Iran, Israel, US war

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

Amid the escalating crisis in West Asia, the Indian government confirms casualties among its seafarers and details its response to ensure the safety and welfare of its maritime community

IMAGE: A foreign tanker carrying Iraqi fuel oil damaged after catching fire in Iraq's territorial waters, following unidentified attacks that targeted two foreign tankers, according to Iraqi port officials, near Basra, Iraq, March 12, 2026. Photograph: Mohammed Aty/Reuters

Key Points​

• Out of 78 Indian seafarers on foreign vessels attacked, 70 escaped unhurt, and four sustained injuries but are stable.
• The Indian government is monitoring the maritime situation in the Persian Gulf and has strengthened preparedness measures.
• The government is committed to ensuring the safety and welfare of Indian seafarers and is providing assistance to the industry.
• Major ports have been advised to consider relief in port charges to support affected parties.

The government on Thursday said that so far three Indian seafarers have been killed and one is missing amid the ongoing crisis in West Asia.

Rajesh Kumar Sinha, special secretary in the ministry of ports, shipping and waterways, said out of 78 Indian seafarers onboard foreign vessels that came under attack in the last few days, four sustained injuries but are stable.
"There have been maritime incidents involving Indian crew on foreign-flag vessels," he said, briefing the media on the West Asia crisis.

The official said there were 78 Indian seafarers. Of these, 70 escaped unhurt, and four sustained injuries in the last few days but are stable. There have been three casualties, and one seafarer is missing.

The ministry continues to monitor the prevailing maritime situation in the Persian Gulf and has strengthened monitoring and preparedness measures in view of the evolving situation in that region.

Regular interactions with the industry and stakeholders are being maintained to provide all assistance, and the government remains fully committed to ensuring the safety and welfare of Indian seafarers.

Sinha also said that all major ports have been advised to coordinate with agencies like Customs and DGFT to consider relief in port charges.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

'Mojtaba Khamenei supervised the most recent repression in December 2025 and January 2026 which remains ongoing.'

IMAGE: Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei. Photograph: Hamid Forootan/ISNA/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters

Key Points​

• 'Unclear if tyranny alone will hold together the Iranian regime'
• 'His elevation could be a strategic one by other clerics to avoid their becoming targets for elimination by US-Israel.'
• 'A swift transition like in Venezuela, is not happening in Iran.'

"Raw power aside, as a cleric, however, Mojtaba has none of the charisma of Ayatollah Khomeini nor the political savvy of his father Ayatollah Khamenei," says Dr Jamsheed K. Choksy, Distinguished Professor, Department of Central Eurasian Studies and Director, Inner Asian and Uralic National Resource Centre, Indiana University, USA.

In an interview with Rediff's Archana Masih, Dr Choksy discusses Iran's break with tradition in choosing a dynastic successor to the ayatollah, if the new leader can control rival commanders in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and whether the war will decapitate the regime, deplete its weapons, or weaken it enough to overthrow the theocracy.

Ayatollah Khomeini believed dynastic succession was heresy in Islam. And yet ignoring a tenet established by the father of the Islamic Revolution, the Iranian establishment chose to anoint Ayatollah Khamenei's son as the next supreme leader.
How would you interpret this decision?

Senior Shi'ite clergy have offices to manage their religious, social, and political activities. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, after his ascent to the position of the second supreme leader or rahbar placed one of his sons, Mojtaba, in charge of the Office of the Supreme Leader or bayt-e rahbari, just as the first Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeini had done previously with his own male heirs.

Unlike the first supreme leader's offsprings, however, Mojtaba used this position to transform the office of the supreme leader into a nationwide institution which oversaw and controlled much of the Islamic Republic's security, financial, and civic administration.

Having served in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, he subsequently deployed his contacts and economic leverage to ensure the special military force's loyalty to his father and himself.
Then in 2009, with his father's blessing, he took control of the Basij or paramilitary and repeatedly used it to brutally quash opposition to his father.

Upon the recent elimination of his father, and the concomitant deaths of other family members, Mojtaba had the support of the IRGC and Basij plus ultra-hard clergymen within the Assembly of Experts to be elevated to the position of rahbar.

In Ithna-Ashari or 'Twelvers' (following 12 imams) Shi'ism, clerical linages are common, passed from father to son and are modelled on the imamate or line of imams itself.

So, even though the Islamic Republic's first supreme leader Khomeini eschewed passing the mantle of national leadership to his sons and grandsons due to the symbolism of hereditary rule (the Pahlavi monarchy) that he had successfully campaigned against and overthrown, tradition among the Shi'ite clergy coupled with political and economic clout ensured Mojtaba Khamenei's ascension.

IMAGE: A man holds a picture of Mojtaba Khamenei, while people attend a funeral ceremony for the Iranian military commanders who were killed in strikes in Tehran, March 11, 2026. Photograph: Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters
Was this decision meant to be a defiant statement to the US that we stand behind the son of the man you assassinated?
Or is it a desperate act to ensure the regime doesn't fall apart under the American and Israeli onslaught?

The act of elevation of the recently eliminated second supreme leader's son to the highest religio-political office in Iran certainly also was a gesture of defiance to Washington and Jerusalem during the current war by the xenophobic and ultraorthodox members of Iran's surviving leadership.

But it would likely have happened even if Ali Khamenei had died under non-combat conditions due to the vast power seized for over nearly four decades by father and son.

The brutality of Iran's supreme leaders has risen with each successive appointment, and Mojtaba supervised the most recent repression in December 2025 and January 2026, which remains ongoing.

Can Mojtaba retain his father's aura? Will his own linkages with entities like the IRGC ensure that the surviving guardians of the Islamic Revolution stay united?

Raw power aside, as a cleric, however, Mojtaba has none of the charisma of Ayatollah Khomeini and nor the political savvy of his father, Ayatollah Khamenei.

It remains unclear if tyranny alone will hold together the regime he now leads or even keep in line the many competing commanders within the IRGC and Basij -- all of whom have economic interests to reach accommodation with the United States of America and bring about an end to the current war so they can hold onto their wealth and positions.

IMAGE: A banner of Mojtaba Khamenei with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini on a building in Tehran, March 10, 2026. Photograph: Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters
Mojtaba is unacceptable to Trump. The Israelis say they will eliminate him. Could this decision therefore be a temporary one until Iran's rulers find a more acceptable and coherent group to run the country?

In addition to Mojtaba's own power and connections, the decision to elevate him to the position of supreme leader could be a strategic one by other leading clerics -- whereby they avoid becoming main targets for elimination by the US and Israel.

Additionally, more moderate clergymen realise that if Mojtaba Khamenei and his circle are removed by Israel and/or the United States, the rest of the regime will gain more flexibility to reach compromise with Trump and Netanyahu.

IMAGE: People attend a gathering to support Mojtaba Khamenei in Tehran, March 9, 2026. Photograph: Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters
Trump wants regime change, as I am sure do many millions of Iranians, weary of 47 years of servitude under the mullahs. But is regime change in Tehran possible?
Like he did in Venezuela, can Trump find a Delcy Rodriguez in Tehran?
One can be certain that Mojtaba is being hunted down by foreign powers and internal foes. After all, he and the government that he took over have not only harmed the United States and Israel for many decades, they also have arrested, imprisoned, tortured and killed thousands of their own citizens, destabilised the Middle East directly with the IRGC and through proxies and clients like the Iraqi Popular Mobilisation Forces, proxy Afghan bridges, the now-gone Assad regime of Syria, Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis, and over the past week have bombed most neighboring countries.

Certainly, a majority of Iran's population, who have lived their entire lives under the daily control of the Islamic Republic's mullahs and enforcers, would like to see the velayat-e faqih, or governance of the Muslim jurist—which is the Islamic Republic's political system—swept aside and replaced by a non-religious or at least a more secular-oriented one.

A swift transition to a leader who can work with the United States, as occurred in Venezuela, is not happening in Iran as the ongoing war demonstrates.

IMAGE: A woman holds an image of Mojtaba Khamenei alongside Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a funeral ceremony for the Iranian military commanders who were killed in strikes in Tehran, March 11, 2026. Photograph: Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters
Is there anyone who would be acceptable to the guardians of the revolution as well as to the Americans? Perhaps someone like Ali Larijani, who is already a powerful figure in the current ruling establishment and is someone the Americans—but not the Israelis—could do business with?

In the event of Mojtaba's demise or ouster, Ali Larijani, who hails for a powerful family of clergymen and bureaucrats, has spent years within the regime and is presently head of Iran's National Security Council is one politician who may be able to cast aside his animosity and work with the western power.

Likewise, President Masoud Pezeshkian, a physician turned politician, may be able to abjure the anti-western rhetoric he has felt obliged to spout in recent months and regain some of the domestic following he had when elected to office in July 2024.

But both Larijani and Pezeshkian now are tied to the draconian recent crackdown against unarmed civilian protestors and may very well no longer be acceptable to ordinary Iranians irrespective of whether either could reach a negotiated peace with the United States, Israel and the Arab countries of the region who have been attacked by Iranian missiles and drones.

Whether the current war will both decapitate the Iranian regime sufficiently and diminish its weapons supplies adequately so that it is compelled to surrender or becomes weak to the point that the people can overthrow the theocracy remains unclear.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

'Act of terror': Russia slams drone attack on its LNG ship​

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova described the incident as a 'gross violation of international law' with potentially 'grave consequences.'

Image used only for representation. Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters

Key Points​

• Russia condemned a drone strike on LNG carrier Arctic Metagaz in the Mediterranean Sea, calling it a violation of international law.
• The vessel was 168 nautical miles off Malta, carrying 100,000 cubic metres of LNG and 30 Russian crew members.
• The attack caused a fire and gas explosion, forcing the crew to evacuate via lifeboats, though no deaths were reported.
• Two sailors suffered serious burns and were treated in Benghazi, Libya, before being flown back to Russia.
• Russia accused EU countries of remaining silent despite the attack occurring near an EU member state.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova has issued a strong condemnation following a drone strike on the LNG carrier Arctic Metagaz in the Mediterranean Sea.

