Page 41 - Latest Updates on West Asia Conflict

Trump seeks to redefine 'regime change' in Iran war amid confusion

President Trump and his aides have made contradictory statements on whether the United States and Israel have transformed the Iranian government through violence

Systematically crushing Iran, forging alliances in West Asia: Netanyahu

Lauding "enormous accomplishments" in the war against Iran, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday evening that the joint Israel-US campaign was "systematically crushing" the Islamic regime while removing existential threats to the Jewish state. Addressing the nation in Hebrew ahead of the Jewish festival of Pesach (Passover), Netanyahu stressed that "sooner or later" the Iranian regime will fall, while Israel creates "new alliances with important countries in the region" against the shared threat emanating from Tehran. The Israel prime minister did not mention any country but in the passing simply said he hopes that "soon, I will be able to tell you more about these vital alliances". "On the eve of this Festival of Freedom, Israel is stronger than ever. The entire world hears our lion's roar in our struggle against the evil regime in Iran, a struggle in which we have achieved immense, enormous accomplishments", Netanyahu said. The address came at a time when the nat

Israel strikes Iran factory, says it supplied fentanyl for chemical weapons

Israel said early Wednesday it struck a plant supplying Iran's theocracy with fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, to allegedly use in a chemical weapons programme. Iran acknowledged the strike on Tofigh Daru factory, but insisted it only supplied "hospital drugs" used in medical operations. The strike happened Tuesday, both Israel and Iran said. Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted a picture of the factory in Tehran, writing on X: "The war criminals in Israel are now openly and unashamedly bombing pharmaceutical companies." Hospitals extensively use fentanyl to treat severe pain. But a small amount of the drug can be fatal. Both Israel and the United States have warned in recent years Iran was experimenting with fentanyl in munitions. The US previously pointed to Iranian academic research studying how Russia likely used a fentanyl derivative during the 2002 Moscow theatre hostage seizure by Chechen militants. Israel alleged Tofigh Daru supplied fentanyl to an advanced ..

Jaishankar discusses West Asia crisis with Portuguese counterpart Rangel

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday spoke with his Portuguese counterpart Paulo Rangel as the two leaders exchanged views on the West Asia conflict besides discussing ways to further enhance bilateral cooperation. Jaishankar shared the update in a post on X. "A good conversation this evening with Portuguese Foreign Minister @PauloRangel_pt Exchanged views on the West Asia conflict. Also spoke about further strengthening bilateral cooperation," he said. Jaishankar has spoken to many of his counterparts from different countries since the conflict began a month ago. The MEA on Monday reiterated that it continues to closely monitor the evolving situation in the Gulf and West Asia region. "We continue to call for restraint and de-escalation, and at the same time emphasise on dialogue and diplomacy, as a means to an early end to the conflict," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters at an inter-ministerial briefing on the West Asia situation here a day ago.

Thousands more US troops heading to West Asia amid tensions with Iran

Thousands of additional US troops are heading to the Middle East as the Trump administration has insisted that progress has been made in talks with Iran and has threatened to escalate the war if a deal is not reached soon. The aircraft carrier USS George H W Bush deployed Tuesday and is slated to go to the Middle East along with three destroyers, two US officials said. The carrier strike group consists of more than 6,000 sailors. It comes as thousands of soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division also have begun arriving in the Middle East, according to two other US officials, who, like the others, spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military plans. While the majority of those troops are part of a rotation of forces planned before the war, some are among roughly 1,500 paratroopers the Trump administration decided to surge into the region last week. The Trump administration has not said what those troops will be doing, but the 82nd Airborne is trained to parachute int

Securing Strait of Hormuz is 'not for us': Trump lashes out at allies

US President Donald Trump lashed out Tuesday at allies who have been unwilling to do more to support the US war effort against Iran, telling them to "go get your own oil" and declaring that securing the Strait of Hormuz is "not for us." The president estimated that the American military will be done attacking in two to three weeks and said the US "will not have anything to do with" what happens in the strait that has been closed by the Islamic Republic. Instead, he told reporters that the responsibility for keeping the vital waterway open will rest with countries that rely on it. There's "no reason for us to do this," Trump said after signing an executive order that seeks to restrict mail-in voting. "That's not for us. That'll be for France. That'll be for whoever's using the strait." In other developments, the closure of the strait sent average US gas prices past USD 4 a gallon, and US strikes hit the central city of Isfahan, sending a massive fireball into the sky. Tehran attacked

