Page 7 - Latest Updates on West Asia Conflict

Major military operations against Iran over, Op Epic Fury concluded: Rubio

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that major US military operations against Iran are over - but he stopped short of saying the conflict cannot be restarted. Rubio told reporters at the White House that "Operation Epic Fury" - the attack the US and Israel mounted on Iran on Feb. 28 - "is concluded" because its objectives were met. Rubio said recent clashes with Iran related to US efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz were "defensive in nature." "We're not cheering for an additional situation to occur," he said. "We would prefer the path of peace." He said Iran must agree to President Donald Trump's demands on its nuclear program and reopen the strait, a waterway vital to global oil and gas supplies. US forces pressed ahead with an effort to guide commercial ships through the strait, but so far only two vessels are known to have passed through. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the US prefers a peaceful effort to guide vessels out of the Persian Gulf but is ready to ac

Trump says great progress in agreement with Iran, suspends Project Freedom

President Donald Trump has suspended "Project Freedom," to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, claiming progress in negotiations with Iran toward an agreement to end the war. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, "Great progress has been made toward a complete and final agreement withrepresentatives of Iran." "Based on the request of Pakistan and other Countries, the tremendous Military Success that we have had during the Campaign against the Country of Iran and, additionally, the fact that Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran, we have mutually agreed that, while the Blockade will remain in full force and effect, Project Freedom (The Movement of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz) will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalized and signed," Trump said.

Hegseth, Caine say US-Iran ceasefire is not over despite fresh attacks

US forces launched an effort to guide commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, with the first two ships, both American-flagged merchant vessels, sailing through unscathed. Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine said the safety corridor in the key waterway for oil and gas transport involves guided-missile destroyers, more than 100 aircraft and 15,000 service members. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the forces prefer a peaceful effort to "guide" the more than 22,500 mariners stuck on more than 1,550 vessels out of the Persian Gulf, but are ready if needs change. "This is a temporary mission for us," Hegseth said. "We expect the world to step up." Iran has denounced the move as a ceasefire violation. It is unclear what will follow. The US Central Command said Iran earlier launched multiple cruise missiles, drones and small boats at civilian ships under the US military's protection, and that US helicopters sank six small boats involved in the attacks. It denied Iranian ...

US-Iran ceasefire holds after Hormuz clashes, UAE missile strikes

Violence had erupted after US President Donald Trump announced "Project Freedom," which he described as a humanitarian effort to guide neutral ships stranded in the Gulf through Hormuz

India's auto dealers brace for Iran war impact on supply chain, fuel costs

While the impact is not broad-based, the repercussions could last for a few months even if the conflict ends, Sai Giridhar, vice-president of Fada said

'Unacceptable': India condemns Fujairah attack, urges halt to hostilities

India on Tuesday described the wounding of three Indians in an attack on the United Arab Emirates' port city of Fujairah as "unacceptable" and pressed for an immediate cessation of hostilities targeting innocent civilians. New Delhi's reaction came a day after the Indians were injured after a drone attack caused a fire at a major oil industry zone in Fujairah. The UAE had accused Iran of carrying out the strike. "The attack on Fujairah that resulted in injury to three Indian nationals is unacceptable," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. "We call for immediate cessation of these hostilities and the targeting of civilian infrastructure and innocent civilians," the spokesperson said. Jaiswal said India continued to stand for dialogue and diplomacy to deal with the situation so that peace and stability could be restored across West Asia. "We also call for free and unimpeded navigation and commerce through the Strait of Hormuz in keeping with international law

US deploys Apaches in op against Iranian boats, expands 'Project Freedom'

CENTCOM further revealed that over 100 aircraft are currently mobilised for Project Freedom, a mission dedicated to reopening the strait and providing armed escorts for merchant ships

Iran counters US claims, says 5 civilians killed in 'clumsy' Hormuz strike

A military official, speaking to the Tasnim news agency, stated that an investigation was launched by Iranian authorities following Washington's reports of the incident

Rupee hits record low of 95.43 per dollar as US-Iran strikes rattle markets

The rupee depreciated 20 paise to 95.43 against US dollar in early trade on Tuesday as market sentiments remained fragile after renewed military exchanges between US and Iranian forces in the Gulf region. Forex traders said investor anxiety due to instability in the Gulf is causing massive capital flight into safe-haven assets, with the US dollar acting as the primary beneficiary. Moreover, Brent oil prices is hovering near USD 113 per barrel, maintaining pressure on oil-importing economies like India. At the interbank foreign exchange market the rupee opened at 95.30 then lost ground to touch 95.43 against the US dollar, in initial trade, registering a fall of 20 paise over its previous close. Rupee fell 39 paise to close at an all-time low of 95.23 against the US dollar on Monday. "With oil boiling rupee on Monday fell to a closing low of 95.0875 and this morning the opening was still lower as it becomes more and more vulnerable when dollar index rises due to safe-haven buying a

