Page 35 - Latest Updates on West Asia Conflict

White House rules out ceasefire extension, says talks with Iran 'ongoing'

White House Press Secretary said there was no formal request to extend the fragile ceasefire, while stressing that negotiations continue between the two sides

Israel, US goals on Iran 'identical', ready for any scenario: Netanyahu

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday said Israel and the US share "identical goals" in the ongoing conflict with Iran. The Israeli prime minister said the US has been keeping Israel updated on its contacts with Iran and reiterated that both nations seek the removal of enriched material, an end to Iran's enrichment capabilities, and the reopening of key maritime routes. "Our goals and those of the United States are identical: We want to see the enriched material removed from Iran, we want to see the cancellation of enrichment capabilities within Iran, and of course, we want to see the opening of the straits," Netanyahu said in a statement. "It is too early to say how this matter will end, or even how it will progress. In anticipation of the possibility that fighting may resume, we are prepared for any scenario," he said, referring to the fragile two-week ceasefire between Iran and US-Israel set to end on April 22. As Israeli forces and the Shi'ite Lebanese group Hezbollah

Will impose secondary sanctions if Iranian funds flow through China: US

The remarks come amid broader US efforts to tighten economic pressure on Iran and curb its financial networks, particularly those linked to oil trade and alleged support for proxy groups

Iran threatens to disrupt Gulf trade in response to US blockade of Hormuz

The commander of Iran's joint military command on Wednesday threatened to halt trade in the Gulf region if the US does not lift its blockade on Iranian ports. No vessels have made it past US naval forces during the first 48 hours of the blockade, according to the US Central Command. Even so, US President Donald Trump said the war in Iran was "very close to over" in an interview that aired Wednesday. Trump also claimed that China has agreed not to provide weapons to Iran as reports circulate that Beijing has considered transferring arms. China's Foreign Ministry has repeatedly denied in recent days that the country is providing any form of military support to Iran. Separately, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned on Wednesday that the US is preparing to ramp up economic pain on Iran by levying secondary sanctions on financial institutions that do business with the Middle Eastern nation. Bessent called the measure the "financial equivalent" of the bombing campaign. Meanwhile, ...

Hezbollah slams Lebanon-Israel talks as 'national sin' amid strikes

Israeli strikes rocked southern Lebanon overnight and into Wednesday. Smoke rose over the coastal city of Tyre, underscoring the fragility of diplomatic efforts

Trump says Iran war near end as Pakistan army chief reaches Tehran

The diplomatic push came as US and Iranian officials weighed a return to Pakistan for further talks after negotiations there ended on Sunday without a breakthrough

US, Iran agree 'in principle' to extend ceasefire amid tensions: Report

As per a report, both sides - the US and Iran - are making progress and appear willing to prolong the truce to create space for continued diplomatic engagement

Pakistan plans two-hour evening power cuts to tackle energy crisis

Distribution companies in Pakistan have been directed to inform consumers in advance about scheduled outages and to avoid unscheduled power cuts

Minehunters move to Hormuz as US forces six vessels to return amid blockade

The blockade, ordered by US President Donald Trump, has effectively halted maritime trade to and from Iran

IAEA chief calls for strict nuclear checks in any US-Iran deal to end war

The head of the UN's nuclear watchdog said Wednesday that "very detailed" measures to verify Iran's nuclear activities must be included in a potential US-Iran agreement to end their war in the Middle East. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi stressed the need for the thorough verification regime for Iran's nuclear programme, as US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that a second round of talks with Iran could happen over the next two days. The Trump administration has said that preventing Iran from gaining a nuclear weapon is a key war aim. Iran has previously said it isn't developing such weapons but rejected limits on its nuclear programme. Last weekend in Pakistan, an initial round of talks between the two countries failed to produce an agreement. The White House said Iran's nuclear ambitions were a central sticking point. But an Iranian diplomatic official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the closed-door

Children killed in Lebanon as Israeli-Hezbollah strikes hit homes

Jawad Younes, 11, and his cousins were playing soccer in the lot between their houses, as they often did. His little brother, 4-year-old Mehdi, had joined them but grew tired, so Jawad took him home and handed him off to their mother before returning to the game. Minutes later, an Israeli strike came. The target was Jawad's uncle's home. The blast shook neighbouring buildings and threw Jawad's siblings at home to the ground. As their mother, Malak Meslmani, scrambled to help them up, she could think only of Jawad. "I was pulling my children off the floor in the house, but as I was running to pick them up, I screamed, Jawad,'" she said. "My heart told me." Her son was instantly killed in the March 27 Israeli strike in Saksakieh. So was one of his cousins - so close they were more like brothers. Several other children were wounded. Jawad's uncle also was killed. He was an interior design engineer; Jawad wanted to be an engineer like him. Meslmani called him a civilian. But like many

Iran used Chinese spy satellite to target US bases during conflict

The TEE-01B satellite, built and launched by Chinese company Earth Eye Co, was acquired by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force in late 2024, according to a report

Trump rules out ceasefire extension, prefers 'deal' with Iran to end war

Trump says ceasefire may not need extension, signals diplomacy as preferred path even as US operations continue and fresh talks with Iran are possible before the truce deadline

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