Page 15 - Latest Updates on West Asia Conflict

Iran war-driven scarcity hitting Asia may soon spread across the world

The Asia-Pacific was hit hard and quick by the war in Iran and its energy bottlenecks; scenes of crisis there indicate that problems are multiplying and spreading

'Immediate Results' vs 'The Long Game': US, Iran clash in high-stakes talks

As the United States and Iran make a second attempt at a deal, their negotiating styles are on a collision course

'Lots of bombs' to fall on Iran if no deal: Trump warns ahead of deadline

Trump warns of escalation ahead of April 22 deadline even as US plans fresh talks in Islamabad amid blockade continuing in the Strait of Hormuz

'We don't accept negotiations under shadow of threats': Iran Parl speaker

"We do not accept negotiations under the shadow of threats," Parliament speaker Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf wrote early Tuesday morning in Tehran in a social media post on X. He accused the United States of wanting Iran to surrender and said that on the contrary, Iran has been preparing "to reveal new cards on the battlefield." President Donald Trump said Vice President JD Vance, his son-in-law Jared Kushner and envoy Steve Witkoff would be going Monday to Islamabad, where Pakistani officials were preparing the venue, but Iranians made no commitment to a second round of talks with the US, and Vance's motorcade was later spotted at the White House. Trump said he's "highly unlikely" to renew the ceasefire before it expires at 0000 GMT Wednesday (8 pm ET Tuesday.) The escalating standoff threatened to deepen the energy crisis roiling the global economy after nearly two months of fighting that Iran's forensic chief has killed at least 3,375 people in Iran. Israel and Lebanon meanwhile said

New US-Iran deal 'far better' than 2015 deal: Trump slams Obama, Biden

Donald Trump vows 'better' Iran deal than Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action as US team heads to Islamabad for talks

Pakistan prepares for peace talks despite US seizure of Iranian cargo ship

President Donald Trump is defending his Iran war strategy, attacking critics and skeptics on Monday as "TRAITORS, ALL" after a second round of talks with Iran were thrown into doubt by the US Navy's seizure of an Iranian-flagged cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz. It was the first such interception since the US blockade of Iranian ports began last week, and Iran's military vowed to respond. Trump said Vice President JD Vance, his son-in-law Jared Kushner and envoy Steve Witkoff would be going in Islamabad on Monday, where Pakistani officials were preparing the venue, but Iranians made no commitment to a Round Two of talks with the US, and Vance's motorcade was later spotted at the White House. Trump appeared to throw cold water on hopes for an agreement, telling Bloomberg News Monday that he's "highly unlikely" to renew the ceasefire before it expires Wednesday. The escalating standoff threatened to deepen the energy crisis roiling the global economy after nearly two months of ...

Domestic production of oil, gas ramped up amid West Asia crisis: RBI Guv

The current crisis in West Asia significantly impacts India, as the region accounts for approximately one-sixth of the country's exports, half of its crude oil imports, and nearly two-fifths of the inward remittances, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Sanjay Malhotra said. During his address at Princeton University on April 18, 2026, the governor highlighted that the Indian economy has demonstrated resilient growth over the past decade, supported by robust policy frameworks, financial stability, and sound fiscal policies. He noted that, in response to the ongoing crisis, India is increasing its domestic production of oil and gas. "Sources of imports are being diversified. While there is no shortage of oil, given the reserves maintained by us, there is some rationing of gas for industrial purposes," he said. Malhotra emphasised that while oil marketing companies and the government have absorbed some of the price pressures in oil, a portion of the pressures on gas prices has been .

India in touch with Iran for safe exit of ships via Strait of Hormuz: MEA

India is in touch with the Iranian authorities for the safety of its ships and for their safe exit through the Strait of Hormuz, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Monday. The comments by MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal at an inter-ministerial briefing here on the West Asia situation came in response to a query on two Indian vessels having reported a firing incident recently while transiting the critical maritime sea lane. Details were also sought about the steps New Delhi has taken to ensure safety of Indian vessels. "In the past 48 hours, two Indian vessels, VLCC Samnar Herald and Bulk Carrier Jag Arnav, reported a firing incident while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, following which they returned to the Persian Gulf. There has been no injury to any crew reported," the Indian government said in an official statement after the briefing. The safety and security of Indian seafarers is the top priority of government of India, it said. "We have several of our ships in the Pers

China calls Hormuz international waterway; Xi presses for reopening

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday called for the opening of the Strait of Hormuz for normal passage of ships, as Beijing described it as an "international waterway" amid assertions by Iran that it has an inalienable right over it. The Strait of Hormuz should remain open to normal navigation, which is in the common interest of regional countries and the international community, Xi told Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during their phone talks, an official statement said. This is the first statement by the Chinese leader on the closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran, followed by the US blockade of Iranian ports in their current conflict. The closure of the Strait has resulted in acute energy shortages across the world, especially in Asia, and China, which is a major importer of Iranian oil, is increasingly concerned about the prolongation of the US-Israel-Iran war. "The Strait of Hormuz should remain open for normal passage, which aligns with the common interest of countr