Oil eases after surge as US bid to reopen Strait of Hormuz calms markets

Brent oil futures for July fell 68 cents, or 0.6 per cent, to $113.76 per barrel at 0100 GMT, after settling up 5.8 per cent on Monday

US naval ops to protect global energy, India's LPG supply: US Treasury secy

Bessent called on Beijing to play a constructive role, particularly ahead of US President Donald Trump's expected meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping next week

Iran will be 'blown off Earth' if it attacks US ships in Hormuz: Trump

US President Donald Trump on Monday said Iran will be "blown off the face of the Earth" if they attack US vessels escorting stranded ships through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump's statement to Fox News came as Iran reportedly attacked some ships being guided through the Strait of Hormuz under 'Project Freedom' launched by the US Central Command at the direction of the US President. Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social to claim that Iran had attacked some ships, including a South Korean cargo vessel, that was being guided through the Strait that has effectively remained closed since the was with Iran began on February 28. "Iran has taken some shots at unrelated Nations with respect to the Ship Movement, PROJECT FREEDOM, including a South Korean Cargo Ship. Perhaps it's time for South Korea to come and join the mission," Trump said. The US President said US forces have shot down seven small boats and urged South Korea to join the mission in the Hormuz Strait. "We've sho

Three Indians injured after drone attack sparks fire in UAE's Fujairah

Three Indian nationals were injured on Monday after a fire broke out on the Fujairah Petroleum Industries Zone (FOIZ) in the UAE following a drone strike originating from Iran, according to local media reports. The relevant authorities in the eastern emirate of Fujairah confirmed that a fire has broken out in the FOIZ, resulting from a drone attack coming from Iran, the state-run WAM news agency reported. Fujairah Civil Defence teams immediately responded to the incident and are continuing efforts to bring the fire under control, it added. Three Indian nationals sustained moderate injuries after the fire broke out on the FOIZ, the Khaleej Times reported, quoting authorities in Fujairah. The injured were taken to the hospital for treatment, it added. In a post on X, the UAE's Ministry of Defence said that Iran launched four missiles toward various areas across the country. "Three were successfully engaged over the country's territorial waters, while one fell into the sea," it said.

US rebuts Iran's claim of striking Navy vessel near Strait of Hormuz

The US military is rejecting claims that Iran struck a US Navy vessel. The denial on Monday came as the US remains active in the area near the Persian Gulf, offering to guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz and dislodge Iran's blockade on vessels that don't receive its authorisation. Iranian news agencies - including the semiofficial agency Fars and the Iranian Labour News Agency - claimed that Iran had struck a US Navy vessel southeast of the Strait of Hormuz, accusing it of "violating maritime security and navigation norms.

'City of glass' is under threat from Iran war

The factories in Firozabad, just 21 miles from the Taj Mahal, have been barred from using coal-fired furnaces since 1996 to protect the monument's white marble facade

BJP win may revive corporate interest in WB; realty may see achhe din: Analysts

A BJP win in West Bengal, said G Chokkalingam, founder and head of research at Equinomics, could see economic growth-related initiatives. More corporate capital, he said could find its way into WB.

Iran vows kinetic response to Trump's naval mission in Strait of Hormuz

The US operation, intended to escort stranded vessels out of the strategic waterway, is reportedly scheduled to commence within the coming hours

Oil falls after Trump announces Project Freedom to escort ships via Hormuz

Brent ‌crude futures fell 6 cents, or 0.1 per cent, to $108.11 a barrel by 0400 GMT after settling down $2.23 on Friday

Ship struck by projectiles in Strait of Hormuz, says British military

Projectiles struck a ship in the narrow Strait of Hormuz, the British military said Monday, the second such attack in hours as tensions remain high between Iran and the United States. The British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center issued the alert, saying a tanker had been targeted off Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, in the strait around 11:40 pm Sunday. It described the tanker has been struck by "unknown projectiles." "All crew reported safe," the centre said. "No environmental impact reported." Another ship came under attack in the strait on Sunday.

US sanctions suffocating Iran economy, oil infra starting to creak: Bessent

Bessent suggested that the Iranian petroleum sector is facing an imminent crisis and may be forced to begin shutting in wells in the next week, as the nation's crude storage is 'rapidly filling up'