Page 4 - Latest Updates on West Asia Conflict

Iran describes its proposal to end war with US as legitimate, generous

Iran Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei accused US of 'upholding unreasonable and one-sided demands'

'Proofs of failure': Rahul Gandhi slams PM Modi over seven appeals

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi further accused PM Modi of shifting the responsibility to the public so that the government could itself escape from accountability

Rajnath Singh chairs Informal Group Meeting on evolving West Asia situation

The meeting was held to review the evolving situation in the region and discuss related matters

Oil rises $4 as US and Iran disagree on peace proposal; Brent at $105

US West Texas Intermediate was at $99.85 a barrel, up $4.43, or 4.64 per cent

Asia braces for second wave of energy shocks as US-Iran peace talks falter

Asia's first defences against energy shocks from the Iran war are running short and a more consequential second wave of impacts is beginning to hit. When the war started, governments scrambled to adapt to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for energy flowing to Asia. They made difficult trade-offs: saving power at the risk of slowing businesses, prioritising gas for households at the risk of fertiliser production and dipping into energy stockpiles for temporary relief. But these measures were based on the war lasting only a short time, allowing a quick resumption of energy flows. That has not happened. With no clear end in sight, the fuel crisis is now rippling across economies. Airfare costs, shipping rates and utility bills are climbing, jeopardizing economic growth. About 8.8 million people are in danger of being pushed into poverty and the conflict may cause USD 299 billion in economic losses to the Asia-Pacific region, according to the United Nations ...

India's growth to slow to 6.7% on waning momentum, oil price shock: BMI

India's economic growth is likely to decelerate to 6.7 per cent in the current fiscal, from 7.7 per cent in 2025-26, with the GDP expansion expected to slow significantly due to waning momentum and oil price shock from Iran war, BMI said on Monday. BMI, a Fitch Group firm, also said that the prospect of the Iran-US conflict escalating in scope presents downside risk to its growth outlook and India must balance spending needs on defence and fuel price stabilisation against fiscal consolidation agenda. The tax reforms in GST and income tax carried out in 2025 will partly offset effects of cost-push inflation, BMI said, adding looser monetary policy will support capital spending, as increased uncertainty amid the war and higher input prices hurt investment. BMI estimates that India's economy grew 8 per cent y-o-y in the January-March quarter of 2026, faster than its original 7.8 per cent projection. It has revised its growth forecast for 2025-26 upwards by 0.1 percentage points to 7.7

Rupee crashes 139 paise to 94.90 against US dollar in early trade

The rupee crashed 139 paise to 94.90 against the greenback in early trade on Monday after President Donald Trump rejected Iran's response to the US's peace proposal, following which crude oil prices surged rapidly. A strengthening US dollar and steep FPI outflows further pressured the local unit, according to forex traders. At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 94.97 against the US dollar before inching up to 94.90, down a staggering 139 paise from its previous close. On Friday, the rupee pared its losses and ended with a sharp gain of 71 paise at 93.51 against the greenback. Iran has sent its response to the latest US ceasefire proposal via Pakistani mediators and wants negotiations to focus on permanently ending the war, Iran's state-run media said on Sunday. Trump rejected Iran's proposal to end the months-long war as "totally unacceptable" without sharing details even as a key Republican leader urged him to consider the "military option". "After US President

UK, France to host nations for talks on mission to escort ships via Hormuz

We are turning diplomatic agreement into practical military plans to restore confidence for shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, UK Defence Secretary John Healey said

Iran makes new offer on uranium stockpile in response to US peace proposal

As a series of incidents continues to threaten a shaky ceasefire, Tehran hasn't yet given any public indication it would accept Donald Trump's plan

Iran warns France, Britain against naval presence in Strait of Hormuz

Iran's deputy foreign minister warned against a planned French-British effort that aims to support maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz after hostilities are over. "The presence of French and British vessels, or those of any other country, for any possible cooperation with illegal US actions in the Strait of Hormuz that violate international law will be met with a decisive and immediate response from the armed forces," Kazem Gharibabadi said on social media. French President Emmanuel Macron responded by saying it won't be a military deployment but an international mission to secure shipping once conditions allow. Several attacks against ships in the Persian Gulf have occurred over the past week, and a US effort to "guide" ships through the strait was quickly paused. South Korea announced initial findings from an investigation that said two unidentified airborne objects struck the South Korean-operated vessel HMM NAMU about one minute apart while it was anchored in the strait l

Iran responds to US ceasefire proposal but Trump rejects it as unacceptable

Iran sent its response to the latest US ceasefire proposal via Pakistani mediators and wants negotiations to focus on permanently ending the war, but President Donald Trump quickly rejected it as "TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!" with no details. Iran seeks to end the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon, where Israel is fighting the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group, and to ensure the security of shipping, state TV said. Washington's latest proposal addressed a deal to end the war, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and roll back Iran's nuclear program. Trump earlier on social media accused Tehran of "playing games" with the United States for nearly 50 years, adding: "They will be laughing no longer!" Trump is giving diplomacy "every chance we possibly can before going back to hostilities," the US ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, told ABC earlier. Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not been seen or heard publicly since the war began, "issued new and decisiv

West Asia conflict highlights need for India to build natural gas reserves

Rising import dependence and supply disruptions amid West Asia tensions underscore the urgency for India to build strategic natural gas reserves and strengthen LNG storage capacity

Iranian businesses buckle under strain of record internet shutdown

Iran imposed heavy restrictions on internet after Israel and US started their war on the country in late February, having earlier blocked online access during nationwide protests the previous month

Qatar LNG tanker makes fresh attempt to transit through Hormuz Strait

The ship is navigating the Tehran-approved northern route near Qeshm and Larak islands, the tracking data show

Long overlooked, Caspian Sea provides strategic trade route for Iran

The landlocked body of water has taken on new significance, with Russia shipping military and commercial goods to bolster Tehran's ability to withstand the US assault

US, Iran remain deadlocked as Gulf clashes test fragile ceasefire

Sporadic clashes continued on Friday between Iranian forces and US vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's semi-official Fars news agency reported

Global oil stockpiles deplete at record pace due to Iran war disruptions

The sharp depletion will also mean the market stays vulnerable for longer to future disruptions even after the conflict ends

UK moves warship to West Asia for potential Strait of Hormuz mission

France recently announced it had moved its Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier to the Red Sea in a move aimed at signaling that the coalition stood ready to secure the strait

1 Indian sailor killed, several injured in dhow fire near Strait of Hormuz

An Indian sailor was killed and several others injured after their wooden dhow caught fire near the Strait of Hormuz, government sources said on Saturday Seventeen other Indian crew members were rescued following the incident on Friday, they said, noting that the exact cause of the blaze is still being ascertained. The crew members were rescued by a vessel which was passing by in the area, the sources said. The incident came amid increasing hostilities between Iran and the US in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime chokepoint between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman through which a significant portion of the world's oil supply passes. "A wooden Dhow, carrying general cargo, with 18 Indian crew capsized yesterday close to the Strait of Hormuz after it caught fire," said a source. "In this incident, one Indian on the dhow died while four received burn injuries. The injured are receiving medical treatment in Dubai and are safe," the source said. Officials from the Indian Cons

Trump warns of 'Project Freedom plus' to escort vessels if Iran talks fail

If a deal is not reached with Iran, Trump added that the renewed effort would be expanded into what he called 'Project Freedom plus'