Trump says Israel did not push US into Iran war, cites nuclear threat

Trump said Israel did not influence his decision to go to war with Iran, attributing the move instead to his long-held stance against Tehran acquiring nuclear weapons

Trump says team led by Vance heading to Pakistan for talks with Iran

Trump said the team would include Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff and the president's son-in-law Jared Kushner

Iran's missile, drone arsenal rebound despite US, Israeli strikes: Report

While US and Israeli strikes degraded Iran's arsenal and weapons manufacturing capacity, the latter has preserved sufficient capability to remain a credible threat

Truckers brace for first diesel price hike in four years amid Iran war

India is among the countries most exposed to the trade upheaval in the West Asia as the conflict extends into an eighth week

No decision yet for next round of negotiations with US, says Iran

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei on Monday said Tehran did not have plans yet to attend any talks with the United States. He did not rule out Iran attending talks. Authorities in Islamabad had been making preparations for another round that could potentially happen there this week. "So far, while I am here, we have no plans for the next round of negotiations and no decision has been made in this regard," Baghaei said during a news conference.

Doubts over talks between Iran, US as tensions rise in Strait of Hormuz

Pakistan moved ahead Monday with preparations for a new round of talks between the United States and Iran days before a tenuous ceasefire is set to expire, even as renewed conflict around the Strait of Hormuz raised questions about whether the meeting would take place. Over the weekend, the US attacked and seized an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel that it said had tried to evade its blockade of Iranian ports. Iran's joint military command vowed to respond, and its Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi told his Pakistani counterpart that American threats to Iranian ships and ports were "clear signs" of Washington's disingenuousness ahead of the planned talks, Iran state media reported. With tensions flaring and the ceasefire due to expire midweek, Pakistan has intensified diplomatic contacts with both Washington and Tehran over the past 24 hours with the goal of resuming the talks on Tuesday as planned, according to two Pakistani officials involved in the preparations. They spoke on condition o

Over 3,300 people, including 383 children killed in Iran during war

Iran on Monday offered a new death toll for the war with Israel and the United States, with its forensic chief saying at least 3,375 people had been killed in the conflict. The figure came from Abbas Masjedi, the head of Iran's Legal Medicine Organisation. Masjedi, quoted by the judiciary's Mizan news agency and other outlets Monday, said only four of the dead remain unidentified. His comments did not break down casualties among civilians and security forces, instead just saying that 2,875 were male and 496 were female. Masjedi said 383 of the dead were children 18 years old and under. Masjedi's figures raised questions about whether or not they included security force members, particularly given the levels of intense bombings targeting military bases and arsenals in the country.

'Monumental setback': Congress slams govt over Pak's role in US-Iran talks

The Congress on Monday took a swipe at the Modi government over Pakistan's role in the US-Iran peace talks, saying Pakistan Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir becoming a "huge favourite" of American President Donald Trump is a "monumental setback" for India which needs a complete overhaul of its diplomatic engagement strategy. The opposition party claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is "simply incapable" of the overhaul of India's diplomatic engagement strategy that is needed. In a post on X, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, "The 'dalal' country, as the erudite and always nattily dressed External Affairs Minister described it, is reportedly hosting the second round of US-Iran peace talks today." After the completion of the first round of these talks on April 12th, Pakistan borrowed USD 6 billion from Saudi Arabia and Qatar to repay a USD 3.5 billion loan taken from the UAE and to retire a USD 1.43 billion tranche of Eurobonds, he pointed

West Asia war: Trump to send team to Pak; Iran rejects talks citing breach

Trump says US officials will visit Pakistan for Iran talks as ceasefire nears end; Iran denies agreeing to talks, accusing the US of violating the truce and raising tensions further

Iran launches drones at US warships after attack on its commercial vessel

Iran also claimed that US forces stationed in the Sea of Oman were forced to retreat after firing at an Iranian merchant vessel

Committed to advancing regional peace, security: Pak PM to Iranian Prez

Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, during his telephonic conversation with Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian, reaffirmed the country's "honest" and "sincere" efforts to advance regional peace and security. During the approximately 45-minute conversation on Sunday, the two leaders engaged in detailed exchanges on the current regional situation, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in a statement. Prime Minister Sharif thanked President Pezeshkian and the Iranian leadership for sending their high-powered delegation, led by Speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, for talks in Islamabad on April 11 and 12. The US and Iran held rare direct talks in Pakistan on April 11 and 12 in Islamabad aimed at ending their conflict, but the talks concluded without any agreement. US President Donald Trump's announcement of the fresh round of talks raised hopes of extending a two-week ceasefire that expires by Wednesday. Also on Sunday, Trump announced t