She described the incident as a 'gross violation of international law' with potentially 'grave consequences.'

Detailing the incident, Zakharova said that on March 3 at 4.25 am, the vessel was targeted by maritime and aerial drones in neutral waters in the central Mediterranean Sea.

At the time of the attack, the ship was located 168 nautical miles southeast of the coast of Malta, carrying 100,000 cubic metres of liquefied natural gas and a crew of 30 Russian sailors.

The strike caused the vessel to lose propulsion and electrical power, triggering a fire and gas explosion on board.

Russia slams Europe for 'refusing evacuation.'​

Despite the critical situation, the crew reportedly showed 'exceptional courage and composure', successfully evacuating the burning vessel using lifeboats.

No casualties were reported.

A search-and-rescue operation was launched by nearby ships with Russian crews, one of which located the drifting lifeboat.

By 8.30 pm the same day, all crew members were rescued by a tanker that came to their aid.

Zakharova said that while the rescue was underway, 'false reports appeared in Western media claiming the vessel had caught fire on its own and sank'.

The situation was further complicated as two crew members sustained serious burns, requiring urgent medical evacuation.

However, Zakharova alleged that Malta's maritime authorities refused to assist in the evacuation.

In the absence of European assistance, help was eventually provided by the maritime rescue service of Libya.

A high-speed boat transported the injured sailors to a hospital in the port of Benghazi.

After four days of treatment and coordination with the Russian Embassy in Libya, the two sailors were flown back to Russia on March 10 on a special flight and admitted to hospital.

Zakharova said the nature of the strike leaves no doubt about its legality, calling it a 'deliberate strike against a civilian target' that could have caused large-scale loss of life and environmental damage.

"In other words—a terrorist attack and a war crime," she said.

She also criticized the international response, noting that the attack occurred close to the shores of a European Union member state, but no European country has condemned it so far, which Moscow views as troubling silence from European nations.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

Responding to concerns raised by Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha, Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri said it is the foremost priority of the government that the kitchens of over 33 crore families, especially the poor and the underprivileged, do not face any shortage of gas.

IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: Reuters

Key Points​

• India's government assures no fuel shortages despite the West Asia crisis, prioritising domestic supply and consumer needs.
• India has diversified its crude oil sourcing from 27 to 40 countries, reducing reliance on the Strait of Hormuz.
• LPG production has increased by 28% to meet domestic demand, with consumer prices shielded from global market volatility.
• The government is actively regulating commercial LPG to prevent black marketing and ensure fair distribution.
• Alternative fuel options like kerosene and fuel oil are being activated to ease pressure on LPG and gas channels.

The government on Thursday said there was no shortage of petrol, diesel, kerosene or aviation turbine fuel in the country despite the ongoing West Asia crisis, and urged the Opposition not to spread rumours and fake narratives.

Responding to concerns raised by Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha, Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri said it is the foremost priority of the government that the kitchens of over 33 crore families, especially the poor and the underprivileged, do not face any shortage of gas.


Domestic supply is fully protected, and the delivery cycle is unchanged, he said.

"There is no shortage of petrol, diesel, kerosene, aviation turbine fuel or fuel oil. The availability of petrol, diesel, aviation turbine fuel, kerosene, and fuel oil is fully assured," Puri said.

He noted that retail outlets across the country are stocked, supply chains for these products are functioning normally, and additional allocation of PDS (public distribution system) kerosene has been issued to all the states.
'Not time for rumour-mongering'
"This is not the moment for rumour-mongering or fake narratives. India is navigating the most severe global energy disruption in recorded history," he said, adding that crude supply is flowing and gas is prioritised for homes and farms.
Gas is prioritised for homes and farms, and LPG (liquified petroleum gas) production has been stepped up by 28 per cent, the minister noted.

"Consumer prices are held far below what markets and regional comparators would dictate. Schools are open. Petrol is on the forecourt. Every citizen, regardless of political affiliation, has a stake in that," he said.

"India must stand united behind its energy warriors, behind the institutions managing this crisis, and behind the national interest."

Amid sloganeering by Opposition members, the minister said that due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's effective diplomatic outreach, India has secured crude volumes that exceed what the disrupted Strait of Hormuz route would have delivered in the same period.

'World has not faced a moment like this'​

Before this crisis, about 45 per cent of India's crude imports transited the Hormuz route.

"Non-Hormuz sourcing has risen to approximately 70 per cent of crude imports, up from 55 per cent before the conflict began," he said.

Puri informed that India sources crude from 40 countries, against 27 in 2006-07.

Refineries are operating at high capacity utilisation, and in several cases, they are exceeding 100 per cent.

"The world has not faced a moment like this in modern energy history," he said.

Impact of the West Asia Crisis on Global Fuel Supply​

Following the joint attack launched by the US and Israel on Iran on February 28, the Islamic nation has stopped the movement of oil and gas ships from the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 per cent of the world's crude, natural gas and LPG flows.

The supply was disrupted following the military operation between Iran, Israel and the US, the minister said, adding that despite India having no role in causing the conflict, like many countries, India has to navigate through its consequences.

He said an Indian neighbour has shut all schools for two weeks, moved government offices to a four-day work week, ordered 50 per cent of public employees to work from home, cut fuel allowances for official vehicles by half, and taken 60 per cent of government vehicles off the road.

Another neighbour, he said, has closed universities early and brought forward the Eid al-Fitr holiday to save fuel.

Countries in Southeast Asia have also had to take energy rationing and conservation measures.

Meanwhile, non-Hormuz sourcing has also risen to about 70 per cent of crude imports, up from 55 per cent before the conflict began.

Measures to Ensure LPG Availability
India was previously importing about 60 per cent of its LPG requirements from Gulf countries, such as Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait and 40 per cent is produced domestically.

He informed that the procurement has now been actively diversified, with cargoes being secured from the US, Norway, Canada, Algeria, and Russia, in addition to available Gulf sources.

The LPG Control Order issued on March 8 directed all refineries to maximise LPG yields.

"Hence, in the last five days, LPG production has been increased by 28 per cent through refinery directives, and further procurement is actively underway," he said.

Puri said the standard time from booking to delivery for domestic LPG cylinders remains 2.5 days, unchanged from pre-crisis norms.

Hospitals, educational institutions get priority supply​

Hospitals and educational institutions have been placed on uninterrupted priority supply. Their access to LPG is fully assured regardless of broader demand conditions, the minister said, adding that field reports indicate hoarding and panic-booking at the distributor and retail level, driven by consumer anxiety rather than any actual supply shortage, the minister said.

"The House should be clear on this: the rush-booking pressure in some localities reflects a demand distortion, not a production or supply failure," he said.

Delivery Authentication Code coverage is being expanded from 50 per cent to 90 per cent of consumers. Under this system, a cylinder can only be logged as delivered when the consumer confirms receipt through a one-time code on their registered mobile, making undocumented diversion effectively impossible to conceal, he added.

A 25-day minimum booking gap has been introduced as a demand management measure in urban areas and 45 days in rural and durgam kshetra (remote areas).

Further, he said commercial LPG has been regulated to prevent black marketing, not to penalise the hospitality sector.

Commercial LPG has been regulated​

Commercial LPG is sold in a completely deregulated, over-the-counter market at market price, without any government subsidy.

There is no registration system, no booking requirement, no digital authentication, and no delivery confirmation mechanism.

Any business or individual can purchase cylinders in any quantity at the point of sale, with no government control in normal times, he said.

"In a supply-constrained environment where public anxiety is elevated, this deregulated structure creates a direct and uncontrolled pathway for hoarding, diversion, and resale at inflated prices," he said, adding that had commercial supply been left entirely unrestricted, cylinders purchased over the counter could have been diverted to the grey market at the expense of genuine commercial consumers and domestic households alike.

The government, he said, has taken the responsible course to regulate this channel with clear priorities and a transparent allocation mechanism.

He also said that alternative fuel options are being activated to ease pressure on LPG and gas channels. Kerosene is being made available through retail outlets and PDS channels, and fuel oil is being made available for industrial and commercial consumers.

Consumer Price Protection​

Consumer prices, he said, have been shielded from global market conditions. Despite the Saudi contract price rising 41 per cent between July 2023 and March 2026, the PMUY beneficiary price has fallen 32 per cent in the same period and stands at Rs 613 per 14.2 kg cylinder in Delhi.

The non-subsidised consumer price stands at Rs 913, following the recent Rs 60 adjustment, against a market-determined price of about Rs 987, Puri noted.

Of the Rs 134 per cylinder adjustment required by prevailing global market conditions, the government absorbed Rs 74.

"The effective additional cost for a PMUY household is under 80 paise per day. Equivalent LPG prices in the neighbourhood stand at Rs 1,046 in Pakistan, Rs 1,242 in Sri Lanka, and Rs 1,208 in Nepal. OMC compensation of Rs 30,000 crore has been approved against losses of approximately Rs 40,000 crore in 2024-25," he added.

He said consumer prices are held far below what markets and regional comparators would dictate.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

The tanker reportedly switched off its Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponder while navigating the high-risk stretch of the strait and reappeared on tracking systems on March 9.

Key Points​

• The Liberia-flagged tanker Shenlong Suezmax reached Mumbai Port, becoming the first India-bound vessel to cross the Strait of Hormuz since the Iran–US conflict began.
• The tanker carried 1,35,335 metric tonnes of Saudi crude loaded from Ras Tanura Port.
• The vessel temporarily switched off its AIS tracking system while navigating the high-risk Strait of Hormuz.
• The crude will be supplied to refineries in Mahul, eastern Mumbai, with unloading expected to take about 36 hours.
• 28 Indian-flagged ships with nearly 800 Indian seafarers are currently operating in the Persian Gulf region, with authorities closely monitoring their safety.

