Page 20 - West Asia

'Bad news': Vance says no agreement after Iran peace talks in Pakistan

Vance cited shortcomings in the talks and said Iran had chosen not to accept American terms, including to not build nuclear weapons

Iran denies US claims of two Navy vessels crossing Strait of Hormuz

A spokesperson for Iran's joint military command has denied an earlier claim by the US that two Navy destroyers transited the Strait Of Hormuz, adding that "initiative over the passage of any vessel rests with the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran", according to Iran's state-media. The Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which 20 per cent of all oil and natural gas traded once passed, is expected to be one of the most challenging points of negotiations between the US and Iran, currently taking place in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad. Earlier, the US military said two destroyers transited the Iran-gripped waterway ahead of mine-clearing work, a first since the war began. Iran's state media, however, said Iran forced a US military ship that was attempting to cross the strait to turn around.

Over 2,000 killed in Lebanon during Israeli strikes on Hezbollah: Officials

The death toll in Lebanon from Israeli strikes in the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah has risen to 2,020, the Lebanese health ministry said Saturday. The death toll from nearly six weeks of war includes 248 women,165 children and 85 health workers, the ministry said. Another 6,436 people have been wounded. Nearly 100 people were killed in the past 24 hours. The Iran-backed Lebanese militant group fired missiles into Israel on March 2 in retaliation for the US-Israeli attacks on Iran. A tentative truce is now in place in Iran, but the US and Israel say the agreement does not apply to Lebanon, while Tehran says it does. The question is likely to be one of the thornier points in the US-Iran ceasefire negotiations now underway in Pakistan.

US Navy ships transit Hormuz as mine-clearing efforts begin in Strait

Iran has asserted control over the strait through which roughly a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas typically flows, effectively halting most commercial traffic

EAM Jaishankar meets Indian community in UAE amid West Asia tensions

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday began his official visit to the UAE by interacting with the members of the Indian Community. Jaishankar, who is on a two-day visit to the UAE, is expected to focus on exchanging views on the West Asia conflict. "Started my visit to the UAE interacting with the members of the Indian Community. Spoke about GOI's efforts towards their well - being and security amidst the West Asia conflict," Jaishankar posted on X. "Appreciated their contributions to the local society during these difficult times. As well as the support of the Government of the UAE in ensuring the welfare of the Indian community," the post read. The external affairs minister arrived in the UAE on Saturday after concluding his visit to Mauritius, where he attended the 9th Indian Ocean Conference. The West Asia war and Iran's chokehold of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway through which a fifth of global oil passes, had halted shipping and sent global oil prices

White House official rejects reports of US unfreezing Iranian assets

There was no immediate statement from the United States about any unfreezing of assets. Qatar's Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment

India-flagged LPG tanker Jag Vikram crosses Hormuz after US-Iran ceasefire

An India-flagged liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanker, Jag Vikram, has crossed the Strait of Hormuz, marking the first such transit by an Indian vessel since a temporary two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran was announced, according to ship-tracking data. The tanker moved through the strategic waterway between Friday night and Saturday morning and was located in the Gulf of Oman, east of the Strait on Saturday afternoon, proceeding eastwards. Jag Vikram is the ninth Indian vessel to exit the Persian Gulf since early March, while about 15 India-flagged ships remain in the region, awaiting passage. Owned by Mumbai-based Great Eastern Shipping Company, Jag Vikram is a mid-sized gas carrier with a deadweight capacity of over 26,000 tonnes. Trade sources estimate it could be carrying around 20,000 tonnes of LPG. At least 28 India-flagged vessels were in the Strait of Hormuz region when the West Asia conflict erupted, including 24 on the western side and four on the east

840K Indians returned from Gulf since Feb 28, airspace curbs remain: MEA

Mahajan said the government continues to closely monitor the evolving situation across the Gulf and West Asia, with a dedicated mechanism in place for rapid coordination

BEE plans to slash 'super credits' for strong hybrid cars in CAFE-3

CAFE-2 norms are currently in force, while draft CAFE-3 norms are under discussion and will be implemented from April 2027 for a period of five years

$100 mn marine insurance pool on cards for vessels sailing via war zones

Indian insurers plan $100 million marine insurance pool to cover war risks for ships amid West Asia conflict, with possible government support and rising premiums

West Asia war: Mkts log best weekly gain in over 5 years on Iran-US truce

Friday sees first net FPI inflows since the start of conflict

Pascale Sourisse on why strategic autonomy is more critical now than ever

In a world where peace can no longer be taken for granted, Sourisse, who heads a global defence major, tells Veenu Sandhu why strategic autonomy is more critical now than ever

Oil prices set for biggest weekly loss in 10 months after US-Iran ceasefire

Brent crude futures were up 5 cents, or 0.05 per cent, at $95.97 a barrel by 1150 GMT

West Asia war: Who is the real force in Pakistan powering US-Iran talks?

With Munir at the helm, a social media charm offensive is reshaping Pakistan's image as a peace facilitator

Weekly sectoral stress indicator in the works: Commerce Secretary

Government plans weekly sectoral stress indicator to track trade and logistics disruptions as West Asia crisis raises input costs and supply chain concerns

US, Iran prepare for ceasefire negotiations as Vance heads to Pakistan

Vice President JD Vance on Friday warned Tehran not to "play" the US as he departed for Islamabad for negotiations aimed at ending the war with Iran. President Donald Trump has tasked the member of his inner circle who has seemed to be the most reluctant defender of the conflict with Iran to now find a resolution to the war that began six weeks ago and stave off the US president's astonishing threat to wipe out its "whole civilisation." Vance, who has long been sceptical of foreign military interventions and outspoken about the prospect of sending troops into open-ended conflicts, set off Friday to lead mediated talks with Iran in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad. Boarding Air Force Two on his way to Pakistan, the vice president said, "We're looking forward to the negotiation. I think it's gonna be positive. We'll, of course, see." He cited Trump in saying, "If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we're certainly willing to extend the open hand." But he added, "If

West Asia crisis must not become opportunity to profiteer: Sonowal

Shipping minister asks maritime players to avoid profiteering amid West Asia crisis, ensure transparency in charges and faster cargo clearance at ports

CIL absorbs surge in input costs to shield coal users from price hike

CIL said that any pass-through of these rising input costs could have a cascading effect on the economy, particularly on power and industrial users dependent on coal

West Asia crisis: Govt to set up weekly system to track EXIM trends

The commerce ministry on Friday said it will set up a weekly monitoring mechanism to track export-import trends and sectoral stress indicators amid concerns that supply chain disruptions, logistics constraints, and rising input costs due to geopolitical tensions could impact industries. The concerns and challenges of the exporting community with regard to the rising cost of packaging material and disruptions in the ship movement in international waters, particularly to the West Asia region, were discussed in two separate meetings on March 9 here. The meeting, chaired by Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal, focused on challenges arising from disruptions in packaging materials and associated inputs. It was observed that the ongoing geopolitical developments can impact the availability and pricing of key petrochemical inputs, such as polymers and resins, leading to increased costs for packaging materials across sectors. Industry participants highlighted the increase in prices of critica

Lenders favour MSME loan restructuring over moratorium amid stress

Banks prefer restructuring MSME loans over moratoriums to maintain credit discipline, as stress from US tariffs and the West Asia crisis raises concerns over repayment capacity