Page 45 - Latest Updates on West Asia Conflict

Iran rejects Trump's 48-hour ultimatum as 'helpless', 'unbalanced'

The rejection follows a period of heightened tensions after the US leader warned of severe military consequences if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened

Iraqi ships can transit through Strait of Hormuz: Iranian military

The declaration has the potential to unleash as much as 3 million barrels a day of Iraqi oil cargoes

US deploys bulk of stealthy long-range missiles for Iran conflict

The US has allocated funds to buy more than 6,200 JASSMs since 2009, and production of the baseline JASSM for US supplies ended about 10 years ago

Iran calls on public to find 'enemy pilot' as US continues frantic search

The US military pressed ahead Saturday in a frantic search for a missing pilot over a remote area in southwestern Iran, a day after the Islamic Republic shot down a US warplane and promised a reward for whoever turns in the pilot. The plane, identified by Iran as a F-15E Strike Eagle, was one of two attacked Friday, with one service member rescued and at least one missing. It was the first time the United States lost aircraft in Iranian territory during the war, now in its sixth week, and could add to pressure on the Trump administration to end the fighting. The war, which began with joint US-Israel strikes on Feb 28, has killed thousands, shaken global markets, cut off key shipping routes and spiked fuel prices. It shows no signs of slowing as Iran responds to ongoing airstrikes with attacks across the region. The downing of the American planes came two days after US President Donald Trump said in a national address that the United States has "beaten and completely decimated Iran."

US arrests niece, grand-niece of late Iranian general Qassem Soleimani

The Trump administration has revoked the green cards or US visas of at least four Iranian nationals connected to the current or former Iranian government, including two who have been detained by immigration authorities and are to be deported. The latest actions were taken just this week when Secretary of State Marco Rubio determined they were no longer eligible for either lawful permanent resident status, or to enter the United States. The steps follow a move late last year in which the visas of several diplomats and staffers at Iran's mission to the United Nations were also revoked. In a statement on Saturday, the State Department said the niece and grand-niece of former Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps chief Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a US airstrike near the Baghdad airport in 2020, had been arrested late Friday by immigration agents after Rubio revoked their green cards. "Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter are now in the custody of US Immigration and Customs ...

Trump warns Iran to open Hormuz Strait or face 'hell' in 48 hours

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the deadline, set to expire on April 6, was nearing its end, reiterating his demand that Tehran either "make a deal" or ensure the strategic waterway remains open

Iran envoy to India calls US-Israel conflict a 'strategic failure'

In a post on X, Fathali said, "A review of global think tanks, from the US and Europe to Asia, reveals a clear pattern: strategic failure for Israel and the US"

Iran open to peace talks as search continues for missing US pilot

The incidents show the risks still facing US and Israeli aircraft over Iran, despite assertions by Donald Trump and his Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that US forces had total control of the skies

EU pushes for profit caps on energy firms as Iran conflict drives prices up

The finance ministers of Spain and four other European countries are urging the European Union to impose a bloc-wide windfall tax on energy companies, concerned that surging oil and gas prices driven by the war in Iran will fuel inflation and strain households. Spanish Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo said on Saturday that his counterparts from Germany, Italy, Portugal and Austria had signed a letter to the European Commission citing "market distortions" caused by the price spike. "The conflict in the Middle East has caused oil prices to rise, placing a significant burden on the European economy and on European citizens," the letter, dated Friday and made public by Cuerpo in an online post, said. "It is important to ensure that this burden is distributed fairly," it added. Europe is largely dependent on imported oil and gas, leaving it vulnerable to external shocks. In 2022, turmoil in energy markets following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine pushed inflation into double digit

West Asia crisis may hit India exports if conflict persists: Rajesh Agrawal

If the West Asia conflict continues, India's exports to other parts of the world will also be impacted, Central Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said on Saturday. Indian exports during the last financial year were expected to remain on a positive trajectory despite the crisis, he added. Addressing a press conference on the sidelines of 'Chintan Shivir - Scaling Up Pharma Exports', Agrawal said that because of the West Asia crisis, there was definitely an impact last month on both imports and exports, as energy is a major part of the Indian import market. "West Asia is also an important market. Around 12-13 per cent of our exports go to the region. So, that will directly get impacted. And if it goes on for long, maybe our exports to other parts of the world will also get impacted as some of the value chains will rotate back. We are cognizant of it," the official told reporters. Replying to a query, he said the exact impact of the West Asia crisis on Indian exports will be known in