A Shenlong Suezmax, a Liberia-flagged tanker carrying Saudi crude, has reached Mumbai Port, becoming the first India-bound vessel to pass through the Strait of Hormuz since the Iran-United States conflict began.

The tanker loaded crude from Ras Tanura Port in Saudi Arabia on March 1 and departed on March 3.

Maritime tracking data showed the vessel in the Strait of Hormuz on March 8 before it temporarily went off tracking systems.

The tanker reportedly switched off its Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponder while navigating the high-risk stretch of the strait and reappeared on tracking systems on March 9.

The AIS is a mandatory maritime VHF radio system that automatically broadcasts a ship's identity, position, speed, and course to nearby vessels and shore stations to prevent collisions and improve navigation.

The vessel docked at Mumbai Port at 1 pm on Wednesday and was berthed at Jawahar Dweep at 6.06 pm.

It is carrying 1,35,335 metric tonnes of crude oil, which will be supplied to refineries in Mahul, eastern Mumbai.

The crude discharge process is expected to take around 36 hours.

IRGC warns ships seeking to sail through Hormuz​

The tanker is owned by Shenlong Shipping Ltd and managed by Dynacom Tanker Management Ltd of Athens.

The ship has 29 crew members, including Indian, Pakistani, and Filipino nationals, and is captained by an Indian.
Earlier, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Naval Force said vessels seeking to sail through the Strait of Hormuz must obtain Iran’s approval or risk being targeted.

Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri said two ships that ignored Iran's warnings were targeted in the strait on Wednesday.

'Any vessel intending to pass must obtain permission from Iran,' the Iranian general said in a post on X.

Why is Strait of Hormuz crucial​

According to Iranian state media, Tehran has intensified restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, though it has indicated that vessels not serving the interests of the United States and Israel may pass safely.

More than 20 million barrels of crude oil pass daily through the narrow channel separating the Iranian coast from Oman, accounting for roughly one-fifth of global oil consumption and nearly a quarter of all seaborne oil trade.

Meanwhile, India's Shipping Ministry said 28 Indian-flagged vessels are currently operating in the Persian Gulf region.

Of these, 24 vessels west of the Strait of Hormuz carry 677 Indian seafarers, while four vessels east of the strait have 101 Indian seafarers onboard.

The ministry said their safety is being actively monitored.

A 24-hour control room has been operational in the ministry and the Directorate General of Shipping since February 28, 2026, to track developments and coordinate assistance for Indian seafarers.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

Iran sets three conditions to end war with US and Israel, demands rights recognition and reparations​

FP News Desk • March 12, 2026, 10:44:57 IST

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian outlines three conditions to end the war with the US and Israel, demanding recognition of Iran’s rights, reparations and binding guarantees against future attacks​

Smoke rises after an Israeli strike on Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon, March 11, 2026, following an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran. - Reuters

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has laid out Tehran’s terms for ending the ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel, saying any resolution must recognise Iran’s rights and guarantee that the country will not face future attacks.
In a message posted on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, Pezeshkian said the war could only be resolved through a clear set of conditions.

“The only way to end this war—ignited by the Zionist regime & US—is recognizing Iran’s legitimate rights, payment of reparations, and firm int’l guarantees against future aggression,” Pezeshkian wrote.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

• The International Energy Agency has agreed to release a record 400 million barrels of crude oil in response to the disruption caused by the US-Israel war on Iran.
• Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says its navy fired on and stopped two vessels in the Strait of Hormuz after they ignored warnings.
• Explosions rock Tehran as Iran says US and Israeli forces have bombed nearly 10,000 civilian sites in the country.
• Iranian counterattacks continue, while several Gulf states – including Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE – report missile and drone interceptions in recent hours.
• Israel continues its relentless bombardment of Lebanon, attacking a residential building in central Beirut and several other locations across the country.
• Visit our live tracker for the latest casualty figures from across the region.

11 Mar 2026 - 23:59
(23:59 GMT)

Thank you for joining us​

This live page is now closed.
You can continue to follow all our coverage of the US-Israeli war on Iran here.

A resident checks a destroyed car in front of a residential building where at least four people were injured in an Israeli strike in the Aisha Bakkar area of central Beirut on Wednesday [Adri Salido/Getty Images]
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11 Mar 2026 - 23:55
(23:55 GMT)

Here’s what happened today​

• US President Donald Trump has claimed that the US military “knocked out” Iran’s leadership “twice”, without giving further details, and destroyed the Iranian navy.
• Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran remains committed to regional peace but insists the war can only end if its “legitimate rights” are recognised.
• A spokesman for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said major attacks against US military bases in the Middle East would continue.
• The UN Security Council has voted in favour of a resolution sponsored by the Gulf Cooperation Council demanding that Iran stop its attacks against Gulf nations.
• Israel continues to launch powerful air strikes on Beirut and across Lebanon, as over 800,000 people are displaced by the conflict.
• Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia said they intercepted incoming projectiles.
• The International Energy Agency (IEA) has released strategic oil reserves in an attempt to counter soaring global energy prices.

11 Mar 2026 - 23:45
(23:45 GMT)

Death toll from Israeli attack on Tamnin al-Tahta rises​

Lebanon’s Public Health Ministry has reported that the death toll from an Israeli attack on Tamnin al-Tahta in the eastern Baalbek district has now risen to eight, after one person died from their wounds, NNA reported.
Another 17 people were injured in the attack, according to the ministry.
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  11 Mar 2026 - 23:35
  (23:35 GMT)
  

  Photos: Israeli strikes target Beirut’s southern suburbs​

  
  An Israeli air strike targets a building in the Aicha Bakkar neighbourhood of Beirut [AFP]
  
  Residents gather at the site of an Israeli air strike that targeted a building in the Aicha Bakkar neighbourhood of Beirut [AFP]
  
  Israeli attacks in Lebanon have killed at least 634 people since March 2 [AFP]
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  11 Mar 2026 - 23:15
  (23:15 GMT)
  

  ‘Iran’s president hints at return to negotiations’​

  
  By Mohamed Vall
  Reporting from Tehran, Iran
  Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian had phone calls with Russian and Pakistani leaders yesterday and today, and he hinted that Iran may be ready to return to negotiations.
  But that’s under three conditions: Iran’s sovereign rights; reparations for the destruction caused in the country; and guarantees that such an aggression is not repeated.
  Iran is waiting for a response from the other side, but they have said many times that they have no trust in them.
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  11 Mar 2026 - 23:00
  (23:00 GMT)
  

  Hezbollah announces another attack on Israel​

  The Lebanese group says that it attacked the town of Shtula in northern Israel.
  It said that the attacks were in response to Israel’s strikes on Lebanon, especially those on the southern suburbs of Beirut.
  Israel earlier unleashed a heavy wave of strikes on the Lebanese capital, which our correspondents say rivaled any since the escalation of hostilities on March 2.
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  11 Mar 2026 - 22:50
  (22:50 GMT)
  

  Israeli attack kills 8 in southern Lebanon’s Bekaa valley​

  Lebanon’s Public Health Ministry has reported that at least eight people have been killed in an Israeli attack on the town of Shaath in the Baalbek district, the NNA news agency is reporting.
  Three people were also wounded in the attack.
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  11 Mar 2026 - 22:45
  (22:45 GMT)
  

  Priority to avoid disruptions for people: Qatar’s PM​

  Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani has said officials in Qatar are working hard to ensure that life for citizens and residents continues as normal despite attacks from Iran.
  Sheikh Mohammed noted that Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has called on officials to “work diligently to ensure that the normal course of life for citizens and residents remains uninterrupted”.
  The prime minister also noted the “importance of perseverance”, adding that, while “Qatar has faced many difficult challenges in recent years”, that “each time”, the country has “emerged stronger”.
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  11 Mar 2026 - 22:40
  (22:40 GMT)
  

  Israeli strikes on Beirut’s suburbs wound 17​

  Lebanon’s National News Agency is reporting that Israeli air raids on Beirut’s southern suburbs have wounded at least 17 people, according to figures collected by the country’s Ministry of Public Health.
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  11 Mar 2026 - 22:35
  (22:35 GMT)
  
  
  
  

  Qatar Airways announces flights through March 17​

  Though Qatar’s airspace is closed, the country’s carrier has been operating special flights since the weekend.
  On Wednesday, it announced its planned flights through March 17, as Qatar Airways steadily looks to ramp up its operations.
  Check out all the flights Qatar Airways will be running over the next few days on their X post below.
  
  
  
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‘Our hearts were shaking’: Tehran endures night of heavy Israel, US bombing​

The latest attacks come a day after bombing of fuel reserves created thick plumes of smoke that turned day into night. 10 Mar 202610 Mar 2026

10 Mar 202610 Mar 2026

German Chancellor concerned US-Israel have no exit plan for Iran war​

German Chancellor said there appears to be “clearly no joint plan” to bring the US-Israeli war on Iran to an end.
Published On 10 Mar 202610 Mar 2026
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[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

Trump urges countries to send warships to open Hormuz Strait​

Source: ANI
March 14, 2026 22:15 IST
Trump also called upon China, France, and Japan, among others, to send ships to the Strait of Hormuz.

IMAGE: F/A-18F aircrafts are seen on the deck of USS Abraham Lincoln in the Gulf of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz. Photograph: Ahmed Jadallah/File Photo/Reuters

Key Points​

• US President Donald Trump said the US and allied countries will deploy warships to keep the Strait of Hormuz open.
• Trump warned that the US would bomb Iran's shoreline and target Iranian boats if tensions escalate further.
• He urged countries including China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom to send warships to the region.
• The Strait of Hormuz carries over 20 million barrels of oil daily, making it one of the world's most critical energy chokepoints.
• Iranian representative Abdul Majid Hakeem Ilahi said the conflict has global economic consequences but reiterated that Indian ships would still be allowed to transit the Strait of Hormuz.