IRGC threatens to strike Google, Apple, Meta offices over alleged espionage

IRGC warned that the companies' regional offices in the region will be 'annihilated'

'Firm guarantees' against future strikes required to end war: Iranian Prez

He emphasised that Iran has "never sought tension or war at any stage," but remains committed to defending its sovereignty

Iran war could end in two to three weeks, deal 'possible': Trump

The President's optimism appears to stem from a perceived shift in the political landscape within Tehran

Best of BS Opinion: Budget math meets oil shock as global faultlines widen

Here are the best of Business Standard's opinion pieces for today

Unilever imposes global hiring freeze citing West Asia conflict impact

The London-based company said in a statement that it had introduced a temporary pause on recruitment due to an 'uncertain external environment,' adding that it would adjust plans as needed

China confirms 3 ships crossed Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing conflict

Ship-tracking data showed two Chinese container ships sailed through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday on their second attempt to leave the Gulf after turning back on Friday

Expired visa in Saudi Arabia? Call 992 as relief window nears April 18

Stranded in Saudi Arabia with an expired visa? Authorities ask affected individuals to call helpline 992 as relief window closes April 18

In crisis created by the Iran war, survival won't be enough for businesses

Beyond firefighting, leaders must leverage shifting market dynamics and deepen relationships to secure a long-term competitive advantage

Recent global conflicts reaffirm need for strong Navy: Vice Admiral Sobti

Deputy Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti on Tuesday said the recent global developments reaffirm the need for a strong navy and with rising strategic competitions and conflicts, the Indian Navy remains the prime manifestation of the country's maritime power. He was addressing a gathering during the launch of the first Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel (NGOPV) built by Goa Shipyard Limited in Vasco. "India's identity as a maritime nation is defined by its geography and history. With a vast coastline, numerous land territories, both in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal, and an Exclusive Economic Zone, our maritime domain is both a source of responsibility and of opportunities," Vice Admiral Sobti said, after launching the vessel. The seas around us carry the lifeline of trade, energy and connectivity, he pointed out. "Safeguarding these interests requires a capable, responsive and forward-looking navy. Indian Navy's role in shaping the geopolitical environment in the

Iran war could shave off 1% point from India's FY27 GDP growth forecast: EY

India's real GDP growth for the next fiscal could erode by around 1 percentage point, while retail inflation could rise by about 1.5 percentage points from their baseline estimates if the Middle East conflict persists through the next fiscal, an EY report said. The EY Economy Watch report said that several sectors, including employment-intensive sectors like textiles, paints, chemicals, fertilizers, cement and tires, could be directly impacted. Any reduction in employment or incomes in these sectors may further dampen aggregate demand. As a result, both supply and demand conditions may be adversely affected by global oil market disturbances. It said the Indian economy, which imports nearly 90 per cent of its crude oil requirements, is also highly dependent on imports of natural gas and fertilizers, and is particularly vulnerable to such external shocks, with the adverse effects likely to cascade across multiple sectors through strong forward and backward linkages with crude oil and .

Brazil's dual-fuel ethanol fleet stabilises gasoline prices amid Iran war

As the war in Iran rattles global oil markets, Brazil is partially shielded by a decades-old buffer against shocks that is both cheap and environmentally friendly. Tens of millions of drivers here can choose between filling their tank with 100 per cent sugarcane-based ethanol or a gasoline blend that contains 30 per cent of biofuel. Brazil's massive dual-fuel fleet - consisting of vehicles capable of running on any combination of ethanol and gasoline - is unique in its scale. The program, launched in 1975 during the country's military dictatorship, has successfully evolved in democratic times to reduce dependency on foreign oil. Today, as the latest conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel enters its fifth week, nations like India and Mexico are looking at the Brazilian model as a blueprint for energy security. While consumers worldwide face steep price hikes, Brazilian gasoline prices rose just 5 per cent in March - compared to 30 per cent in the United States. Analys

Israel conducts fresh strikes in Iran, US targets key military infra

The attacks were testament to the intensity of the monthlong war the US and Israel launched against Iran, which has maintained its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz

Trump open to ending Iran military campaign even if Hormuz remains shut

US President Donald Trump is reportedly open to ending the military campaign against Iran without reopening the Strait of Hormuz, prioritising strikes on Tehran's navy and missile stockpile

Why closure of Strait of Hormuz leaves Asian nations most vulnerable

Wealthier economies like China, Japan and Singapore, with deep pockets and strategic reserves, can cushion the blow - in the short term at least - but others are more exposed