West Asia

West Asia crisis must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy: Rajnath

The ongoing war in West Asia is a matter of concern not only for India, but for the entire world and it must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Saturday. India has clearly stated its position, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that war will not bring a solution, he said while speaking at an event in Uttarakhand's Haldwani. "The constant attacks in West Asia are a matter of concern not only for India but for the entire world," he said, adding: "If a solution is to be found, it will come through dialogue and diplomacy." "When the world is facing conflict, no country can remain unaffected. India may also be affected, but to date, our prime minister, through his ability and wisdom has kept India from falling into a difficult situation," Singh said in Hindi. The defence minister's remarks came against the backdrop of increasing global concerns over fresh attacks on West Asian gas hubs. An Israeli attack on Iran's strategic South P

What Iran's failed-to-hit strike on Diego Garcia base in Indian Ocean means

While there were no reports of damage or casualties, the significance of the episode lay less in the outcome and more in what it demonstrated

Iran says its Natanz nuclear facility has been hit in an airstrike

Iran's Natanz nuclear facility was hit Saturday in an airstrike, the official Iranian news agency Mizan reported. There was no radiation leakage, it said. Natanz, Iran's main enrichment site, was hit in the first week of the war and several buildings appeared damaged, according to satellite images. The United Nations' nuclear watchdog said that "no radiological consequence" was expected from that earlier strike. The nuclear facility, located nearly 220 kilometers (135 miles) southeast of Tehran, had been targeted by Israeli airstrikes in the 12-day war between Iran and Israel in June 2025, and by the United States.

Vishwaguru delusion, mine vs yours: Two flawed takes on India's power

One side thinks India is punching way above its weight.The other thinks Mr Modi has undermined India, and it punches below its strength. Both are wrong

West Asia conflict: Stranded vessels running out of fresh water, food

DG Shipping warns of supply shortages on stranded vessels, rising freight and insurance costs, and potential disruptions to India's trade and energy security

PM reaches out to West Asian leaders on Eid amid energy security concerns

Prime Minister speaks to GCC leaders, flags need for safe passage through Strait of Hormuz and highlights risks to global food, fuel and fertiliser security

The Gulf war is now a global crisis: Russia, China emerge as winners

Israel has used its deep relationship with the United States (US) to emerge as the strongest and most advanced military power in the West Asia/Gulf region

A battle of inventories: No one knows how long the Iran war will last

In the 12-day war of 2025, Israel and Iran traded attacks from June 13 to June 24. There are unconfirmed reports Israel was running out of interceptors by the end, when the US brokered a ceasefire

US to deploy thousands more troops to West Asia amid Iran conflict

No decision had been made to send troops into Iran itself, two of the officials told Reuters, but they will build up the capacity for potential future operations in the region

Iran leader Khamenei issues defiant statement, praises public resolve

Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said Friday that US and Israeli attacks were based on an illusion that by killing top leaders they could cause the overthrow of the government

How distorted West Asia crude pricing hurts India as war lifts import costs

System adds hundreds of millions of dollars to India's fuel import bill; ministry aware

IEA suggests work from home, avoid air travel amid rising energy costs

Agency outlines measures such as remote work, reduced travel and public transport use to ease demand as oil prices surge amid West Asia conflict

How the West Asia crisis is reshaping India’s luxury skylines

Amid the escalating West Asia crisis, the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz is beginning to ripple through India’s real estate sector, sharply increasing construction costs, delaying supplies

China urges to end West Asia conflict, warns of global economic impact

That war resulted in years of chaos and instability and created a power vacuum that led to the rise of the Islamic State terrorist group

Iran threatens global tourism sites, says it is still building missiles

Iran threatened to target recreational and tourist sites worldwide and insisted it was still building missiles. Friday's show of defiance came nearly three weeks into US-Israeli strikes that have killed a slew of Tehran's top leaders and hammered its weapons and energy industries. Iran fired on Israel and energy sites in neighbouring Gulf Arab states as many in the region marked one of the holiest days on the Muslim calendar. Iranians were also marking the Persian New Year, known as Nowruz, a normally festive holiday that is more subdued this year. With little information coming out of Iran, it was not clear how much damage its arms, nuclear or energy facilities have sustained since the war began Feb 28 or even who was truly in charge of the country. But Iran has showed it is still capable of attacks that are choking off oil supplies and denting the global economy, raising food and fuel prices far beyond the Middle East. The US and Israel have offered shifting rationales for the war

West Asia crisis: Indian national killed in Iranian attack on Riyadh

An Indian national was killed in an Iranian attack on Riyadh this week, taking the total number of Indian fatalities from the ongoing conflict in West Asia to six since it began three weeks ago. The Indian national died following a missile attack on Riyadh on Wednesday, people familiar with the matter said. It remains unclear whether the individual was a direct victim of the strike or was killed by the falling debris from an intercepted missile. The Indian embassy in Riyadh, without providing details, condoled the death of the Indian. "The Embassy of India expresses its deepest condolences on the tragic demise of an Indian national in Riyadh due to recent events on March 18th," it said. The mission said it is in touch with the family of the deceased and local authorities. "We remain committed to extending all possible assistance in this matter." It is the third Indian fatality on land since the Iran-US conflict erupted on February 28. Two Indian nationals were killed and 10 other

Indian airlines seek removal of fare cap as West Asia conflict hits ops

Indian airlines warn fare caps and rising costs could force route cuts and delay expansion, as fuel prices surge and operational pressures mount

RBI board assesses impact on financial markets amid geopolitical tensions

RBI board reviews global and domestic economic scenario, as rising oil prices, rupee pressure and geopolitical tensions pose challenges for monetary policy outlook

Crude oil futures slide 2% to ₹8,808 per barrel amid Iran supply hopes

Crude oil prices declined by Rs 190 to Rs 8,808 per barrel in futures trade on Friday as traders weighed the prospects of additional Iranian supply despite lingering geopolitical tensions in West Asia. On the Multi Commodity Exchange, crude oil for the April delivery ended its three-day rally, declining by Rs 190, or 2.11 per cent, to Rs 8,808 per barrel in a business turnover of 18,781 lots. Analysts said the fall in oil prices was driven by hopes of softening geopolitical risk premium following indications of a more pragmatic approach by the US towards Iranian crude supplies. In the overseas trade, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures for May delivery fell USD 1.85, or nearly 2 per cent, to USD 93.70 per barrel, while Brent Oil for the same month contract slipped 0.34 per cent to trade at USD 108.28 per barrel in New York. The dip in crude prices, now around USD 107 per barrel for Brent against a peak of USD 119, reflects a 'relief valve' moment, though tensions remain high, Aam

India's gas utilities eye market share gains amid LPG shortage crisis

The push underscores the nation's struggles with liquefied petroleum gas, used in more than 330 million homes to cook meals, as well as in industries from steel to automobiles