the three months ended March 31, compared with 1.1 trillion yen a year earlier

West Asia conflict tests Wall Street firms' addiction to Mideast money

Private equity and asset managers are reassessing fundraising expectations from Gulf sovereign wealth funds as the Iran conflict triggers caution despite assurances from major Middle Eastern investors

Brent up 1% on renewed Iran clashes as AI drives Asia stocks to weekly rise

Benchmark Brent crude futures were up ​about 1 per cent to $101 a barrel, while European stocks fell 0.9 per cent

Global food prices hit 3-year high as Iran war disrupts supply chains

United Nations' index of food-commodity prices gained 1.6 per cent in April, led by higher vegetable oil, meat and cereal prices