Page 22 - Latest Updates on West Asia Conflict

Trump warns Iranian 'fast-attack' ships near US blockade will be eliminated

He issued a stark warning that any such vessels approaching a US "blockade" would be "immediately eliminated," describing the response as "quick and brutal"

US to block Iranian ports along Strait of Hormuz: Decoding the impact

US forces will begin restricting Iran-linked ships in the Strait of Hormuz starting today. While others can pass, the move puts focus on key Gulf ports and risks to global oil supply routes

India's missing eyes in the sky

Gaps in India's surveillance fleet highlight serious vulnerability in a conflict situation

A low-cost drone in wide use

Designed for mass saturation, Iran's Shahed-136 overwhelms defences by making quantity count, creationg an unaffordable cost asymmetry for adversaries.

UK, France to soon hold conference on Hormuz safe navigation, says Macron

France and UK will hold a conference in the coming days to build support for a multinational mission to ensure safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, Macron said, amid US-Iran tensions

Three tankers attempt Strait of Hormuz transit after US flags blockade

The New Future, which has no clear links to Iran, and the US-sanctioned Auroura, began moving northeast early Monday from waters off the United Arab Emirates

'No port in Gulf will be safe', warns Iran after US declares blockade

Iran threatened ports in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman after the US announced a blockade on Iran's ports and coastline. "Security in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman is either for everyone or for no one," according to the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, IRIB. "No port in the region will be safe," the Iranian military said.

Asean urges US, Iran to sustain ceasefire, ensure safe passage via Hormuz

Southeast Asian countries urged the United States and Iran on Monday to keep going with peace negotiations, enforce a ceasefire and restore the safe passage of ships, seafarers and aircraft in the Strait of Hormuz. The foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations made the urgent plea as they held an emergency video conference, the second in recent weeks, to assess the impact of the war in the Middle East, including soaring fuel prices, and how they could cooperate in the face of global crises. The 11-nation bloc reminded "the obligations of all states to resolve their differences through peaceful means, to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations, to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure in armed conflicts". It called "for the full and effective implementation of the ceasefire, aimed at preventing further suffering and loss of lives, ensuring maritime security and freedom of navigation and overflight".

China denies arms supply to Iran, rejects US claims as 'ill-intended'

Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun rejected reports that Beijing is set to supply military hardware to Tehran

World Bank chief warns of looming jobs crisis even after Iran war ends

World Bank chief said governments must balance immediate crises with long-term priorities including job creation, clean water access and electrification

Hezbollah claims 43 attacks on Israel amid escalating West Asia tensions

Hezbollah also claimed responsibility for shelling newly established Israeli positions in southern Lebanon and striking additional military sites

From Berlin Blockade to Strait of Hormuz: A history of wartime blockades

As the US plans a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz after failed Iran talks, here's a look at how wartime blockades -- from world wars to today -- have disrupted trade and daily life globally

Rescued airmen from Iran are in 'good shape', we're proud of them: Trump

The two crew members of the F-15E Strike Eagle, the first lost to enemy fire in the monthlong war, had both ejected from the cockpit on April 3 after Iran's military struck their plane

China to gain as Iran war-driven energy crisis boosts shift to clean tech

China is poised to benefit from the Iran war as global energy disruptions accelerate a shift away from fossil fuels and toward clean technologies and renewable power, industries that China dominates. Most of the oil and gas from the now mostly shut Strait of Hormuz was Asia-bound. Asian nations are scrambling to conserve energy and bolster dwindling reserves. As a temporary ceasefire teeters, gasoline prices in the US and Europe are spiking. While most of Asia is hit hard, China will likely benefit from the fossil fuel disruptions despite being the biggest purchaser of Iranian oil. China leads the world in battery, solar and electric vehicle exports, and its industries are forecast to face a rise in demand for renewable products. Before the start of the Iran war in late February, China's lead in clean technologies was lengthening. The US under President Donald Trump scaled back on renewable energy and leaned on its vast oil and gas resources, promoting energy exports to achieve what

Netanyahu appoints military secy Major General Gofman as new Mossad chief

Praising Gofman's credentials, Netanyahu described him as an 'outstanding officer--bold and creative,' adding that he had demonstrated 'impressive resourcefulness'

We pay trillions of dollars, they weren't there for us: Trump slams Nato

Trump said that the US spent trillions of dollars on guarding Europe against Russia

Vance-led talks with Iran helped build goodwill despite no breakthrough

US Vice President JD Vance-led talks for peace with Iran may have been unsuccessful, but the 21-hour-long discussions helped build goodwill with the new leadership in Tehran, according to a media report. The Washington Post, quoting unnamed US officials, reported that the measure of goodwill established during the talks in Islamabad has made Washington believe that Iran may accept their terms to end the deadly and costly war. It said that President Donald Trump's announcement of a US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz could force Iran to agree to a deal. "A US official with knowledge of the negotiations, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the closed-door talks, said Vance was keenly aware going into the negotiations of the mistrust and risk of misunderstanding between the United States and Iran," the report said. The official said Vance and the US negotiators had developed rapport and became warmer with each other. Trump appeared to share the assessment. "We had a ve

Ships with Iran oil anchor off India as Trump announces Hormuz blockade

India hasn't received Iranian oil since 2019, however, a waiver last month, allowed purchases of crude already on the water, a bid to ease the impact of West Asia on global supply

Rupee falls 49 paise to 93.32 against dollar in early trade amid Iran war

The rupee depreciated 49 paise to 93.32 against the US dollar in early trade on Monday, weighed down by higher crude oil prices and a firm American currency amid a volatile geopolitical situation. Renewed tension in West Asia and uncertainties on the opening of the Strait of Hormuz following inconclusive Iran-US peace talks triggered a surge in crude oil prices, while investors rushed to withdraw funds from domestic equities, putting further pressure on the Indian currency, forex traders said. At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 93.30 against the US dollar and lost further ground, trading at 93.32 against the greenback in early deals, down 49 paise from its previous closing level. On Friday, the rupee settled 32 paise lower at 92.83 against the US dollar. Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, was higher by 0.38 per cent at 98.81. Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was trading higher by 7

West Asia war: US blockade of Iran ports begins today as tensions rise

US Central Command said a blockade of Iranian ports will begin Monday at 10 am ET (7:30 pm IST); ships between non-Iranian ports can still pass Hormuz. Here are the top updates at 9 am IST