US President Donald Trump said the US and allied countries will deploy warships to keep the Strait of Hormuz open. Trump warned that the US would bomb Iran's shoreline and target Iranian boats if tensions escalate further. He urged countries including China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom to send warships to the region. The Strait of Hormuz carries over 20 million barrels of oil daily, making it one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints. Iranian representative Abdul Majid Hakeem Ilahi said the conflict has global economic consequences but reiterated that Indian ships would still be allowed to transit the Strait of Hormuz.
In the wake of the developing security situation in West Asia and the Gulf, US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that Washington, DC would send warships, along with other countries, to keep the Strait of Hormuz 'open and safe'.
Trump also called upon China, France, and Japan, among others, to send ships to the Strait of Hormuz.
He said the United States would bomb the shoreline and continually shoot Iranian boats and ships.
He made the remarks in a post on Truth Social.
Trump said that several countries, in conjunction with the United States, would send warships to ensure the Strait of Hormuz remains open.
'Many countries, especially those affected by Iran’s attempted closure of the Hormuz Strait, will be sending warships, in conjunction with the United States of America, to keep the Strait open and safe. We have already destroyed 100% of Iran’s military capability, but it is easy for them to send a drone or two, drop a mine, or deliver a close-range missile somewhere along, or in, this waterway, no matter how badly defeated they are,' he wrote.
He added, 'Hopefully China, France, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and others affected by this artificial constraint will send ships to the area so that the Hormuz Strait will no longer be a threat from a nation that has been totally decapitated. In the meantime, the United States will be bombing the hell out of the shoreline and continually shooting Iranian boats and ships out of the water. One way or the other, we will soon get the Hormuz Strait OPEN, SAFE, and FREE!'

Why Strait of Hormuz is important​

The United States has long referred to the strait as the 'world's most important oil chokepoint' because of the volume of global energy supplies that transit through the narrow passage.
More than 20 million barrels of crude oil pass daily through the narrow channel separating the Iranian coast from Oman.
That volume represents roughly one-fifth of global oil consumption and nearly a quarter of all seaborne oil trade.
A significant share of the world's liquefied natural gas also moves through the same passage.

Iran to allow Indian ships to pass through Hormuz​

Meanwhile, the representative of Iran's Supreme Leader in India, Abdul Majid Hakeem Ilahi, expressed concern over the ongoing conflict, saying it had become a global issue due to rising energy prices and broader economic impacts.
Highlighting the global implications of the conflict, Ilahi pointed to the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy supplies.
"Actually, the crisis is not only for Iran, but it is a global crisis. They imposed this war on us, and we have to defend ourselves. We are ready to share our blood for our dignity, for our independence, for our country," he said.
"We are not happy with the suffering of other people -- the shortage of gas, petrol, and oil. But we have to defend ourselves. We do not have any other option," he added, urging global leaders to pressure the United States to stop the war.
Ilahi reiterated that Indian vessels would be allowed to pass through the strategically significant Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
Speaking in an interview with ANI, Ilahi responded affirmatively, saying, "Of course, yes," when asked whether Indian ships would be allowed to pass through the Strait.
He added that the special concessions for India reflected what he described as solidarity among many Indian citizens with Iran against what he termed 'oppression' by the US and its allies.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

Iran War Exposes Washington's Strategic Chaos​

March 12, 2026 16:31 IST

IMAGE: The Thailand-flagged cargo ship Mayuree Naree engulfed in black smoke in the Strait of Hormuz, March 11, 2026. Photograph: ROYAL THAI NAVY/Handout/Reuters

Key Points​

• The Strait of Hormuz disruption has triggered energy supply concerns and exposed limitations in securing global shipping routes.
• Cheap drones and asymmetric warfare tactics are challenging the world's most advanced militaries and reshaping battlefield dynamics.
• The war's ripple effects are reaching India through LPG shortages, supply chain disruptions, and rising costs for food and medicines.

The American presidential model seemed to me to solve this problem elegantly.
You elect one person. That person then assembles a cabinet from the entire talent pool of the nation: Economists, generals, diplomats, scientists.
The elected president does not have to deal with constituency pressures, caste arithmetic, coalition obligations.
There was nothing to stop him, or her, from picking the best person for each job.
Yes, there were failures.
Colin Powell, arguably the best-qualified secretary of state of his generation, still stood at the UN podium and made the false case for Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.
But that seemed like an exception.

IMAGE: An Iranian missile flies toward Israel, as seen from Jerusalem, March 11, 2026. Photograph: Jamal Awad/Reuters

Trump Team's Iran War Decisions​

I no longer believe as I did.
What I am watching unfold in the Iran war has dismantled my argument more thoroughly than any academic critique could.
The American president chose, freely and without any electoral constraint, to staff the most consequential decisions of this war with a Fox News television host as secretary of defence and two men -- Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, neither of whom hold security clearances -- as the architects of nuclear negotiations with Iran.
By Trump's own account, these are the people who made his mind up for him.

IMAGE: US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and US President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner. Photograph: Oman News Agency/Handout via Reuters
And now we have the results of those choices.
The nuclear programme is not actually a war goal.
Regime change is not a war goal.
The Strait of Hormuz is effectively closed, and the US Navy has no plan to reopen it.
US intelligence confirms, privately, that the Iranian regime is intact and not at risk of collapse.
Twelve days in, the most powerful military on earth cannot secure its own embassies from fifty-thousand-dollar drones, one of which breached the Baghdad compound while another destroyed the CIA station on the top floor of the Riyadh embassy.
And the people managing this one have brought us to a place where a war launched without congressional authorisation, without a clear goal, and without a plan for the morning after is now being declared as won -- 'In the first hour it was over,' Trump said (external link) at a rally yesterday -- even as the Strait remains closed, tankers sit anchored, and his own advisers privately acknowledge they have no idea how to end what they started.
Clausewitz famously wrote that war is the continuation of policy by other means.
The fog of war, he argued, is not just the confusion of battle -- it is the confusion of purpose.

IMAGE: US Energy Secretary Chris Wright speaks outside a natural gas plant in Colorado, March 9, 2026. Photograph: Liz Hampton/Reuters
How the miscalculation happened
The New York Times has the most comprehensive reconstruction so far of how the Trump administration misjudged Iran's response.
Ten days before the war, Energy Secretary Chris Wright told an interviewer he was unconcerned about oil supply disruption.
'Oil prices blipped up and then went back down,' he said, referring to last June's strikes.
Trump was privately briefed on the oil price risk, acknowledged it, and directed his treasury and energy secretaries to develop options, but did not speak publicly about those options until more than 48 hours after the war started.
Inside the administration, some officials are now privately pessimistic about strategy, but have been careful not to tell the president, who continues to declare the operation a complete success.
Pentagon officials told closed congressional briefings that $5.6 billion in munitions were used in the first two days alone ($11.6 billion in the first six days (external link)), a burn rate far higher than had been publicly disclosed. [New York Times (external link), paywalled]
Amateur hour
A detailed investigation by MS NOW reveals that the nuclear negotiations which collapsed 36 hours before the first US strikes were conducted by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
Neither of them are nuclear experts, neither hold security clearances, and they did not bring technical advisers to the table.
Iran had presented a seven-page proposal, which Witkoff and Kushner were incapable of understanding. The talks were abandoned.
Witkoff's own defence of his qualifications: 'I wouldn't tell you I'm an expert in nuclear, but I've learned quite a bit.'
The IAEA, meanwhile, has said it had no evidence Iran was building a nuclear bomb.
Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi's summary: 'When complex nuclear negotiations are treated like a real estate transaction... bombing the negotiation table out of spite.' [MS NOW (external link)]

IMAGE: Tankers sail in the Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from northern Ras al-Khaimah, near the border with Oman's Musandam, March 11, 2026. Photograph: Reuters
What the briefings revealed
Senator Chris Murphy (D-Connecticut) emerged from a two-hour classified briefing with a thread
While Murphy couldn't go into details since the briefing was classified, he did sum up what he had learned: The nuclear programme is not a war goal; regime change is not a war goal.
This is important, because in public those two line items are touted as the rationale for the war -- but behind closed doors, the administration says no.
The stated goals -- destroying missiles, boats, and drone factories -- come with no answer to the obvious question of what happens when Iran restarts production.
And on the Strait of Hormuz, there is no plan.
Murphy's verdict: 'This part of the disaster was 100% foreseeable.'
US intelligence, meanwhile, has separately confirmed to Reuters the regime is intact, retains control of the Iranian public, and is not at risk of collapse.
Israeli officials in closed discussions have acknowledged the same.
In sum, the two countries prosecuting this war do not privately believe their own publicly stated rationale.
Senator Richard Blumenthal, who too was present at the briefing, was equally outraged.
'I emerge from this briefing as dissatisfied and angry, frankly, as I have from any past briefing in my 15 years in the Senate,' he told reporters, going on to elaborate on the reasons for his anger. [Chris Murphy (external link); Reuters (external link); Richard Blumenthal (external link)]
The war that dare not speak its name
The Trump administration has spent considerable energy avoiding the word 'war' while waging one.
The Atlantic traces the history of presidential euphemisms: Truman's 'police action' in Korea, Obama aide Ben Rhodes's 'kinetic military action' in Libya.
The piece notes something distinctive about the current evasion: It is combined with an aesthetic glorification of war, a 'warrior ethos' that Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth pumps into every speech.
The piece invokes Marinetti's 1909 Futurist Manifesto, which called war 'the world's only hygiene'.
Saturday Night Live had its own summary: 'This isn't a war; it's a situationship.' [The Atlantic (external link)]
The Secretary of War
A Guardian profile of Pete Hegseth traces his trajectory from Princeton conservative to Fox News co-host to Pentagon chief.
The piece documents his Crusader tattoos, his church's ties to a pastor who advocates a theocratic vision of society, and the more than 200 complaints received from service members about commanders invoking Christian 'end times' rhetoric to justify the Iran war.
The Military Religious Freedom Foundation notes the obvious strategic liability: Casting this as a holy war gives Iran exactly the narrative it needs to sustain its own. [The Guardian (external link)]
And while on Hegseth, a report widely publicised in the media says the US department of defence spent #93.4 billion (yeah, that is billion with a 'b') on luxury food items etc in just one month of the last fiscal year, including $50.1 billion in just five days.
The details are staggering: $15 million on rib eye steaks, nearly 7 million on lobster tails, etc. [Newsweek (external link); The New Republic (external link); Fox 11 (external link)]

IMAGE: The attack is believed to have been carried out by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed armed factions operating in the country. Photograph: X
The drone war no one planned for

Drone Warfare Reshaping Modern Conflict​

New York magazine's Jeff Wise writes about a battlefield reality the Pentagon is still absorbing: Iran has drawn the US into a protracted attritional drone war unlike any it has fought directly.
The core technology -- cheap, proliferating, increasingly precise -- evolved at hyperspeed during four years of war in Ukraine, and the US is now on the receiving end of that learning curve for the first time.

