Page 9 - Latest Updates on West Asia Conflict

Oil price rises over 1% after Trump says he is losing patience with Iran

Brent crude oil futures rose $1.32, or 1.25 per cent, to $107.04 a ‌barrel by 0425 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate futures were up $1.33, or 1.31 per cent, to $102.50

Recovering Iran's uranium mostly for 'public relations', says Trump

The status of the nuclear material has been a sticking point in ongoing talks with Iran's leadership to draw a conclusion to the war

'Iran is finished': Trump pushes for deal to end war after talks with Xi

US President Donald Trump said Iran is "finished" and must either negotiate a deal to end the ongoing conflict or face destruction. "Deal or annihilation for Iran," Trump stated during an interview with Fox News on the final day of his three-day trip to China. He emphasised that the US cannot "let Iran have a nuclear weapon." "They're finished now; they can make a deal, or they will be annihilated," Trump said after in-depth discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping on various issues, including Iran. Trump was scheduled for one more meeting with Xi on Friday, followed by lunch before returning home, concluding his visit to China. During the interview, Trump noted, "President Xi would like to see a deal between the US and Iran." He added that Xi offered assistance, saying, 'If I could be of any help whatsoever, I would like to help.' Trump expressed his belief that China also does not want Iran to possess nuclear weapons. Additionally, Trump mentioned that General Dan Caine, ..

OMCs hike petrol, diesel prices in four metros amid West Asia crisis

Petrol in the national capital will now cost ₹97.77 per litre, up from ₹94.77, while diesel will be priced at ₹90.67 per litre, compared with ₹87.67 earlier

Israel-Lebanon hold 3rd round of talks as fighting with Hezbollah continues

A third round of direct talks between Israel and Lebanon kicked off in Washington Thursday, days before the expiration of a truce that reduced but did not stop the fighting between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Lebanese officials are hoping that the two-day negotiations will yield a new ceasefire deal and pave the way for tackling a series of thorny issues, including the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon and the disarmament of Hezbollah. The Trump administration has been pushing for a breakthrough between the two neighbours that have been officially in a state of war since Israel was created in 1948. Hezbollah, however, is not part of those talks and has been vocally opposed to Lebanon engaging in direct negotiations with Israel. Israel and the Iranian-backed militant group have continued to trade near-constant fire across the border despite a US-brokered ceasefire on April 17. Initially a 10-day truce, it was then extended for another three ...

Brics meeting sees Iran-UAE clash over West Asia conflict in Delhi

Sharp differences between Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) over the West Asia conflict were on full display on Thursday during the opening day of the BRICS foreign ministers' meeting in New Delhi, signalling the challenges the bloc faces in reaching a consensus position on the crisis. It is learnt that there were heated exchanges between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and the UAE's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar during the first sessions at the meeting. As the situation appeared to deteriorate, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov intervened to cool the tempers, it is learnt. In his address, Araghchi said Iran is a victim of "illegal expansionism and warmongering" and urged the BRICS nations to "explicitly condemn" what he described as violations of international law by the US and Israel. The Iranian foreign minister called upon the BRICS to resist "Western hegemony and the sense of impunity that the US believes it is entitled ...

Iran allows some Chinese vessels to transit through Hormuz Strait

The Fars report came as U.S. President Donald Trump, who is on a state visit to China, agreed with the Chinese leader Xi Jinping that the Strait of Hormuz must be open for the free flow of energy

Trump, Xi agree Strait of Hormuz must reopen to restore energy flows

US President Xi Jinping and his Chinese counterpart were in agreement that the Strait of Hormuz needs to be opened to support global energy needs, according to a readout of their Thursday meeting by a White House official. Xi also opposed any implementation of tolls on vessels crossing the strait, which effectively has closed since the start of the US and Israel war against Iran. Xi expressed interest in China purchasing more US oil to reduce future Chinese dependence on Gulf oil, according to the official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. The leaders also discussed further stemming the flow of fentanyl precursor chemicals into the U.S. and increasing Chinese purchases of U.S. agricultural products.

Iran foreign min urges Brics to condemn US-Israel for int'l law violation

Araghchi said Iran views Brics as a symbol of an emerging global order led increasingly by countries of the Global South

India backs 2 state solution for Palestine issue: Jaishankar at Brics meet

Jaishankar said the tensions in the Gulf region, including threats to maritime traffic and energy infrastructure, underline the fragile security environment

Indian-flagged merchant ship attacked off Oman coast, all crew members safe

An Indian-flagged commercial vessel has come under attack off the coast of Oman but all its crew members are safe, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday. It is not immediately known who carried out the strike on the vessel on Wednesday. The MEA described the attack as "unacceptable". "The attack on an Indian-flagged ship off the coast of Oman yesterday is unacceptable and we deplore the fact that commercial shipping and civilian mariners continue to be targeted," it said. "All Indian crew on board are safe and we thank the Omani authorities for rescuing them," it said. The MEA said India reiterates that targeting commercial shipping and endangering innocent civilian crew members, or otherwise impeding freedom of navigation and commerce, should be avoided.

India's wholesale inflation rises to 42-month high of 8.3% in April

India's factory-gate inflation accelerated sharply in April as rising fuel, diesel, and crude oil prices linked to the West Asia crisis pushed wholesale prices to a multi-year high

India faces challenge of bridging Brics rift over West Asia conflict

India is hosting the two-day Brics foreign ministers' meeting, which kicks off Thursday, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar chairing the gathering

Two India bound LPG tankers transit Strait of Hormuz amid energy crisis

One of the LPG carriers, Symi, emerged in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday after turning off its transponder, with the other - NV Sunshine, went dark just after making it through the strait

India seeks extension of US waiver on Russian oil as West Asia war drags on

The US first provided a green light in March, and then widened that with an authorization that runs until May 16, in an effort to limit rising oil prices with additional barrels

War turmoil drains Asian reserves with India, Philippines among hardest hit

Philippines has led losses with its stockpile sinking 8.1 per cent since the conflict started to $104 billion, while India's dropped 5.2 per cent to $691 billion

Japanese crude tanker emerges after going dark near Strait of Hormuz

Eneos Endeavor had sailed into the Persian Gulf in late February to pick up crude from the United Arab Emirates' Das Island and Kuwait's Mina Al Ahmadi

Why Xi Jinping may choose patience over rushing into a deal with Trump

President Xi Jinping of China is buying time for Beijing and may see an opening with a US president weakened by the war in Iran

Israeli drone strikes on vehicles in Lebanon kill 12, including 2 children

Israeli airstrikes Wednesday struck seven vehicles in Lebanon - three of them on the main highway just south of Beirut - killing 12 people including a woman and her two children, the Lebanese Health Ministry said. The Israeli military said it struck Hezbollah infrastructure in several areas in southern Lebanon, hours after telling residents of six southern villages to evacuate. Lebanon and Israel are scheduled to hold another round of direct talks in Washington on Thursday as the Trump administration pushes for a breakthrough between the two neighbours that have been in a state of war since Israel was created in 1948. The United Nations has also accused Hezbollah of drone strikes near its peacekeeping forces in southern Lebanon, and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' message to both sides is that they must observe the ceasefire and stop all attacks, UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq said. The Health Ministry confirmed the seven airstrikes on vehicles, but didn't provide full detai

'US is not doing serious diplomacy': Iran Dy Foreign Min Kazem Gharibabadi

Trump has discarded Iran's peace proposal plan and said that the ceasefire stands on 'life support'