Page 49 - Latest Updates on West Asia Conflict

Jaishankar in France for G7 meeting, West Asia crisis tops agenda

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday travelled to France for the G7 foreign ministers' meeting, which will discuss the West Asia crisis with a focus on coordinating efforts to ensure that the Strait of Hormuz remains open for international shipping. While India is not a G7 member, it has been invited as a partner country by France, the current chair of the powerful bloc. Top diplomats from the US, Canada, Germany, Italy, France, Japan and the UK are attending the meeting. The external affairs minister will visit Abbaye des-Vaux-de-Cernay in France on March 26 and 27 to participate in the G7 foreign ministers' meeting with partner countries, according to an official statement. Jaishankar is also expected to hold bilateral discussions with his counterparts on the sidelines of the G7 meeting, it said. Besides India, France has invited Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Brazil. According to a French official, there will be a session dedicated to the crisis in West Asia. The

PM Modi to interact with CMs on preparedness amid West Asia conflict

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact on Friday with the chief ministers of all states, barring those which are going to polls, to review their preparedness and plans in the wake of the West Asia conflict, sources said. This is the first time that the prime minister will hold a meeting with the chief ministers on the West Asia conflict which started on February 28 with the attack by the US-Israel on Iran. The Persian nation has also retaliated by firing on its Gulf neighbours and Israel. "The prime minister will interact with the CMs tomorrow evening through video conferencing on the West Asia conflict to review preparedness and plans of states. The meeting will focus on ensuring synergy of efforts in the spirit of Team India," the sources said. The chief ministers of election-bound states will not be part of this meeting due to the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). The Cabinet Secretariat will hold a separate meeting with the chief secretaries of poll-bound Tamil Nadu, West Bengal

Iran must give up nukes, else we will keep 'blowing them away': Trump

Trump said that discussions between the two sides are ongoing, though Tehran has pushed back against claims that it is eager to strike a deal.

West Asia crisis hits scrap imports, drives up costs: Recycling industry

Freight cost surge, insurance pullback and port shutdowns disrupt supplies; aluminium scrap prices jump

US proposal not enough for success, but talks still possible: Iran official

According to the official, Tehran believes the framework does not meet the basic conditions needed for progress

India asks auto industry to optimise output as Iran conflict hits supplies

The government has already prioritised use of gas for households over industries, which get only about 80 per cent of their average needs

Iran holds ground despite intense airstrikes on key facilities by US-Israel

The strikes targeted government buildings, military headquarters and command centres, disrupting Iran's leadership structure and decision-making network.

Iran must act fast to salvage talks before 'it's too late', warns Trump

A day earlier, Iran said it had reviewed the ceasefire framework proposed by Trump but found the terms unacceptable

Israel media claims Iran Naval commander killed, no confirmation from Iran

Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, Alireza Tangsiri was responsible for the closure of the Strait of Hormuz

Tanker carrying Russian oil hit by drone in Black Sea near Turkey

The attack, just outside Turkish territorial waters, likely aimed to disable the engine room in the Sierra Leone-flagged vessel that was carrying Russian oil

Iran, US harden their positions as Tehran keeps grip on Strait of Hormuz

Iran and the United States hardened their positions as diplomacy aimed at reaching a ceasefire in the war in the Middle East appeared to be faltering on Thursday. Tehran moved to formalise its control over the crucial Strait of Hormuz while Washington prepared for the arrival of US combat forces in the region that could be used on the ground in the Islamic Republic. Iran is instituting a "de facto toll booth' regime", industry experts say, with some ships paying in Chinese yuan to pass through the strait, where 20 per cent of all traded oil and natural gas is transported in peacetime. Meanwhile, a strike group anchored by the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli drew closer to the Mideast with some 2,500 Marines. Also, at least 1,000 paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne have been ordered to the region. The troop movements don't guarantee US President Donald Trump will try to use force to compel Iran to open the strait and halt its attacks on Gulf Arab states. Trump previously deploy

Payments up to ₹25,000 crore pending: Basmati exporters amid Iran war

The ongoing conflict in West Asia has severely disrupted India's premium basmati rice exports, causing significant losses to traders and threatening the livelihoods of farmers.According to a Bhopal-based businessman, consignments of Premium 1121 Basmati rice are currently stuck at ports, with payments worth Rs 2,000 crore to Rs 25,000 crore pending.A businessman from Bhopal speaking to ANI said, "...The Premium 1121 Basmati rice, which we used to export, is currently being held at the ports. If this situation continues, Indian traders will face significant losses. Our payments, ranging from Rs 2,000 crores to Rs 25,000 crores, are pending and have not been received, causing difficulties for the traders. The government is currently taking its own measures, and if the situation persists, farmers will also face problems in the future...."On Wednesday, an all-party meeting, convened by the government on the West Asia crisis, was held. The meeting was chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath ...