IMAGE: A building damaged in a reported Iranian drone strike, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Seef, Manama, Bahrain, March 10, 2026. Photograph: Reuters
A single drone killed six American soldiers at a base in Kuwait.
A Kuwaiti F-18 apparently shot down three US F-15s in a friendly fire incident.
Drones and missiles rained on Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE simultaneously.
And now, the Baghdad diplomatic compound has been breached, the CIA station in Riyadh destroyed.
The US can flatten every IRGC headquarters in Iran, but it now finds that it cannot secure its own embassies from a $50,000 drone.
That asymmetry, twelve days in, remains unsolved. [New York magazine, paywalled (external link)]
Strait of Hormuz Crisis Deepens
Trump told Fox News that tankers should 'show some guts' and sail through the Strait of Hormuz.
Reuters reports that the US navy has been turning down near-daily requests from the shipping industry for military escorts, telling industry briefings the risk of attack is too high.
The US energy secretary posted that the US navy had successfully escorted a tanker through, then deleted the post, causing markets to lurch twice in one day.
A maritime security expert's assessment: 'Neither France, the United States, an international coalition or anybody is in a position to secure the Strait of Hormuz'. [Reuters (external link)]
For the technical backdrop, Professor Caitlin Talmadge's 2008 paper >e,?Closing Time remains essential reading.
Her conclusion: Iran does not need to physically seal the Strait to cause catastrophic disruption.
A modest mining campaign of a few hundred mines could take between 37 and 112 days to fully resolve.
The US navy's mine-clearing assets are scarce, vulnerable, and designed for permissive environments.
Given how narrow the Strait of Hormuz is, the US navy comes under shore-based Iranian guns and missiles if it attempts to enter the Strait to sweep it clear of mines.
Here's the thing: every strategic assessment this administration needed to prepare for this war is out there, in the public domain.
Apparently, no one bothered to read. [Caitlin Talmadge, International Security (external link)]

IMAGE: People run for cover during an air raid, in Tel Aviv, Israel, March 10, 2026. Photograph: Dylan Martinez/Reuters
The escalation pattern
University of Chicago political scientist Robert Pape identifies five recurring dynamics: The Escalation Trap (tactical success that doesn't translate to political concession); the Smart Bomb Trap (precision strikes creating the illusion of control); Horizontal Escalation (weaker states widening the battlefield to shipping lanes and energy infrastructure); Parallel Attack (the theory that hitting everything simultaneously collapses systems, a theory history keeps disproving); and the Air Power Trap (bombing that rallies populations around governments rather than against them).
The money quote: 'Vietnam. Kosovo. Iraq. And now the expanding confrontation with Iran.' [Robert Pape (external link); video (external link)]
The succession, explained
Iran Analytica's comprehensive analysis of Mojtaba Khamenei's elevation makes a counterintuitive case: external pressure compressed the regime's decision-making and made dynastic continuity the safest option rather than the planned one.
Trump's public rejection of Mojtaba as an acceptable successor inadvertently strengthened his candidacy: in the Islamic Republic, the candidate most opposed by external enemies is most easily framed as the revolution's truest guardian.
The regime's recurring pattern: crises consolidate it rather than transform it. [Iran Analytica (external link)]
The Kremlin reads out a different call
Hours after Trump boasted that Putin told him he was 'impressed' by the Iran moves, Moscow offered its own version of the call.
According to Putin's spokesman, Trump did not raise Ukraine ceasefire, directly contradicting Trump's claim.
When asked whether Russia had provided Iran with targeting intelligence, Peskov did not deny it: 'We are not commenting.'
Trump floated easing Russian oil sanctions minutes after the call. The Kremlin called it a coincidence.
Given the precision with which Iran and its proxies have been hitting US diplomatic and intelligence facilities -- the CIA station in Riyadh, the Baghdad compound --the question of where the targeting intelligence is coming from is one Washington has not yet answered publicly. [The Daily Beast (external link)]
And while on conflicting readouts of calls, here is one closer to home: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in a bland two line post on X said he had a detailed conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi.
'We agreed to remain in touch,' Jaishankar writes; that sounds like the sort of thing I'd say to a chance-met acquaintance.
Compare that with the extensive readout of the same call, put out by the Iranian foreign ministry.
Begs the question: What did Jaishankar, representing the government of India, have to say to the points raised by Iran?
The very blandness of Jaishankar's post is the real story of where India-Iran relations are at now. [S Jaishankar (external link); Iran Foreign Ministry (external link)]
Galibaf draws a line
Mohammad Bagher Galibaf, speaker of the Iranian parliament, on any ceasefire: 'Certainly we aren't seeking a ceasefire. We believe the aggressor must be punished and taught a lesson.'
And: 'The Zionist regime has consistently perpetuated a vicious cycle of 'war, negotiations, ceasefire, then war again.' We will break this cycle.'
The man who helped engineer Mojtaba Khamenei's succession is not signaling flexibility. [Twitter/X (external link)]
The politics back home
Nate Silver's analysis of the US domestic political fallout contains a paradox worth noting: MAGA voters are more supportive of the Iran war than non-MAGA Republicans, not because they are ideologically pro-war but because for them, MAGA means supporting whatever Trump does.
The genuinely isolationist voices -- Tucker Carlson ('absolutely disgusting and evil'), Joe Rogan ('this is why a lot of people feel betrayed'), Nick Fuentes -- are elite opinion, and elite opinion, as Silver notes, tends to be a leading indicator.
The Gaza analogy for Democrats is instructive: what was a minority progressive position in 2020 is now the mainstream.
As Trump becomes more of a lame duck and 2028 approaches, the cost of crossing him diminishes, and the next generation of Republican leaders may be more genuinely isolationist than he ever was. [Nate Silver, 538/Substack (external link)]

IMAGE: Due to a shortage of domestic gas cylinders, hoteliers are facing difficulties, with many unable to serve food to customers. Photograph: Sahil Salvi
The ripple: India Watch

Iran War's Ripple Effects in India​

The war's most direct impact on India this week is playing out not in diplomatic cables but in gas agency queues (external link) spilling over into petrol pumps (external link), restaurant kitchens, and wedding mandaps.
Former ambassador Nirupama Menon Rao has written (external link) about the structural vulnerability that the LPG supply disruption is now exposing.
The roadside dhaba, the small mess, the pushcart stall, the idli cart at dawn near a construction site -- these are not commercial establishments competing with formal restaurants.
Rather, Rao writes, they are effectively a public service: They feed the migrant workers, daily-wage labourers, drivers, and construction hands who have no kitchen of their own.
A rise in LPG costs does not eat into profit margins; it cuts directly into the ₹30 or Rs 40 plate of rice and dal that constitutes a working man's only meal.
'Urban India often runs on systems that policymakers must see,' she writes.
'The roadside kitchen is one of them.'

IMAGE: Dosa Corner in Bengaluru, March 11, 2026 is using a coal stove to prepare dosas due to commercial LPG gas cylinder scarcity. Photograph: ANI Photo
The second-order effects are now beginning to show.
As restaurants cut menus in response to fuel shortages, food delivery platforms like Swiggy are reporting a contraction in operations -- fewer dishes on offer means fewer orders to service, which means delivery workers lose income.
Andhra Pradesh Hotel Association has decided to stop (external link) catering to Swiggy and Zomato deliveries, in order to reduce the load on the kitchens of its members.
The invisible workforce that Rao writes about is being squeezed from both ends: The kitchen that feeds them is running short of fuel, and the gig economy that employs them is pulling back.
Still staying with second order effects, Tamil Nadu's Sivaganga reports surging prices of firewood (external link) as hotel owners switch from gas-based cooking.
The Wire reports (external link) that medicine prices are expected to surge, since the cargo ship shortages have hit transport of the required ingredients, sourced largely from China.
In Gujarat, ceramics and diamonds have already been hit by gas shortages -- now, the impact of the war is being felt by the potato belt, Indian Express reports (external link).
On the ground in Punjab, the disruption has taken on a particular intimacy.
With LPG supply to commercial cylinders suspended since Monday night on government instructions, wedding caterers across the state have been caught off guard, The Tribune reports (external link).
More than ten thousand weddings are estimated to take place across Punjab this week.
Families are shuttling between gas agencies, borrowing cylinders from relatives, being turned away from booking systems with servers reportedly down across India.
The Punjab Hotel and Restaurant Association has advised members to switch back to coal-based chulhas if necessary.
An Olympian who runs a gas agency has appealed to residents to follow the teachings of Guru Nanak: Vand Chhako (share what you have).
This arc, from a hasty decision made in Washington, through a chokepoint in the Persian Gulf, to a wedding in Patiala, is the supply chain in action. And it is, right now, broken.
The New Yorker this week in a paywalled piece (external link) invokes the French philosopher Paul Virilio's concept of the "information bomb".
Virilio's prediction, made in 1998, is of a coming "visual crash" in which the overflow of real-time global media would cause a "defeat of facts" and a "disorientation of our relation to reality."
Virilio was writing before social media, before MAGA, before AI.
He could not have imagined the IDF posting "Fortunate Son" (external link), an anthem of opposition to the Vietnam War, as a triumphalist soundtrack to its fighter jets.
Or the White House splicing (external link) video-game simulations with real missile strike footage.
We are all, the piece suggests, "monitoring the situation" -- that is to say, we are scrolling, clicking, assembling fragments of information under the deluded impression that knowing more makes us something other than passive bystanders to the relentless spray of digital shrapnel.
But here is what the fragments, assembled, actually tell us, twelve days into this war: The stated goals are not the real goals. The real goals have not been stated.
The Strait is closed and there is no plan to reopen it.
Oil tankers at sea, and oil refiners on land, are going up in flames.
The regime the war was meant to topple is intact -- US intelligence says so (external link).
A $50,000 drone is destroying what billions of dollars cannot protect.
Clausewitz wrote about the fog of war as an epistemic condition: The irreducible uncertainty of battle.
What we are watching is something different: A fog manufactured and maintained by the people who started the war, so that the question of why it was started never has to be answered.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

