Page 29 - Latest Updates on West Asia Conflict

Sri Lanka repatriates over 230 Iranian sailors from two naval vessels

Over 230 sailors of two Iranian Naval vessels distressed in Sri Lanka after a US submarine attack and engine failure respectively have been repatriated, defence officials said here Wednesday. A total of 238 sailors were sent back on board a Turkish Airliner late on Tuesday night. On March 4, Iran's naval ship 'Iris Dena' was attacked by the US killing 84 on board outside Sri Lanka's international waters. As many as 32 others were rescued by Sri Lanka. Then three days later, Iran's second ship 'Iris Bushehr' was allowed into Sri Lanka waters after it reported an engine failure. Over 200 on board the second ship were accommodated at Welisara, a Naval facility outside Colombo. The 238 repatriated on Tuesday were sailors from both ships, defence officials said. A group of 'Iris Dena' survivors were accommodated at Koggala, a Sri Lankan Airforce facility near the southern port of Galle. They were receiving treatment at the national hospital in Galle. On March 14, the Iranian embassy i

US-sanctioned tanker turns back to Strait of Hormuz, day after Gulf exit

US Central Command said no ships managed to pass through the blockade in the first 24 hours, adding that several vessels were instructed to turn back toward Iranian ports

West Asia war: Trump says conflict 'close to over' amid Hormuz blockade

The US says it has enforced a blockade on Iranian ports; Trump says the war is 'close to over', but warns action will continue as talks may resume soon

Over 10,000 troops enforcing blockade at Iranian ports, says US Centcom

The statement came after the United States began a naval blockade against Iran following the expiry of a deadline set by US President Donald Trump

Iran war 'very close' to ending, but US operations not yet complete: Trump

West Asia crisis: Even as the US President signalled a potential end to the conflict, Trump made it clear that US operations were not yet complete

Asian stocks scale six-week peak on hopes of renewed US-Iran peace talks

President Donald Trump said talks ​with Iran could resume in Pakistan over the next two days, after the collapse ‌of weekend negotiations prompted Washington to impose a blockade on Iranian ports

Iran restores limited internet connectivity in rare move to stem war losses

The move follows comments from an Iranian official that domestic businesses were losing $30 million to $40 million a day due to the internet blackout

Pope should be careful with words, says Vance on criticism over Iran war

Vance on Tuesday said he admired the pope and did not mind Leo weighing in on current events, but took issue with his stance on West Asia conflict

Oil falls as hopes of Iran talks ease Hormuz concerns, Brent at $94.27

Brent crude futures fell 52 cents, or 0.55 per cent, to $94.27 a ‌barrel at 0054 GMT after falling 4.6 per cent in the previous session

US, Iran seek second round of talks as Hormuz blockade stops ships

The war has damaged Gulf energy infrastructure and disrupted oil and gas supplies beyond the region, rattling markets and triggering fears of a global inflation crisis

Iran-US talks may resume in Pak with JD Vance likely to lead delegation

Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, who have headed diplomatic talks since before the war began, are also expected to attend any possible second meeting

First Israel-Lebanon talks productive, aim to start formal negotiations: US

The State Department says the first high-level meeting between Israel and Lebanon in decades was "productive" and will continue with the aim of launching direct negotiations. In a statement released after the two-hour session in Washington between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the ambassadors of Israel and Lebanon to the United States, the department said, "All sides agreed to launch direct negotiations at a mutually agreed time and venue." Israel has been fighting Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah movement and demands that the group, which opposed the talks and was not represented, be disarmed.

West Asia crisis: EAM Jaishankar speaks to Israeli, Australian counterparts

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday spoke to his Israeli counterpart Gideon Sa'ar and discussed various aspects of the West Asia crisis amid a US naval blockade of Iran's ports. The external affairs minister also held a phone conversation with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and exchanged views on the situation arising out of the war between Iran and the US-Israel combine. After his call with Jaishankar, Sa'ar said Iran's action harming freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz requires "action". "Had a telecon this afternoon with Israel FM @gidonsaar. Our discussion covered different aspects of the West Asia situation," Jaishankar said on social media. The phone conversation between the two foreign ministers came amid reports of efforts by the US and Iran to hold a fresh round of negotiations after the collapse of the initial dialogue in Islamabad. "We discussed Iran, the Strait of Hormuz, and Lebanon. I said that the firm American stance in the ...