SE Asia revisits nuclear power plans for AI data centres amid Iran war

Nuclear power is getting a second look in Southeast Asia as countries prepare to meet surging energy demand as they vie for artificial intelligence-focused data centres. Several Southeast Asian nations are reviving mothballed nuclear plans and setting ambitious targets and nearly half of the region could, if they pursue those goals, have nuclear energy in the 2030s. Even countries without current plans have signaled their interest. Southeast Asia has never produced a single watt of nuclear energy, despite long-held atomic ambitions. But that may soon change as pressure mounts to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change, while meeting growing power needs. The Iran war is underscoring the vulnerability of Asia's energy supplies, raising the sense of urgency about finding alternatives to oil and gas in Southeast Asia, analysts say. The surge in crude oil prices caused by the escalating conflict has raised the motivation for countries to speed up their nuclear efforts, said .

Freight surge, LPG shortage amid Iran war hit exports from east India

The West Asia crisis has pushed freight costs for Europe-bound cargo up by 60-80 per cent, with exports falling by as much as 50 per cent for some exporters while hundreds of containers got stranded at Kolkata port, industry representatives said on Thursday. Calcutta Customs House Agents Association (CCHAA) president Mannu Choudhary told PTI that freight charges have risen by over 40 per cent due to rerouting through the African route, while war surcharges imposed by shipping lines have taken the total cost escalation to 70-80 per cent for shipments to Europe and the US. Exporters also complained of a shortage of containers. "Shipping lines are denying freight details to exporters, who are now waiting. No fresh containers are being accepted by shipping lines," he said. Choudhary said around 600 containers that had entered Kolkata port for loading were being returned to the city following last-minute cargo cancellations. Of these, around 400 have already been taken back, while the

Asian stocks fall, oil climbs over Iran war de-escalation uncertainties

Asian stocks were mostly lower and oil prices gained on Thursday as a de-escalation of the Iran war remained uncertain. US futures were down 0.1 per cent. Tokyo's Nikkei 225 was trading 0.3 per cent lower at 53,607.75. South Korea's Kospi lost 1.9 per cent to 5,537.30. Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 1.4 per cent to 24,978.71, while the Shanghai Composite index was down 0.6 per cent to 3,909.16. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 edged down 0.2 per cent, while Taiwan's Taiex was trading 0.4 per cent higher. Oil prices were up again on Thursday after an earlier dip. Brent crude, the international standard, rose 1.3 per cent to USD 98.51 per barrel. It was below USD 95 on Wednesday. Benchmark US crude was 1.6 per cent higher at USD 91.75 a barrel. The rise in oil prices came as Tehran on Wednesday dismissed a ceasefire plan by the US, after the administration of US President Donald Trump offered a 15-point proposal to Iran and Trump this week delayed a self-imposed deadline to "obliterate" its ...

Iran working on draft law to introduce tolls for passage via Hormuz

The narrow waterway has been all but closed since US and Israeli strikes on Iran began almost a month ago, and has become a focal point of the war

USS Abraham Lincoln continues ops against Iranian targets: US Centcom

Iranian Navy issued another direct warning to the United States, stating that its aircraft carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln, is being closely monitored and faces potential strikes

Indian Oil buys first Iranian LPG since 2018 as crunch worsens amid war

The refiner will share the shipment with its state-owned peers Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd and Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd

Oil prices climb as investors reassess West Asia ceasefire prospects

Brent futures rose $1.13, or 1.1 per cent, to $103.35 a barrel by 0051 ‌GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures were up $1.08, or 1.2 per cent, at $91.40 a barrel

US hits 10k targets in Iran war, including two-thirds of munition plants

US forces have hit more than 10,000 targets so far in the Iran war, the head of the American military's Central Command said. US Navy Adm. Brad Cooper made the comments in a video released early Thursday by Central Command. "If you combine what we've accomplished with the success of our Israeli ally, together, we have struck thousands more," Cooper said. "Our precision strikes have overwhelmed Iranian air defences and our combat flights are having tangible effects." Cooper added that the US has destroyed 92 per cent of "the Iranian navy's largest vessels." "They've now lost the ability to meaningly project naval power and influence around the region and around the world," Cooper said. Iran maintains its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf, through drone and missile attacks on shipping, however. Cooper also said the US has struck over two-thirds of Iran's munitions plants. "Today, we have damaged or destroyed over two-thirds of Iran's missile,