Page 30 - Latest Updates on West Asia Conflict

US-Iran ceasefire, Hormuz reopening to ease shipping disruptions: FIEO

The announcement of a ceasefire, between the US and Iran, along with the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, will provide immediate relief to exporters by easing shipping disruptions, FIEO said on Wednesday. US President Donald Trump announced a two-week suspension of military strikes against Iran. Iran agreed to allow safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz during the ceasefire, triggering sweeping market moves across oil, equities and currencies. "The ceasefire and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz bring immediate relief to exporters by easing shipping disruptions, high freight rates, and insurance costs," Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) President SC Ralhan said. He said while this should help normalise logistics in the short term, exporters will remain cautious given the temporary nature of the truce. "Sustained stability is essential for restoring confidence and ensuring smooth trade flows," Ralhan added. The ceasefire announcement is important as the mid

Yes, risks are rising, but India can manage them: What RBI Guv Malhotra said

RBI flags rising risks from the West Asia conflict through energy prices and supply disruptions, but says India's economy is stronger and better placed to withstand shocks than before

RBI sees resilience despite West Asia crisis as it keeps repo rates steady

RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra said the West Asia conflict has raised risks to growth and inflation via oil, trade, and supply chains, but government steps on supply chains and exports may limit the imp

RBI Policy provides a practical picture of the road ahead amid West Asia war

Rate cuts can now be ruled out and the question will be more on when there can be a rate hike. A clearer picture will emerge over the next few months

'Big day for world peace': Trump hails ceasefire agreement with Iran

US President Donald Trump in a social media post declared the ceasefire agreement a "big day for World Peace" and that the US "will be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz." "There will be lots of positive action!" Trump predicted in his post. "Big money will be made. Iran can start the reconstruction process. We'll be loading up with supplies of all kinds, and just hangin' around' in order to make sure that everything goes well. I feel confident that it will." Trump's message on his Truth Social website signals Washington's concern about Iran maintaining its chokehold over the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf, through which 20% of all oil and natural gas passes in peacetime.

West Asia war: US-Iran announce 2-week ceasefire; Trump hints at China role

The US and Iran have agreed to a two-week ceasefire after Tehran said it would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and allow ships to pass safely through the vital global shipping route

Crude oil futures crash 6% to hit lower circuit after US-Iran ceasefire

Crude oil prices retreated sharply on Wednesday crashing by 6 per cent to hit their lower circuit level in futures trade, tracking weak global benchmarks after the US and Iran announced a two-week ceasefire. On the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), crude oil futures for the April delivery slumped by Rs 640, or 6 per cent, to Rs 10,029 per barrel -- its lower circuit limit. Similarly, the May contract declined by Rs 565, or 6 per cent, to Rs 8,860 per barrel, also hitting its lower circuit limit amid aggressive selling as easing tensions reduced fears of supply disruptions. Globally, oil prices retreated after the ceasefire announcement between the US and Iran, which is expected to restore supply flows through the Strait of Hormuz - a key transit route for nearly one-fifth of global oil shipments. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures for May delivery tumbled by USD 17.11, or 15.15 per cent, to USD 95.84 per barrel, while Brent oil for June contract plunged by USD 14.52, or 13.2

How Trump went from threatening Iran's annihilation to two-week ceasefire

President Donald Trump over the course of a day went from threatening Iran with "annihilation" to proclaiming that the battered Islamic Republic's leadership had presented a "workable" plan that led him to agree to a 14-day ceasefire that he expects to pave the way to end the nearly six-week-old war. The dramatic shift in tenor came as intermediaries, led by Pakistan, worked feverishly to head off a further escalation of the conflict. Even China - Iran's biggest trading partner and the United States' most significant economic competitor - quietly pulled strings to find a pathway toward a ceasefire, according to two officials briefed on the matter who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity. "The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East," Trump declared in a social media post announcing

FBI warned of Iran-linked threat to US even as White House downplayed risk

President Donald Trump publicly has minimized the possibility of Iranian attacks on American soil in response to other intelligence assessments in recent months