Iran fires 'swarm of drones' at US-Israeli positions​

Source: ANI -
March 14, 2026 14:52 IST
Earlier, another state media outlet showed a display of part of the IRGC's drone {censored}nal inside a large tunnel. Coinciding with the release of these visuals, the IRGC confirmed the launch of the 48th phase of its retaliatory campaign.
https://im.rediff.com/news/2026/mar/14iran-missile-{censored}nal-underground.jpg?w=670&h=900
IMAGE: Iranian missiles are seen underground of the new 'missile cite' of Iran's Revolutionary Guards naval unit at an undisclosed location in Iran, in this picture obtained on March 15, 2021. Photograph: IRGC/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via Reuters

Key Points​

• The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps released video footage showing the coordinated launch of a swarm of drones targeting US-Israeli positions.
• The drone launch is part of the 48th wave of 'Operation True Promise 4', Iran's retaliatory campaign in the ongoing regional conflict.
• The attack reportedly targeted areas including Galilee, Golan Heights, and Haifa, along with several US bases in the region.
• According to Press TV, Iran used a mix of Kheibar Shekan and Qadr missiles along with attack drones in the latest offensive.
• The IRGC claims it has deployed hundreds of missiles and drones since the conflict began and has shot down 114 enemy drones using its air defence systems.

New video footage has captured the 'moment Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force launched a swarm of drones at United States-Israeli positions,' providing a detailed look at a highly coordinated aerial offensive initiated from a remote desert facility.
The visuals, shared in posts on X and Telegram by state broadcasters, show several delta-wing drones positioned along a paved runway under a bright sun.
Upon ignition, the drones launch simultaneously, emitting bright orange flashes from their boosters and kicking up dense clouds of dust and sand.
As the sequence progresses, the camera captures the drones ascending rapidly into the sky, leaving behind thick white smoke trails.
The footage then transitions to show the aircraft flying in a tight formation across the horizon, moving away from the launch site as part of the reported 'swarm' deployment.

IRGC releases video of underground drone {censored}nal​

Earlier, another state media outlet showed a display of part of the IRGC's drone {censored}nal inside a large tunnel.
Coinciding with the release of these visuals, the IRGC confirmed the launch of the 48th phase of its retaliatory campaign.
In a statement released on Saturday, the IRGC announced the 'successful execution of the 48th wave of its ongoing retaliatory Operation True Promise 4 against Zionist and American targets'.
This latest offensive was reportedly carried out in coordination with the Lebanese resistance group Hezbollah.
American bases in Gulf region struck
Military officials identified the primary targets within the occupied territories as locations in the northern sector, specifically Galilee, Golan Heights, and the city of Haifa.
Several American bases across the region were also reportedly struck.
According to Press TV, the 48th wave used a mix of weaponry, including Kheibar Shekan solid-fuel missiles, Qadr liquid-fuel missiles, and attack drones.
This followed the earlier completion of the 47th wave, which took place on Friday and targeted strategic locations such as the Negev Desert, including Nevatim Airbase, along with Be'er Sheva and Lod.
The IRGC also reported striking Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, described as one of the most important American airbases in West Asia.
Press TV added that during the 46th wave, the IRGC used Khorramshahr, Kheibar Shekan, Emad, and Qadr missiles.
Since the conflict escalated late last month, the IRGC claims it has deployed hundreds of ballistic and hypersonic missiles along with attack drones.
On the defensive front, the Corps said it shot down five aircraft on Friday, including Orbiter-4, Hermes, and MQ-9 Reaper drones.
According to military records cited by state media, 114 reconnaissance and combat drones have been neutralised by Iran’s air defence systems since the start of the conflict.
The IRGC also reportedly sent Hebrew warning text messages to residents in the occupied territories, stating: "By the permission of God, we will bring upon you days of darkness in which you will wish for death, but you will not find it."

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

'US Bombings Have United All Of Iran'​

March 13, 2026 11:21 IST
'The US landed in this war without planning. The US felt that if they kill Ayatollah Khamenei the people of Iran will come out on the roads and do a regime change.'
'On the contrary, the US bombings on Iran has united the entire nation.'

IMAGE: A man holds a picture of Mojtaba Khamenei at the funerals of Iranian military commanders killed in US/Israeli strikes in Tehran, March 11, 2026. Photograph: Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters

Key Points​

• Iran's deep-rooted Persian nationalism, stemming from ancient empires, fuels its resistance against external threats, even among government critics.
• Iran views attacks on US bases in Gulf countries as retaliation for US aggression, not as aggression against Gulf nations themselves.
• Iran's government's anti-US and anti-Israel stance is fundamental to its rule, making reconciliation with Israel impossible.
• Despite US sanctions and internal protests, Iranian nationalism unites the country against foreign intervention, bolstering the regime's position.
• The presence of US military bases in the Gulf region is a key factor driving Iran's strategic calculations and actions in the conflict.

The war between the United States, Israel, and Iran enters its second week on Saturday, March 14, 2026.
Defying predictions that the Islamic Republic would quickly collapse under military pressure, Iran has continued to fight back with missile and drone strikes on US military installations and strategic targets across the Gulf, demonstrating an ability to absorb heavy blows while still retaliating.
One of the biggest reasons Iran has not buckled under pressure is the deep-rooted sense of Persian nationalism that runs through Iranian society.
Iranian national identity is built on a historical memory stretching back thousands of years to ancient empires such as the Achaemenid and Sassanian dynasties, long before the arrival of Islam.
ng civilisational consciousness has repeatedly allowed Iranians to maintain a distinct identity even after foreign conquests, including the Arab conquest of the 7th century, when Persians adopted Islam but preserved their language and cultural traditions.
This nationalism continues to shape Iran's response to external threats. Even Iranians who strongly oppose their government often rally behind the country when it faces foreign military attacks.
In this interview with Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff, Kuwait-based senior journalist Ziya Rizvi explains how Iranian nationalism, regional geopolitics, and the presence of US bases across the Gulf have shaped Tehran's strategy in the current conflict.

'Iran just wants to demolish the presence of western forces in the Gulf.'​

Why is Iran attacking Gulf countries, leading to an energy crisis across the world?
Let me clarify, first of all, that Iran is not attacking the Gulf countries. But it is the other way round. You got to understand this perspective in terms of war.

IMAGE: A woman holds an image of Mojtaba Khamenei alongside Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a funeral ceremony for the Iranian military commanders who were killed in US/Israeli strikes in Tehran, March 11, 2026. Photograph: Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters
All the US bases from which they are launching air attacks on Iran are in the Gulf countries. So the fight is between Iran and the US supported by Israel. Therefore, it is obvious Iran will attack US bases that are located in Gulf countries.
Iran has no problem with the Gulf countries, but with the US bases located in Gulf countries.
Civilians too are being targeted by Iran, apart from oil refineries in the Gulf countries.
No, they are not being targeted. They are only attacking every place that the US has an interest in the Gulf. Israel is the only exception where Iran has attacked civilians, and that too in retaliation.
Gulf countries on their own are very weak militarily. They are totally dependent on America, especially after the Iraq-Kuwait war (1991). How can Iran expect these countries to take action against the US?
These Gulf countries can always tell the US not to use their home soil to attack Iran. All the US attacks taking place on Iran originate from Gulf countries and therefore Iran is telling these countries to stop the attacks, which they are not doing.
What was the relationship between Iran and the Gulf countries like before the war?
They had good relations. They had no issues and they were civil.
Iran just wants to demolish the presence of western forces in the Gulf region. The US abandoned Gulf countries in the attacks by Iran. They are not providing any shield to Gulf countries to prevent attacks from Iran, and they are only securing Israel from Iran’s attacks.



https://vdo.ai/contact?utm_medium=video&utm_term=rediff.com&utm_source=vdoai_logo

'Iran cannot ever bond with Israel'​

What about the Abraham Accords signed by Israel with the Gulf countries in 2020? Was Iran upset about it?
No, Saudi Arabia moved out of Abraham Accords (they never joined the accords) after dilly-dallying.
Iran had nothing to do with the Abraham Accords and they knew the priority of the Abraham Accords for the USA was Israel and not the Arab countries.
Arab countries too knew that the US' first choice is always Israel.
Iran is the only country in the Middle East standing up to Israel. The rest have either given up the fight or shaken hands with Israel. Why is Iran so different?
The day Iran shakes hand with Israel their revolution will be over. They cannot ever bond with Israel.

