Page 5 - West Asia

Inconclusive US-Iran talks, oil prices to steer markets this week: Analysts

The talks between Iran and the US in Pakistan, which ended without a deal, would weigh heavily on investors' sentiment when markets open for trading on Monday, analysts said. Besides developments related to West Asia, crude oil prices would also dictate market trends in a holiday-shortened week ahead, they said. Stock markets will remain closed on Tuesday for Baba Saheb Ambedkar Jayanti. The talks between Iran and the US in Pakistan have ended without a deal due to "excessive demands" made by the American side, a top Iranian official said on Sunday. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei, however, emphasised that "diplomacy never ends". US Vice President JD Vance, who led the American delegation, said the talks failed to reach a peace deal, citing Tehran not forgoing its nuclear programme as one of the key sticking points. He said the American side presented its "final and best offer" to the Iranian side, but it did not accept it. Baqaei, however, said the two side

Iran war, geopolitical upheaval to top agenda at naval commanders' meet

Top commanders of the Indian Navy will deliberate on implications of the West Asia crisis in the context of safeguarding India's energy security during a three-day conclave beginning Tuesday. The commanders will also comprehensively review the Navy's operational posture to protect national maritime interests and capability development in line with national security objectives. The biannual naval commanders conference will be held in New Delhi from April 14 to 16. "This edition holds significant importance in light of swift naval deployments to safeguard India's energy security, amidst ongoing conflict in West Asia with convergence of Multi-National Forces in the Indian Ocean Region," the Navy said on Sunday. However, it did not elaborate on the role it has in safeguarding India's energy security given disruptions in the transit of ships through the Strait of Hormuz. For last several years, the Indian Navy has been escorting Indian-flagged merchant vessels, specifically those carry

Saudi Arabia restores East-West pipeline capacity to 7 mn barrels per day

Output from Saudi Aramco's offshore Manifa oil production facility was also restored, the energy ministry said Sunday, though work continues at the Khurais onshore complex

'Diplomacy never ends': Iran's spokesperson hints there's room for talks

Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson said Iran should not have expected from the start that they could reach an agreement in a single session

Iran-US talks in Islamabad likely held via indirect, direct channels

The Iran-US peace talks were conducted first indirectly through Pakistan and later through direct negotiations between the two sides, official sources said on Sunday. Pakistan remained involved at every stage of the process, with the talks beginning with separate meetings of the US and Iranian delegations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday. This was followed by an exchange of messages between the two sides through Pakistani interlocutors, the sources said. The Iranian delegation was led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqir Galibaf, while the US team was headed by Vice President JD Vance. According to sources, the negotiations then moved to direct talks between the visiting delegations, which continued for about two-and-a-half hours in the presence of Pakistani officials. In the next phase, a one-hour break was taken and technical aspects of the demands presented by the two sides were discussed at the expert level. The exchange of messages on technical aspects continued

Trump shares article on possible US naval blockade on Iran after talks fail

The article posted by outlet Just the News cited experts who said that Trump could "out-blockade" Iran's hold over the strait of Hormuz and recalled US military ops in Venezuela

Luxury carmakers hope West Asia ceasefire will lift consumer sentiments

The ceasefire in West Asia is expected to help lift market sentiments in India, making luxury car customers who held back purchases to come back to showrooms to take deliveries, according to top officials of Mercedes-Benz, BMW Group and Audi in the country. Having resorted to stocking up of parts and kits, the luxury carmakers hope that the pressure on supply chain will be eased while looking forward to a return to normalcy at the earliest. "The ceasefire has come at the right time, and it is very important from a luxury buyer viewpoint because lot of our customers are dependent on how things are panning out in international market," BMW Group India President and CEO Hardeep Singh Brar told PTI. It is very important that this issue is put to rest, he said, adding,"If this issue is over, we expect a lot of customers who held back their purchases in quarter one to come back and go for higher purchases." Expressing similar views, Mercedes-Benz India Managing Director & CEO Santosh ...

Iran war diverts US attention from Asia ahead of Trump-Xi summit

In 2011, President Barack Obama declared it was time for America to leave behind the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and "pivot" to Asia to counter the rise of China. Fifteen years later, the US finds itself still at war in the Middle East and has pulled military assets from the Asia-Pacific as it aims to eliminate the threat posed by Iran's nuclear and missile programs. The demands of the Iran war also caused President Donald Trump to delay by several weeks his highly anticipated trip to China, deepening worries that the US is once again getting distracted at the cost of its strategic interests in Asia, where Beijing seeks to unseat the US as the regional leader. Those skeptical of the US involvement in the Middle East say the war is preventing Trump from adequately preparing for his summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping next month, when economic interests are on the line, and they warn that a failure to focus on Asia and maintain strong deterrence could lead to greater instability, if

Jaishankar thanks UAE counterpart for Indians' safety amid West Asia crisis

As the world looks at West Asia with a bated breath, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held talks on evolving regional situation with UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.Jaishankar on Saturday conveyed India's appreciation to Nahyan for ensuring the safety of the Indian diaspora in the region.In a post on X, he said, "A real pleasure to meet DPM & FM Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan of UAE in Abu Dhabi this evening. Our conversation focused on the evolving regional situation and its implications. Conveyed our deep appreciation for ensuring the well-being of the Indian community in the UAE. Confident that our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership will advance further."Jaishankar had earlier in the day interacted with the members of the Indian Community.In a post on X, he said, "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 ...

Why US-Iran talks failed after 21 hours of negotiations in Islamabad

High-stakes US-Iran talks mediated by Pakistan collapse after 21-hour talks in Islamabad, with both sides failing to bridge differences over nuclear commitments and strategic demands

'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