Suspending operations for two weeks, says Iraq's Islamic Resistance

Iran-backed Islamic Resistance in Iraq has suspended its operations in Iraq and across the region for two weeks

Bond yields slump, rupee strengthens ahead of RBI's monetary policy outcome

Cooling crude prices after a US-Iran ceasefire lifted sentiment, pulling down yields and supporting the rupee ahead of the Reserve Bank of India's policy decision

Trump finds his offramp with Iran, but causes of war remain unresolved

President Trump's short-term intimidation may have worked, but the fundamental divides with Iran are as sharp as they were in February

Israel backs ceasefire but deal excludes fighting in Lebanon: Netanyahu

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel backed the US ceasefire with Iran but that the deal doesn't cover fighting against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Netanyahu's office said in the statement Wednesday that Israel supported US President Donald Trump's decision to suspend strikes against Iran for two weeks subject to Iran immediately opening the Strait of Hormuz and stopping all attacks on the US Israel and countries in the region. His office said Israel also supports US efforts to ensure Iran no longer poses a nuclear or missile threat.

Gold rises to near three-week high after Trump pauses attacks on Iran

Bullion rose more than 3 per cent to its highest level since March 19

Missile alerts sound in West Asian countries despite Iran-US ceasefire

Israel and the United Arab Emirates both sounded missile alerts early Wednesday, despite Iran and the United States saying they had reached a two-week ceasefire in the war. It wasn't immediately clear what was being targeted in the two countries, which bore the brunt of the missile and drone fire during the war. Missile alerts also continued in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait early Wednesday, hinting at the chaos surrounding the diplomatic moves. Throughout the war, Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard has called the shots in all decisions. Individual commanders have made decisions on what to strike and when, with the nation's political leadership sidelined. Whether they agreed to stop shooting with the declared ceasefire and negotiations being planned in Islamabad remained in question. However, many Mideast wars see combatants launch last-minute attacks to be able to claim victory with their populations.

Shipowners eye Hormuz ceasefire window to move over 800 trapped vessels

The near-closure of the vital waterway for weeks has created an unprecedented global energy supply crunch, as Iran tightened its control in the aftermath of US and Israeli strikes

Iran includes 'acceptance of enrichment' in Farsi version of ceasefire plan

Iran in the Farsi-language version of its 10-point ceasefire plan included the phrase "acceptance of enrichment" for its nuclear programme, something that was missing in English versions shared by Iranian diplomats to journalists. It wasn't immediately clear why that term was missing. However, US President Donald Trump had said ending Iran's nuclear programme entirely was a key point of the war. Trump, after Iran issued its 10-point plan, had described it as fraudulent, without elaborating.

Protesters in Iran express outrage at US, Israel after ceasefire announced

Pro-government demonstrators in the streets of Iran's capital Wednesday morning after the ceasefire had been announced screamed: "Death to America, death to Israel, death to compromisers!" Organisers tried at a point to calm demonstrators, but they continued the chants. They also burned American and Israeli flags in the street. It shows the ongoing anger from hard-liners, who had been preparing for what many assumed would be an apocalyptical battle with the US.

IMF chief Georgieva warns world 'ill-equipped' to counter Iran war risks

By choking off shipments from the energy-rich Gulf region, the war has triggered a "negative supply shock, meaning that it pushes prices up, said Kristalina Georgieva

Pakistan invites US, Iran for talks in Islamabad 'to settle all disputes'

Pakistan on Wednesday invited the US and Iran for talks in Islamabad on Friday. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in a social media post announced that the US and Iran, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire amid the ongoing West Asia conflict. "With the greatest humility, I am pleased to announce that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere, including Lebanon and elsewhere, effective immediately," he said. Sharif said Pakistan has invited delegations from both countries to Islamabad on April 10 for face-to-face talks aimed at reaching a conclusive agreement "to settle all disputes". The prime minister expressed hope that the proposed "Islamabad Talks" would help achieve sustainable peace and stability in the region. The development follows Pakistan's diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the conflict that began on Feb 28 and had reached a turning point after US Preside