'Iran is the only Gulf nation that is hyper-nationalist'​

But even after US sanctions for close to 40 years Iran has stood strongly by its principles of anti-Americanism and anti-Israel policies. Where do the Iranians get their strength from? Is it because the government follows the Shia beliefs of martyrdom and sacrifice?
Iran is the only nation in the Gulf region which is hyper-nationalist. It is very difficult for an outsider to understand this about Iranians.
Even if they are against the government of Iran they will side with the Iranian regime at this point of time when the US has attacked them. You will not see nationalism running in the blood of each citizen in any other country as it does in Iran.
The Shia martyrdom concept, does it drive the Iranians to fight?
Yes, it does, because they fought an eight-year war with Iraq (from 1980 to 1988).
Since you spoke of Iranian nationalism, can we go back in history to how Iranians, then called Persians, were able to revive their language after being defeated by the Arabs in the battle of Nahavand in 642 AD that resulted in the end of the Sassanid empire?
They accepted Islam and gave up on Zoroastrianism, but never gave up Persian for Arabic as the official language of Iran.
Persians never integrated with the Arabs even when they were defeated by them and later became their rulers. Arabs called non-Arabs as 'Mawali' even though they converted to Islam. Mawali means non-Arab. Persians, they called them 'Ajams' (for their inability to speak Arabic properly).
Persians always maintained their independent identity under Arab rule. They always believed they were different.

'Trump was misled by Reza Pahlavi.'​

What about the anti-hijab protestors? Are they also backing the Iranian government in times of war?
Anti-hijab protestors are a minuscule population of Iran.
Exiled Iranian prince Reza Pahalvi gave a very different picture to US President Donald Trump about his support in Tehran.
Trump was made to believe that these anti-hijab protesters will overthrow the Islamic regime of Iran. They did come on the roads to protest against the Iranian regime, but they did not come on the streets to support Iran's monarchy.
The US landed in this war without planning. The US felt that if they killed Ayatollah Khamenei, the people of Iran would come out on the roads and do a regime change. On the contrary, the US bombings of Iran have united the entire nation.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

2 more Indian ships safely cross Strait of Hormuz​

Source: PTI March 14, 2026 19:33 IST

One of them is the Shivalik, which, according to vessel traffic monitoring site MarineTraffic, was last reported to be in the Gulf of Oman and is expected to reach its destination by March 21.

IMAGE: An LPG gas tanker at anchor as traffic is down in the Strait of Hormuz, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Shinas, Oman, March 11, 2026. Photograph: Benoit Tessier/File Photo/Reuters

Key Points​

• Iran has allowed two Indian-flagged LPG carriers, including Shivalik, to transit through the Strait of Hormuz.
• 24 Indian-flagged vessels with 668 Indian seafarers are currently operating in the Persian Gulf region.
• India's DG Shipping has activated a 24-hour control room, handling over 2,425 calls and 4,441 emails, and repatriating 223 stranded seafarers.
• Iran's Ambassador Mohammad Fathali assured safe passage for India-bound vessels, citing friendly relations and shared interests between the two countries.
• The regional conflict intensified after the killing of Ali Khamenei, triggering Iranian retaliation and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy route.

Two Indian ships carrying liquified petroleum gas (LPG) from the Gulf countries crossed the Strait of Hormuz early on Saturday morning, raising the number of Indian vessels safely passing through the war-hit, narrow shipping lane to three.
The remaining 22 ships on the west side of the strait are on standby as the Indian government engages with governments in the region for ensuring their safe passage.
LPG carriers Shivalik and Nanda Devi are now headed to Mundra and Kandla ports in Gujarat, Rajesh Kumar Sinha, special secretary in the Ministry of Shipping, told a media briefing.
The vessels are carrying 92,700 tonnes of LPG, he said, adding Shivalik is likely to reach Mundra on March 16 and Nanda Devi is likely to dock at Kandla the next day.
Besides the safe passage being an important milestone for Indian diplomacy, the cargo they are carrying is considered critical, as shipping constraints had impacted cooking gas LPG supplies.
India imports 60 percent of its LPG needs, with 85-90 percent of this being sourced from Gulf countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, who use the Strait of Hormuz as transit for shipping oil and gas to users. The strait has been effectively closed since the first week of March.
The two ships were among the 24 stranded on the west side of the strait since the war broke out in the region.
Besides, four others were stranded on the east side. One of them, an India-flagged oil tanker, Jag Prakash, carrying gasoline from Oman to Africa, crossed the war-hit strait on Friday.
Sinha said of the 22 remaining Indian-flagged vessels on the west side, six are LPG vessels, one is a liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier, four are crude oil tankers, one is carrying chemical products, three are container ships, and two are bulk carriers. Of the remaining, one is a dredger and another is empty, holding no cargo.
Three others are in dry docks, meaning they are on routine maintenance.

668 seafarers operating in Persian Gulf: MEA​

According to the Ministry, 24 Indian-flagged vessels with 668 Indian seafarers are currently operating in the Persian Gulf.
Seventy-six Indian seafarers remain on three vessels east of the Strait of Hormuz.
The ministry said that DG Shipping continues to coordinate with shipowners, RPSL agencies, and Indian missions, and that all Indian vessels and crew are being actively monitored.
The ministry added that since the activation of the 24-hour control room, DG Shipping has handled over 2,425 calls and 4,441 emails and has facilitated the safe repatriation of more than 223 stranded Indian seafarers.
Hundreds of ships had been stranded in the narrow sea lane between Iran and Oman since the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran, and Tehran targeted the region in retaliation.
'Several of our ships remain on standby in the Gulf region. We propose to continue to remain in touch and coordinate with all the concerned countries to ensure a safe and unimpeded transit for them in our effort to ensure our energy security,' MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at the briefing.

6 vessels given safe anchorage at Indian ports​

Sinha said in all 28 Indian flag vessels were stuck—24 west of the Strait of Hormuz and four east.
Jag Prakash was loaded with gasoline from Sohar port in Oman and headed to Tanga in Tanzania. It is due to reach Tanga on March 21.
"The remaining 22 vessels (on the west side) have 611 seafarers," he said, adding Indian authorities, including DG Shipping, are closely monitoring the situation.
Three vessels remain stuck on the east side with 76 seafarers on board.
He said DG Shipping is coordinating with shipowners, RPSL agencies, and Indian missions on the remaining vessels.
Sinha said port operations across India remain stable. SOPs have been issued for major ports and state maritime boards, according priority berthing to vessels carrying LPG, a fuel that is running short in the country.
Six vessels arrived from different parts of the world at Indian ports and were given safe anchorage, he added.
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways continues to closely monitor the maritime situation in the Persian Gulf, he added.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

• Trump Claims Iran Ready For Ceasefire But 'Terms Not Acceptable': US President Donald Trump said Iran is ready to negotiate a ceasefire but he is not prepared to make a deal yet because the terms “aren’t good enough”.
• US Refueling Planes Struck At Saudi Air Base: Five US Air Force refueling aircraft were struck and damaged on the ground at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia following an Iranian missile strike in recent days, according to a report citing US officials.
• US-Israeli Strikes Intensify In Tehran: A fresh wave of US and Israeli airstrikes hit Tehran, with explosions reported across parts of the Iranian capital.
• Iran’s Security Chief Warns US: Iran said it will not relent in the war until the United States is “sorry for its grave miscalculation.”
• PM Modi Speaks With Iran’s President: Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a call with Masoud Pezeshkian, expressing concern over civilian casualties and stressing safety of Indians and uninterrupted energy transit.
• US Hits Iranian vessel: After an Iranian boat approached the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), a US helicopter fired two Hellfire missiles, striking the vessel after an earlier naval gun attempt missed.
• Explosions In Tehran After Israeli Air Attacks: Powerful overnight explosions were reported in a residential district of central Tehran following a large wave of Israeli strikes. Iran’s Red Crescent Society said a residential building was hit and rescue teams were searching through rubble for survivors.
• US Air Force KC-135 Tanker Crash: US Air Force KC-135 refueling aircraft crashed in Western Iraq during Operation Epic Fury.
• Iran Launches Retaliatory Strikes: Iran’s military said it targeted key Israeli installations including a military intelligence headquarters, a naval base in Haifa and a radar system. Tehran also claimed attacks on US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain.
• Strait Of Hormuz Attacks Raise Shipping Risks: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it struck two vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, including a Liberia-flagged ship it claimed was Israeli-owned and a Thai bulk carrier that allegedly ignored warnings to stop.
• WHO Warns Of Toxic ‘Black Rain’: The World Health Organization warned that polluted rainfall known as “black rain” could pose health risks after strikes on Iranian fuel depots sent thick smoke into the atmosphere, mixing with rain clouds and producing contaminated precipitation.
• Missile And Drone Interceptions Across Gulf: Saudi Arabia reported intercepting multiple Iranian drones and ballistic missiles targeting the kingdom’s eastern region and Prince Sultan Airbase. Qatar also said its air defences intercepted a missile attack as authorities raised the national threat level and advised residents to remain indoors.
• UAE And Oman Report New Strikes: The United Arab Emirates said its air defence systems intercepted 26 Iranian drones, although nine fell inside its territory. In Oman, drones struck fuel storage tanks at Salalah port, though no casualties were reported.
• Shipping Attacks And Corporate Evacuations: The UK Maritime Trade Operations said two vessels were struck by projectiles near Dubai and in the Strait of Hormuz. Major firms including Citi and PwC have evacuated or closed offices across Gulf financial hubs amid rising security risks.
• US Casualties Rise As War Intensifies: The Pentagon said around 140 US service members have been wounded and seven killed since the launch of Operation Epic Fury, with another soldier dying from a health-related incident in Kuwait.
• Trump Says War Could End Soon: US President Donald Trump said there is “nothing left” for American forces to target in Iran and suggested the conflict could end whenever Washington decides.
• Probe Into Deadly School Strike: The White House confirmed the US has struck more than 5,000 targets in Iran while investigating a missile strike on an Iranian girls’ school that reportedly killed around 175 students.
• Israeli Defence And Cyber Alerts: Israeli media reported that all Iranian missiles fired towards Israel were intercepted, triggering air raid sirens across Tel Aviv and central Israel. Israeli authorities also warned of Iranian cyber breaches targeting security cameras for espionage.=
• Lebanon Conflict Deepens: Israeli air strikes hit a residential building in central Beirut, causing heavy damage and fires. Lebanese officials say at least 634 people have been killed since last Monday while more than 800,000 residents have been displaced.
• Iran Demands UN Action Over Diplomat Deaths: Tehran has called for action at the United Nations Security Council after an Israeli strike in Beirut killed four Iranian diplomats, describing the attack as a terrorist act.
• UN Condemns Iran Strikes: 35 countries including India, have condemned Iran’s attacks on several Gulf states and Jordan.
• Indians Killed in Iran Attack in Strait of Hormuz: 3 Indian Nationals Killed, 1 Missing in Attacks on Merchant Ships near Strait of Hormuz, Says MEA.

