Page 55 - West Asia

Ships avoid Hormuz as Iran raises threats and conflict in West Asia spreads

The Strait of Hormuz is a crucial chokepoint for energy markets because a fifth of the world's seaborne oil and liquefied natural gas typically passes through each day

Brace for impact: US-Israeli attack threatens global stability

No European ally participated in the attacks, although several have called for Iran to show restraint

Iran war likely to hit India's three-pronged fuel reliance as tensions rise

Timing of the new US-Israel bombing of Iran and Tehran's response couldn't be worse for India

New leadership council has begun work after Khamenei killing: Iran Prez

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian says a new leadership council "has begun its work" after the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US and Israeli strikes. Pezeshkian made the comment in a prerecorded message aired on Iranian state television Sunday. Pezeshkian is one of three officials on the council. The other two are Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejehei, head of the judiciary, and Ayatollah Ali Reza Arafi.

West Asia crisis may impact trade, push up freight, insurance costs

Rising tensions in the Middle East following attacks by the US and Israel on Iran are expected to disrupt trade flows, push up freight and insurance costs, delay cargo shipments, and drive a surge in global oil prices, thereby increasing India's import bill, say experts. Though India's trade with Iran has declined over the years due to Western sanctions, the country's two-way commerce with Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE has registered healthy growth. Experts and exporters are of the view that prolonged tensions in the region will have consequences for India on the trade front. Iran has reportedly closed traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and a large share of India's crude oil and LNG supplies from Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar transit this narrow choke point. Estimates suggest roughly 35-50 per cent of India's crude imports and a significant portion of LNG shipments pass through the strait. "Any disruption would push up freight and insurance costs

Iran names third member to leadership council that will govern the country

Iran has selected a 66-year-old cleric to join the three-member leadership council that will govern the country until a new supreme leader is selected. Ayatollah Ali Reza Arafi has been a member of both constitutional watchdog Guardian Council and the Assembly of Experts that will choose the next leader. He was hand picked by late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as a member of the Guardian Council in 2019. Arafi joins President Masoud Pezeshkian and head of judiciary cleric Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejehei on the council.

Killing of Khamenei cynical violation of human morality, int'l law: Putin

The killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was a cynical violation of all norms of human morality and international law, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared in his message to his Tehranian counterpart, the Kremlin said Sunday. Khamenei was killed in an airstrike in Tehran on Saturday during a joint Israel-US attack on Iran. "Please accept my deepest condolences in connection with the assassination of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Seyyed Ali Khamenei, and members of his family, committed in a cynical violation of all norms of human morality and international law," Putin said in his condolence message. Putin's condolence message to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was published on the Kremlin portal. Earlier on Saturday, Russia condemned the US-Israeli joint strikes on Iran qualifying it as an "unprovoked" aggression against a sovereign state in violation of international law and called for immediate return to diplomacy. The Russian ..

Trump talks of regime change in Iran, but history shows it is very hard

Barely an hour after the first US and Israeli missiles struck Iran, President Donald Trump made clear he hoped for regime change. "Now is the time to seize control of your destiny," he told the Iranian people in a video. "This is the moment for action. Do not let it pass." Doesn't sound complicated. After all, with Iran's fundamentally unpopular government weakened by fierce airstrikes, some of its top leaders dead or missing and Washington signalling support, how hard could it be to overthrow a repressive regime? Possibly very hard. So says history. Washington has a long, complicated past when it comes to regime change. There was Vietnam in the 1960s and 70s, and Panama in 1989. There was Nicaragua in the 1980s, Iraq and Afghanistan in the years after 9/11, and Venezuela just weeks ago. There was also Iran. In 1953, the CIA helped engineer a coup that toppled Iran's democratically elected leader and gave near-absolute power to Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. But as with the shah, who

Iran crisis may trigger oil price volatility and macro risks for India

India is expected to face oil price volatility and broader macroeconomic effects from the escalating Iran crisis, analysts said, adding the country's oil supply chain does not yet face structural insecurity. Rising tensions around the Strait of Hormuz - through which a significant share of India's crude and LNG imports transit - have already pushed Brent crude prices toward a seven-month high of USD 73 per barrel, adding a geopolitical risk premium to global energy markets and heightening inflation and current account pressures, even as physical supply disruption remains unlikely in the near term. "In the current escalation scenario, the initial impact is likely to be price-driven rather than volume-driven. A geopolitical risk premium would lift Brent prices, alongside increases in freight rates and war-risk insurance costs," said Sumit Ritolia, Lead Research Analyst, Refining and Modelling at commodity market analytic firm Kpler. Even in the absence of physical shortages, landed ..

225 flights cancelled at Mumbai, Delhi airports due to West Asia crisis

At least 100 international flights have been cancelled at the Delhi airport on Sunday as airlines grapple with operational disruptions due to the Middle East crisis. A source said 60 international departures and 40 arrivals have been cancelled. "Due to the evolving political situation in the Middle East, west-bound international flights may experience disruptions or schedule changes," DIAL said in a post on X. Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) operates the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in the national capital. It is also the country's largest airport, handling more than 1,300 flight movements daily. Earlier, the Civil Aviation Ministry said 444 international flights are expected to be cancelled by domestic carriers on Sunday.