Govt advises against panic buying, says fuel supplies adequate

The government on Saturday urged citizens to avoid panic buying of petrol, diesel and LPG, saying fuel supplies remain adequate despite disruptions linked to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said the government is taking proactive steps to ensure the uninterrupted availability of petroleum products and cooking gas, while advising people to rely only on official information and conserve energy. The government has prioritised domestic LPG and piped natural gas (PNG) supplies, particularly for households, hospitals and essential services, and has implemented measures to boost refinery output and manage demand, including extending LPG refill intervals. Authorities have also stepped up enforcement against hoarding and black marketing, conducting more than 3,700 raids and issuing around 1,000 show-cause notices to LPG distributors, with 27 dealerships suspended so far. Despite supply pressures from the geopolitical situation, there are no ...

Strike near Iran's Bushehr nuclear plant, no radiation spike: IAEA

Iran also told the IAEA that one member of the plant's physical protection staff was killed by a projectile fragment

India has been resilient, weathered global shocks well: EAM Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday said India has come through solidly from global shocks that recently tested its resilience, an apparent reference to the ongoing military conflict in West Asia. Speaking at the convocation ceremony of IIM Raipur, Jaishankar emphasised that India has managed both domestic and external challenges fairly successfully. He observed that the impact of conflicts on even distant societies has been profound, which is a testimony to the extent of globalisation. "No one can dispute that multiple global shocks have recently tested our resilience and that India has come through them solidly," Jaishankar added. The crisis in West Asia, which began in February after the US and Israel attacked Iran, has impacted global fuel supply and triggered a shortage of hydrocarbons. Jaishankar stressed that there is no getting away from building robust national capabilities, which he noted is the most effective way for de-risking and developing leverage. H

Govt says India has bought Iranian oil, rejects reports of payment issues

Amid vessel-diversion rumours, the petroleum ministry also said that Indian refiners have secured crude and LPG imports, including from Iran

Pakistan rejects media reports of setback in US-Iran peace talks initiative

Pakistan on Saturday rejected media reports that its initiative to facilitate talks between the US and Iran to end the ongoing conflict in West Asia had hit obstacles after initial exchange of peace proposals. Speculation emerged after a senior official of the Foreign Ministry briefed a select group of journalists on Pakistan's efforts to find a negotiated settlement of the ongoing conflict. Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi in a statement rejected the media reports as "baseless" and a "figment of imagination". "We have noted several reports in the media, including on social media, citing so-called official government sources regarding the ongoing conflict in the region and Pakistan's efforts to promote peace and dialogue," he said. "We categorically reject these false insinuations attributed to purported official sources as baseless and a figment of imagination. Any attribution to official sources in this regard is incorrect." He said that it was a matter of concern that

How the Iran conflict is reshaping global aviation, shifting market share

The global aviation dynamic changed almost overnight when the Iran war broke out, shuttering airspaces, grounding planes and leaving regional airlines in disarray

Costly LNG terminals in India hit by low utilisation amid supply shock

Newer LNG terminals face viability risks as West Asia conflict cuts supplies, raises prices and weakens demand, even as India expands import capacity and dependence on overseas gas

US intelligence warns Iran unlikely to ease Strait of Hormuz chokehold soon

The finding suggests Tehran could continue to throttle the strait to keep energy prices high as a means of pressuring Trump to find a quick off-ramp to the war

West Asia conflict disrupts snack exports from Bikaner, shipments disrupted

The ongoing conflict in West Asia has started to impact exporters in the Bikaner region, with shipments of popular food items, such as bhujia, papad and spices to Gulf and European countries facing severe disruptions, traders said. Bikaner, known for its namkeen industry, exports large quantities of snacks, spices and other products to countries in the Gulf region and Europe. However, exporters said, the war has led to delays, rising freight costs and container shortages, affecting exports and imports. Ashish Agarwal, a namkeen trader associated with the Bhikharam group, said escalating input and logistics costs are hurting the industry. "Freight charges have increased sharply due to the war, and raw material prices are also rising. The cost of edible oil has gone up by around 20 per cent in the last one month, which is directly impacting production," he said. Exporters said container movement has slowed significantly, with shipments that earlier took around 30 days now taking up

Debris from aerial interception hits Oracle building in Dubai Internet City

According to the Dubai Media Office, debris from an aerial interception fell on the facade of the Oracle building in Dubai Internet City