Page 20 - Latest Updates on West Asia Conflict

Iran resumes commercial flights from Tehran int'l airport amid peace effort

Iran resumed commercial flights from Tehran's international airport on Saturday for the first time since the conflict with the US and Israel began about two months ago. Iran's state-run television reported that flights took off from the Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran bound for Istanbul, Oman's capital of Muscat and the Saudi city of Medina. Flightradar24, a flight tracking platform, showed that at least three Istanbul-bound flights departed Saturday morning. Iran partly reopened its airspace earlier this month amid a ceasefire with the US, which halted fighting between the two countries.

No clarity on US-Iran peace talks as Islamabad stays under lockdown

Large parts of Pakistan's capital remain under a tight security lockdown for over a week on Saturday, even as uncertainty persisted over the proposed second round of talks between the US and Iran. Arterial roads leading into Islamabad are sealed, while the Red Zone, housing key government buildings and diplomatic missions, remains under a strict security cordon. In the adjacent commercial 'Blue Area', markets are deserted, cafes are running short of supplies, and public transport disruptions with no service at bus terminals have left commuters stranded. For residents, uncertainty has become the hardest part. Islamabad is a city of transients, where many residents work during the week and return to family homes at the weekend. This is the second lockdown in recent weeks. Islamabad was earlier sealed on April 11 for talks between the US and Iranian delegations that ended without a deal. The city briefly reopened before restrictions were reimposed as Pakistan prepared to host another

Jet fuel shortages could make summer travel 'total mess', push fares higher

Facing sky-high fuel costs linked to the war in Iran, airlines are cutting routes and raising prices; European vacations are looking a lot less affordable

US interventions in Iran, Venezuela driven by oil: Russian foreign minister

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused US of oil-driven interventions, slammed 'dominance' doctrine

Disapproval of Trump hits highest level of second term amid Iran war

The president's weakening poll numbers come as the war in Iran has driven up gas prices, and more Americans are expressing concerns about the economy

US escalates rhetoric against Iran as blockade pressure intensifies

As the blockade deepens and rhetoric intensifies, the path forward remains uncertain, with both sides signaling resolve in a standoff that could shape regional security dynamics in the months ahead

Israel, Hezbollah exchange strikes despite ceasefire extension with Lebanon

The Israel Defence Forces said it carried out strikes on Hezbollah rocket launchers in the southern Lebanese towns of Yater and Kafra

'Iran has important chance to make a deal': Hegseth as US tightens blockade

Hegseth emphasized both diplomatic and military pathways, while asserting that enforcement actions are already underway across key waterways

Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi arrives in Pakistan for peace talks

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Islamabad late Friday night to discuss regional developments and the US-Iran ceasefire with Pakistan's top leadership, reviving hopes for the second round of talks with America to end the war in West Asia. He is accompanied by a small delegation, which includes Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei. Araghchi would meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Gen Asim Munir, a Pakistani official said, adding that the Iranian minister may also meet the US officials for the second round of peace talks. US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are travelling to Pakistan on Saturday for direct talks with the Iranian delegation, the White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News. The Pakistan Foreign Office said the Iranian leader was received by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Field Marshal Munir along with other senior officials upon arrival. "During the visit, the Ira

No direct talks planned with US representatives in Islamabad: Iran

Shortly after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi touched down in Pakistan, his government made it clear that there would be no direct negotiations with American government representatives during this visit. Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmael Baqaei said on X that "No meeting is planned to take place between Iran and the US." Instead, Baqaei said Pakistani officials would convey messages between the delegations. Baqaei thanked the Pakistani government for its "ongoing mediation & good offices for ending American imposed war of aggression." The White House said earlier Friday that its envoys would meet Araghchi.

US sanctions China-based oil refinery, 40 shippers over Iranian oil

The Trump administration is placing economic sanctions on a major China-based oil refinery and roughly 40 shipping companies and tankers involved in transporting Iranian oil. The move, announced Friday and first reported by The Associated Press, makes good on the Trump administration's threat to impose secondary sanctions on companies and countries that do business with Iran. It's also part of the Republican administration's overall ramped-up campaign to cut off Iran's key source of revenue - its oil exports. Concurrently, the US this month imposed a physical blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf waterway that is crucial to global energy supplies. These sanctions come just a few weeks before President Donald Trump and China's Xi Jinping are due to meet in China. Included in Friday's sanctions is Hengli Petrochemical's facility in the port city of Dalian, which has a processing capacity of roughly 400,000 barrels of crude oil per day, making it one of the biggest ...

Iran lays mines in Hormuz for the second time since war began: Report

US military reportedly aware of how many new mines Iran has deployed

Iran conflict hits Asia's polyester suppliers to global fast fashion

SURAT, India, April 24 (Reuters) - A surge in fossil fuel prices since the Iran war is squeezing polyester suppliers and garment makers across India and Bangladesh, threatening to raise costs for fast-fashion retailers like Zara and H&M.

Emkay downgrades OMCs as oil prices surge; FY27 earnings may fall up to 60%

Emkay Global has cut ratings on OMC stocks as rising crude and windfall tax may hit margins. The brokerage sees up to 60% decline in FY27 earnings for HPCL, BPCL, IOCL

Talks with US in Pakistan was 'strategic mistake', says Iranian lawmaker

Member of Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, Mahmoud Nabavian said - 'Putting the nuclear issue on the negotiation table in Pakistan was a strategic mistake'

Iran war sees US burn through expensive weapons, testing inventory limits

Commanders are concerned about the Pentagon's shift of long-range precision weapons from the Asia-Pacific region to West Asia, congressional officials say

How the war in Iran is shifting from bombardment to a test of wills

The conflict has morphed into a volatile standoff in the Strait of Hormuz, as the economic costs mount and US President Trump faces a political backlash at home

Trump's order to attack Iran gunboats highlights danger of 'mosquito fleet'

The target, Iran's so-called 'mosquito fleet', has been known to US officials for years and weapons testers have regularly evaluated new warships' ability to counter it

'Fracture has occurred in the enemy': Mojtaba Khamenei hails Iran's unity

In a message published on X, Mojtaba Khamenei said, 'Due to the strange unity created among compatriots, a fracture has occurred in the enemy'

Oil rises on concerns over escalating tensions in West Asia; Brent at $106

Both benchmark contracts settled up more than 3 per cent on Thursday and jumped $5 a barrel after reports that air defences were engaging targets over Tehran