Page 14 - Latest Updates on West Asia Conflict

US Navy fires at Iranian-flagged vessel in Gulf of Oman as part of blockade

According to CENTCOM, US forces acted after the vessel, identified as M/T Hasna, did not comply despite repeated warnings while transiting international waters toward an Iranian port

Peace deal with Iran 'possible', held 'good talks' over 44 hours: Trump

He further claimed that recent engagements between Washington and Tehran had shown progress, while reiterating his administration's hardline stance on Iran's military capabilities

Best of BS Opinion: Credit guarantee scheme will help small businesses

Today's opinion wrap explores the economic fallout of the West Asia conflict, digital governance reforms, telecom disaster preparedness and the growing role of AI in policymaking

US, Iran closing in on one-page memo to end war as talks progress: Report

The US expects Iranian responses on several key points within the next 48 hours. However, it also cautioned that no agreement has been reached yet

Will only accept 'fair and comprehensive agreement' with US, says Iran

Iranian Foreign Minister did not directly address Trump's offer of a pause in the US operation to escort ships via Hormuz, offered earlier as an incentive to help reach an agreement between two sides

China tells Iran 'comprehensive' ceasefire is needed as war drags on

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday evening he was pausing the US effort to guide stranded vessels out of the Strait of Hormuz to allow time for a deal to end the Iran war, but that the American forces' blockade of Iranian ports would remain in place. Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, in Beijing on Wednesday morning, the official Xinhua news agency reported, without providing further details. It was the first time since the start of the war that Araghchi has travelled to China, whose close economic and political ties to Tehran give it a unique position of influence. Earlier in Washington, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had expressed hope that Beijing would reiterate to Tehran the need to release its chokehold on the strait, which is a vital waterway for global energy. Iran's effective closure of the strait, through which major oil and gas supplies passed before the war, along with fertilizer and other petroleum produc

Iran enforces new rules in Hormuz; mandates prior permits for vessels

Shipping companies planning to navigate the chokepoint will now receive electronic instructions from an address affiliated with the Persian Gulf Strait Authority

Trump looks for a silver bullet to end Iran war, but there may be none

The president is trying to ratchet up the economic pressure on Tehran, but Iran's government is unlikely to make a deal without a big, face-saving compromise

White House insists war in West Asia is over, even while missiles fly

The White House is turning to rhetorical leaps as President Trump tries to put the biggest political crisis of his presidency behind him

China didn't challenge US naval blockade on Iran in Hormuz, says Trump

Trump noted China's reliance on oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz and said Beijing has maintained a respectful stance regarding the ongoing situation

Iran denies UAE's missile attack claims, warns against retaliatory action

The remarks come after a sharp rebuke from the UAE, which denounced the 'renewed unprovoked Iranian aggression' involving the deployment of drones and missiles

Asian markets hit records on AI euphoria, US-Iran peace deal hopes

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan jumped 2.3 per cent to a fresh record, led by a 5.1 per cent surge in South Korea's Kospi

Trump pauses Project Freedom in Hormuz in push for deal with Iran

Trump cited 'Great Progress' toward 'a Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran', however, he added that a US blockade would 'remain in full force and effect'

US proposes resolution to UNSC to defend free navigation, secure Hormuz

US State Secy Marco Rubio stated that the proposal comes at the direction of US President Donald Trump in conjunction with Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Qatar

Major military operations against Iran over, Op Epic Fury concluded: Rubio

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that major US military operations against Iran are over - but he stopped short of saying the conflict cannot be restarted. Rubio told reporters at the White House that "Operation Epic Fury" - the attack the US and Israel mounted on Iran on Feb. 28 - "is concluded" because its objectives were met. Rubio said recent clashes with Iran related to US efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz were "defensive in nature." "We're not cheering for an additional situation to occur," he said. "We would prefer the path of peace." He said Iran must agree to President Donald Trump's demands on its nuclear program and reopen the strait, a waterway vital to global oil and gas supplies. US forces pressed ahead with an effort to guide commercial ships through the strait, but so far only two vessels are known to have passed through. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the US prefers a peaceful effort to guide vessels out of the Persian Gulf but is ready to ac

Trump says great progress in agreement with Iran, suspends Project Freedom

President Donald Trump has suspended "Project Freedom," to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, claiming progress in negotiations with Iran toward an agreement to end the war. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, "Great progress has been made toward a complete and final agreement withrepresentatives of Iran." "Based on the request of Pakistan and other Countries, the tremendous Military Success that we have had during the Campaign against the Country of Iran and, additionally, the fact that Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran, we have mutually agreed that, while the Blockade will remain in full force and effect, Project Freedom (The Movement of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz) will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalized and signed," Trump said.

Hegseth, Caine say US-Iran ceasefire is not over despite fresh attacks

US forces launched an effort to guide commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, with the first two ships, both American-flagged merchant vessels, sailing through unscathed. Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine said the safety corridor in the key waterway for oil and gas transport involves guided-missile destroyers, more than 100 aircraft and 15,000 service members. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the forces prefer a peaceful effort to "guide" the more than 22,500 mariners stuck on more than 1,550 vessels out of the Persian Gulf, but are ready if needs change. "This is a temporary mission for us," Hegseth said. "We expect the world to step up." Iran has denounced the move as a ceasefire violation. It is unclear what will follow. The US Central Command said Iran earlier launched multiple cruise missiles, drones and small boats at civilian ships under the US military's protection, and that US helicopters sank six small boats involved in the attacks. It denied Iranian ...

US-Iran ceasefire holds after Hormuz clashes, UAE missile strikes

Violence had erupted after US President Donald Trump announced "Project Freedom," which he described as a humanitarian effort to guide neutral ships stranded in the Gulf through Hormuz

India's auto dealers brace for Iran war impact on supply chain, fuel costs

While the impact is not broad-based, the repercussions could last for a few months even if the conflict ends, Sai Giridhar, vice-president of Fada said

'Unacceptable': India condemns Fujairah attack, urges halt to hostilities

India on Tuesday described the wounding of three Indians in an attack on the United Arab Emirates' port city of Fujairah as "unacceptable" and pressed for an immediate cessation of hostilities targeting innocent civilians. New Delhi's reaction came a day after the Indians were injured after a drone attack caused a fire at a major oil industry zone in Fujairah. The UAE had accused Iran of carrying out the strike. "The attack on Fujairah that resulted in injury to three Indian nationals is unacceptable," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. "We call for immediate cessation of these hostilities and the targeting of civilian infrastructure and innocent civilians," the spokesperson said. Jaiswal said India continued to stand for dialogue and diplomacy to deal with the situation so that peace and stability could be restored across West Asia. "We also call for free and unimpeded navigation and commerce through the Strait of Hormuz in keeping with international law