Page 19 - Latest Updates on West Asia Conflict

US depleted roughly half of THAAD interceptors in defence of Israel: Report

The US has depleted nearly half of its total inventory of advanced missile-defence interceptors in defending Israel in the now-paused war with Iran, The Washington Post reported. The United States launched more than 200 Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, interceptors in defence of Israel - roughly half of the Pentagon's total inventory - along with more than 100 Standard Missile-3 and Standard Missile-6 interceptors fired from naval vessels in the eastern Mediterranean, the Post quoted US officials as saying. By contrast, Israel fired fewer than 100 of its Arrow interceptors and around 90 David's Sling interceptors, some of which were used against less sophisticated projectiles fired by Iran-backed groups in Yemen and Lebanon, the Post report said on Thursday. The US and Israel started the war with Iran on February 28 with attacks targeted at its military, navy and air force facilities. The attacks have also wiped out top Iranian leadership, including the supreme leader,

US, Iran are in intense indirect talks for drafting final agreement: Report

The report also said that intensive mediation efforts are underway, with Mohsin Naqvi currently in Iran to discuss the status of the Strait of Hormuz

Despite 'good signs' in Iran talks, 'other options' remain on table: Rubio

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday said that despite 'good signs' in Iran talks, 'other options' remain on the table. Being careful not to sound overtly optimistic, Rubio told reporters Thursday that while Pakistan and other regional allies are hard at work to bring a diplomatic resolution on Iran, with some officials travelling to Tehran today, Washington remains ready with alternative plans. "The president's preference is to do a good deal. That's his preference. It's always been his preference. If we can get a good deal done, that would be great," he said. "But if we can't get a good deal, the president's been clear he has other options." Rubio said that Iran's plan to toll Strait of Hormuz would make deal 'unfeasible' Talking to reporters on the tarmac in Florida, Rubio once again blasted Tehran's effort to financially benefit from its chokehold on the critical waterway. "No one in the world is in favour of a tolling system. It can't happen. It would be unacceptable

Iran reviewing Trump's latest proposal as clock ticks on ceasefire

Iran gave no indication of when it would respond to the US and reiterated it wants a commitment that fighting will end 'on all fronts, including Lebanon'

Inflation-fisc trade-off is likely to keep bond yields high for now

The upswing in the yield curve largely reflects worsening expectations around fiscal and inflation outcomes, an unfortunate fallout of the West Asia crisis for India's macros.

Oil rebounds on uncertainty over Iran peace deal, inventory drawdowns

Brent crude futures rose 81 cents, or 0.77 per cent, to $105.83 a barrel by 0055 GMT, ‌and US West Texas Intermediate futures were up 97 cents, or 0.99 per cent, at $99.23

Trump renews pressure as Iran warns retaliation may spread beyond West Asia

The US has insisted Iran surrender any plans for nuclear enrichment and reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial traffic - demands Tehran is refusing

US seeks to boost energy exports to India as Iran war disrupts supplies

India is struggling with an energy crisis caused by the nearly three-month-long war against Iran that the US and Israel launched in late February

If Iran doesn't make a deal, US will do some 'nasty' things: Trump

Trump further noted that the US was involved in various wars earlier, but the war on Iran has been on for only three months

Best of BS Opinion: Govt must allow greater price adjustments

From rising oil pressures and coal gasification to urban housing reform and RBI policy, today's BS Opinion explores the economic and structural challenges shaping India's future

Govt prepares to send oil tankers through Strait of Hormuz for new supply

India wants to continue importing energy from its traditional West Asia oil producers because supplies from alternate sources would take a longer time to reach the country

Early war goal was to install hard line former President as Iran's leader

An Israeli strike designed to free Mahmoud Ahmadinejad from house arrest in Tehran, US officials said, was part of an effort to bring about regime change and put him in power

Iran threatens war 'beyond the region' as Trump hints at new strikes

Six weeks since Trump paused Operation Epic Fury for a ceasefire, talks to end the war have largely stalled

Oil prices slip after Trump says US will end Iran war 'very quickly'

Brent crude oil futures fell ​88 cents, or 0.8 per cent, to $110.40 a barrel by 0410 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate futures were down 67 ‌cents, or 0.6 per cent, to $103.48

US lost 42 aircraft, including fighter jets, Reaper drones in Iran: CRS rpt

The number of aircraft damaged or destroyed may remain subject to revision due to multiple factors, including classification, ongoing combat activity, and attribution, said report

Trump threatens to resume strikes on Iran if there's no agreement soon

The comments once again raised the prospect of a return to active hostilities with Iran

A look at India's measures to cushion oil shock amid soaring prices

From curbing gold imports and raising fuel prices to tightening currency-market rules, authorities have stepped up efforts to conserve dollars, with the rupee hitting a new low Tuesday

US Senate passes resolution to limit Trump's powers to wage war on Iran

Senators approved a motion to discharge the resolution from committee in a 50-47 vote, with four Republican lawmakers joining most Democrats in support of the measure

Will end war 'very quickly' as Iran wants to make deal 'so badly: Trump

The US President further stated that global oil prices were expected to fall due to abundant supply

Iran could trigger 'nuclear arms race' in West Asia, says J D Vance

US Vice President J D Vance has said Iran having an atomic weapon would trigger a "nuclear arms race" worldwide and asserted that the US was "locked and loaded" to restart military operations if Tehran failed to reach a peace deal. Vance's remarks at a press conference at the White House on Tuesday came a day after President Donald Trump put off the decision to resume strikes on Iran at the request of Arab nations, including Qatar and the UAE, who said that Tehran was being "reasonable" in peace talks. "We think the Iranians want to make a deal. The president of the United States has asked us to negotiate in good faith. And that's exactly what we've done," the vice president said. But Vance warned that diplomacy will not come at the cost of Trump's key demand that Iran never obtain a nuclear weapon. "So as the president just told me, we're locked and loaded," Vance said, adding that he had a meeting with Trump before coming to the press briefing. "We don't want to go down that ...