West Asia crisis: Indian tour operators flag rise in booking cancellations

The Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) on Sunday reported a noticeable rise in booking cancellations and rescheduling requests, particularly for sectors connecting India with Europe via major Gulf hubs, due to airspace restrictions arising from the Middle East crisis. IATO President Ravi Gosain told PTI that travel agents across the country are working closely with airlines and overseas partners to minimise inconvenience to passengers by facilitating re-bookings, refunds, and alternate routings. "While there is short-term uncertainty, we expect the situation to stabilise, and travellers are being advised to stay in touch with their agents and avoid panic cancellations, as airlines are offering suitable options in most cases," he said. The conflict between Israel, the US, and Iran has resulted in multiple airspace closures in the Middle East, massively disrupting flight operations.

CBSE delays Class 10 and 12 exams in seven nations amid West Asia crisis

CBSE has postponed Monday's Class 10 and 12 exams in seven Middle Eastern countries due to escalating regional tensions, with the Board set to review the situation on March 3

West Asia crisis: Jaishankar speaks to foreign ministers of Iran, Israel

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday held separate phone conversations with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and his Israeli counterpart Gideon Sa'ar as the Middle East reeled under massive tension following a joint US-Israel military offensive against Iran. Jaishankar conveyed to Araghchi India's deep concern over the developments in Iran and the region. "Had a telecon with Iranian FM Seyed Abbas Araghchi this evening. Shared India's deep concern at the recent developments in Iran and the region," Jaishankar said on social media. On his conversation with Sa'ar, Jaishankar said he reiterated "India's call for dialogue and diplomacy to de-escalate tensions". Following the attack by the US and Israel, Iran launched retaliatory military strikes targeting Israeli and American military bases across the region, including in Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan. Earlier in the day, US President Donald Trump, announcing the military offensive against Tehra

DGCA asks airlines to avoid airspaces of 11 countries till March 2

Aviation watchdog DGCA on Saturday advised airlines to avoid airspaces of 11 countries, including Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE, till March 2. The countries are Iran, Israel, Lebanon, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait and Qatar. Many airspaces are already shut in the wake of the attacks on Iran by Israel and the US on Saturday. Indian airlines have suspended their services to the Middle East. The advisory has been issued in alignment with international safety standards and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency's Conflict Zone Information Bulletin (CZIB), the regulator said. The watchdog has asked airlines to refrain from operating within the 11 affected airspaces at all flight levels and altitudes. Carriers have been asked to closely monitor all updated Aeronautical Information Publications (AIPs) and Notice to Airmen (NOTAMs) issued by the affected countries and national authorities. "This advisory is effective immediately and remains valid until March 02, 202

Iran conflict to push freight, insurance costs up: Indian exporters

With a joint attack by the US and Israel on Iran triggering a massive military confrontation in the Middle East, Indian exporters on Saturday said the development is expected to push transportation and insurance costs up, potentially disrupting the outbound shipments to the US and Europe. They said that any prolonged tensions in the region could impact oil prices and that will have implications on input costs and current stability. Following the attack by the United States and Israel, Iran launched retaliatory military strikes targeting several American military bases in the Middle East, including in Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) President SC Ralhan said the ongoing conflict has already begun to disrupt established global logistics channels. "Air routes are being altered, and maritime trade through the Red Sea and key Gulf straits faces heightened uncertainty. If diversions become prolonged, shipments may ...

US, Israel trade attacks with Iran, throwing West Asia, world into disarray

Iran strikes Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha and Riyadh after US-Israel attack; American military bases targeted across the Gulf

Rahul, Kharge urge government to safeguard Indians in West Asia

The Congress on Saturday condemned the attacks launched on Iran by the US and Israel, and called upon the Indian government to help bring the hostilities to an end and ensure the safety of all Indians in the Middle East. The opposition party expressed concern over the escalating hostilities in the region and urged the government to ensure that all Indians living there are safe. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said his party is deeply concerned about the deteriorating situation in the Middle East, following the recent military escalation towards Iran. "Peace and stability in the region are paramount and must be preserved. "We are equally concerned about the safety and security of Indians in Iran and across the Middle East. We urge the Government of India to take all possible measures to ensure their protection and well-being," Kharge said in a post on X. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi too expressed concern and called upon the government to take immediate proactive steps to ensu

Israel-Iran conflict: India calls for diplomacy to de-escalate tensions

India's ministry of external affairs called on all sides to avoid escalation; embassies issue advisories to Indian nationals across West Asia

West Asia airspace closures disrupt travel as US, Israel strike Iran

Qatar, UAE, Kuwait, Israel and Iran imposed airspace restrictions as airlines suspended, cancelled or rerouted flights across the Gulf region following escalating military action

Iranian missiles target US bases across West Asia, expanding conflict

Iran launches missile attacks across Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait after joint Israel-US strikes, targeting US military bases and escalating regional tensions