Xi says rule of law must be upheld for West Asia peace, stability

The visit comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East after weekend talks between Washington and Tehran failed to reach a deal to end the war

Shipping bottlenecks squeeze pharma flows as Hormuz crisis impact deepens

India's pharmaceutical industry remains dependent on China for bulk drugs, particularly fermentation-based antibiotics, vitamins and intermediates

Lebanon, Israel hold first direct diplomatic talks in decades in Washington

Lebanon and Israel opened their first direct diplomatic talks in decades on Tuesday in Washington following more than a month of war between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called it a "historic opportunity" and made it clear no breakthrough agreement was immediately expected. Rubio said the Trump administration is "very happy" to be facilitating the discussions, while noting that "we understand we're working against decades of history and complexities" that will not be quickly resolved. Hezbollah opposes the direct talks and was not represented, and the group appeared to step up its fire on northern Israel as the talks began. "But we can begin to move forward with a framework where something can happen, something very positive, something very permanent, so that the people of Lebanon can have the kind of future they deserve, and so that the people of Israel can live without fear," Rubio said. Rubio and US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike

US-sanctioned tanker 'Rich Starry' tests Trump blockade with Hormuz exit

Shipowners, energy traders and investors across financial markets have been keenly following its route through Hormuz as they try to understand the latest US effort to pressure Tehran

Luxury watch industry faces fresh headwinds as Iran war dents demand

The bling is back, but the war in the Persian Gulf has tarnished the outlook for the luxury watch industry - the ultimate in bling. Starting Tuesday, Geneva hosts the annual "Watches and Wonders" fair, a premiere gathering in an industry eager for a rebound after two years of market contraction, hopefully including sales in oil-rich Gulf Arab countries. The US and Israeli war against Iran that began February 28, however, has had a sweeping impact on the global economy: Driving up energy prices, stalling shipments of fertiliser, disrupting air travel, among other things. High-end watches have not been spared. Soaring prices for precious metals like gold and silver over the last year and US President Donald Trump's Liberation Day tariffs launched a year ago - while down from peak levels - already affected the market. Now, renewed inflation pressures and doubts about consumer confidence are throwing new uncertainty into the market that generates tens of billions of dollars in revenue

Asian stocks gain, oil prices fall on hopes of renewed US-Iran talks

Asian stocks were trading higher tracking Wall Street gains and oil fell on Tuesday as expectations rose over a possible second round of talks between the US and Iran to end West Asia conflict. Tokyo's Nikkei 225 was up 2.4 per cent to 57,842.72. South Korea's Kospi jumped 3.4 per cent to 6,004.30. Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 0.4 per cent to 25,759.75, while the Shanghai Composite index climbed 0.6 per cent to 4,010.45. China on Tuesday reported worse-than-expected export growth of 2.5 per cent in March for the first month since the Iran war began. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.3 per cent, and Taiwan's Taiex rose 2.2 per cent. Investors are still hopeful for a lasting de-escalation of the Iran war, which is in its seventh week, as the US and Iran are said to be weighing a second round of talks before a temporary ceasefire agreement expires next week. The US military on Monday began a blockade of Iranian ports as Washington steps up its pressure on Tehran, following ceasefire ...

Iran war threatens to push 2.5 mn people in India into poverty: UNDP report

The conflict and military escalation in West Asia threatens to push 2.5 million people in India into poverty and the country is projected to experience some loss in its human development progress, according to estimates and projections by the United Nations. The United Nations Development Programme, in a report titled 'Military Escalation In The Middle East: Human Development Impacts Across Asia And The Pacific' noted that the conflict is "widening human development pressures across Asia and the Pacific. Through higher fuel, freight, and input costs, the shock is diminishing household purchasing power, raising food insecurity, straining public budgets, and weakening livelihoods." The preliminary assessment, issued Tuesday, estimates that globally 8.8 million people are at risk of falling into poverty and the West Asia military escalation could cost Asia-Pacific up to USD 299 billion. In India, poverty is expected to rise from around 400,000 to 2.5 million, the report said. It adde