MAR 15, 2026 07:05 IST

Iran Israel War LIVE: France denies reports its warships heading to Middle East​

The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs has denied reports that the French Navy is preparing to deploy 10 warships to the Middle East.

In a post on X, the ministry said: “No. The aircraft carrier strike group remains in the Eastern Mediterranean. France’s posture is unchanged: Defensive, Protective.”

The report came after Trump urged the US’s allies to help keep the Strait of Hormuz open.
MAR 15, 2026 06:50 IST

Iran Israel War LIVE: Iranian military says US, Israel using copycat drones to frame Tehran for regional attacks​

Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya military command headquarters has issued a statement accusing the US and Israel of conducting attacks on targets across the region using the Lucas drone – a copy of the Iranian Shahed drone – and falsely attributing the strikes to Iranian forces.

“Examples of this are the vicious attacks on centres in neighbouring and friendly countries such as Turkiye, Kuwait, and Iraq in recent days, and their attribution to the Iranian armed forces,” the command said in a statement carried by the IRIB broadcaster.
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MAR 15, 2026 06:49 IST

Iran Israel LIVE: Missile launch detected from Iran, sirens expected in central Israel​

A ballistic missile attack from Iran has been detected by the IDF for the second time since midnight.

Sirens are expected to sound in central Israel in the coming minutes.
MAR 15, 2026 06:01 IST

Iran's Target Map Is a Strategy. The US-Israel Target Map Is Four Strategies at Once​

As the Middle East crisis unfolds, Iran demonstrates a coherent retaliatory strategy against US and Israeli forces, targeting 17 American sites across the region. READ FULL STORY
MAR 15, 2026 05:03 IST

Iran Israel War Live Updates: Trump ‘Surprised’ By Iran Attacks On Other Middle East States, Says Kharg Island ‘Totally Demolished’​

US President Donald Trump said he was “surprised” that Iran attacked other Middle Eastern countries in response to the US-Israeli operation, according to NBC report. He said US strikes on Iran’s Kharg Island on Saturday “totally demolished” most of the island. Trump added the US “may hit it a few more times just for fun.”
MAR 15, 2026 04:58 IST

Iran Israel War Live Updates: Trump Says Iran Ready For Ceasefire Talks But Terms ‘Not Good Enough’​

US President Donald Trump said Iran is ready to negotiate a ceasefire but he is not prepared to make a deal yet, according to NBC report. He said the proposed terms are “not good enough” at this stage.
MAR 15, 2026 04:55 IST

Iran Israel War Live Updates: Trump Says Iran’s Mojtaba Khamenei 'May Be Dead'​

US President Donald Trump said he is hearing that Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei may not be alive, according to NBC report. “I’m hearing he’s not alive, and if he is, he should do something very smart for his country, and that’s surrender," he said.
MAR 15, 2026 04:14 IST

Iran Israel War Live Updates: Hezbollah Fires Missile Salvo At Israeli Troops Near Lebanon Border​

Hezbollah said it launched a missile attack targeting Israeli soldiers near the Lebanon border. The group said the strike hit a gathering of Israeli troops in Khallat al-Mahafir in the town of Odaisseh. The claim was carried by Lebanon’s National News Agency.
MAR 15, 2026 04:00 IST

Iran Israel War Live Updates: Israel Dismisses Claims Of Netanyahu Assassination As ‘Fake News’​

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed social media claims that he had been assassinated in an Iranian response to US and Israeli strikes. Responding to queries, the office said the reports circulating online were false. “The Prime Minister is fine,” the office said.
MAR 15, 2026 03:29 IST

Is Israel Running Out Of Munitions As Iran War Drags On? What New Report Reveals​

Israel has told the United States that its supply of ballistic missile interceptors has dropped to critical levels as the conflict with Iran continues, according to Semafor report citing US officials.

Officials said Israel entered the current conflict with a limited stockpile. The country had already used a large number of interceptors during last summer’s confrontation with Iran. Continuous missile attacks in the latest conflict have put even more pressure on Israel’s long-range defense systems. Read full story
MAR 15, 2026 02:57 IST

Iran Israel War Live Updates: Firefighting Efforts Underway At Fujairah Port After Drone Interception​

Authorities are working to put out a fire at the port of Fujairah after debris from an intercepted drone fell in the area, the Fujairah Media Office said. Emergency crews are continuing operations to contain the blaze. A Jordanian citizen was injured in the incident.
MAR 15, 2026 02:36 IST

Israel Warns US It Is Running Critically Low On Ballistic Missile Interceptors, Says Report​

Israel informed the United States this week that it is running critically low on ballistic missile interceptors as the conflict with Iran continues, U.S. officials told Semafor. Officials said the interceptor shortage could strain Israel’s ability to counter ongoing ballistic missile attacks.
MAR 15, 2026 02:33 IST

Alex Klinner GoFundMe: Fundraiser Launched For Alabama Air Force Major Killed In Iraq KC-135 Aircraft Crash​

An Alabama airman and father of three has been identified as one of the six Americans who died when a US military aircraft crashed in Iraq. Major John Alex Klinner, a major in the United States Air Force, died when a Boeing KC‑135 Stratotanker crashed during a mission in Iraq, according to WSFA report. Read full story
MAR 15, 2026 02:12 IST

Iran Israel War Live Updates: Bahrain Arrests Six For Spreading ‘False News’ On Iranian Attacks​

Bahrain’s Interior Ministry said six people were arrested for posting videos and spreading misinformation about Iranian attacks on the country. Authorities said the individuals allegedly praised the strikes and shared false information online.
MAR 15, 2026 01:51 IST

Iran Israel War Live Updates: Saudi Arabia Says Six Ballistic Missiles Intercepted And Destroyed​

The Defence Ministry of Saudi Arabia says six ballistic missiles launched towards the kingdom’s al-Kharj governorate have been intercepted and destroyed.
MAR 15, 2026 01:27 IST

Kuwait International Airport Hit by Swarm of Iranian Drones as Middle East Conflict Rages On​

Preliminary reports suggest the airport’s radar system was struck during the attack. Authorities said emergency protocols had been activated in response. Read full story
MAR 15, 2026 01:00 IST

Iran Israel War Live Updates: Drone Strike Hits Radar System At Kuwait International Airport, Says Report​

Drones targeted Kuwait International Airport, striking the airport’s radar system, Anadolu Agency reported. Authorities said the attack caused damage to the radar infrastructure. No injuries were reported following the strike.
MAR 15, 2026 00:35 IST

Iran Israel War Live Updates: Trump Says US ‘Decimated’ Iran, Calls For Global Effort To Secure Hormuz Strait​

MAR 15, 2026 00:26 IST

Iran Israel War Live Updates: Drone Strikes Hit Citibank Branches In Dubai, Manama​

Drone strikes hit Citibank branches in Dubai and Manama, according to Al Mayadeen. The attacks came hours after Iran warned that U.S.-linked energy and financial infrastructure in the region could become targets.
MAR 15, 2026 00:06 IST

Iran Israel War Live Updates: Trump Rejects Push For Iran War Ceasefire Talks, Says Reuters Report​

US President Donald Trump’s administration has rejected efforts by Middle Eastern allies to launch diplomatic talks aimed at ending the US-Israel war with Iran, Reuters reported citing sources. Iran has also ruled out a ceasefire until US and Israeli strikes stop, two senior Iranian officials said.
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[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

Indian warships on standby near Persian Gulf to assist merchant vessels​

Source: ANI
March 15, 2026 09:30 IST
The move aims to assist merchant vessels coming towards India amid the ongoing standoff in the Strait of Hormuz after the escalation of tensions in West Asia.

IMAGE: The image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo
Several Indian Navy warships have been deployed near the Persian Gulf and remain on standby to assist merchant vessels coming towards India, sources confirmed on Sunday.

Key Points​

• The Indian Navy warships are on standby to provide assistance or help required by merchant vessels.
• As per the ministry, 24 Indian-flagged vessels with 668 Indian seafarers were operating in the Persian Gulf.
• On Saturday, two Indian-flagged vessels carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) were granted transit through the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian authorities.

According to sources, the Indian Navy warships are on standby to provide assistance or help required by merchant vessels.
Earlier on Saturday, two Indian-flagged vessels carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) were granted transit through the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian authorities.
One of them is the Shivalik, which, as per the vessel traffic monitoring site, was last reported to be in the Gulf of Oman and expected to reach its destination by March 21.
On Friday, the union ports, shipping, and waterways ministry provided an update on the maritime situation in the Persian Gulf region and the steps being taken to ensure the safety of Indian seafarers and vessels.

As per the ministry, 24 Indian-flagged vessels with 668 Indian seafarers were operating in the Persian Gulf. As many as 76 Indian seafarers remain on three vessels east of the Strait of Hormuz.
The ministry said that DG Shipping continues coordination with ship owners, RPSL agencies, and Indian missions, and all Indian vessels and crew were being actively monitored.
The ministry added that since activation of the 24-hour control room, DG Shipping has handled over 2,425 calls and 4,441 emails and facilitated the safe repatriation of more than 223 stranded Indian seafarers.
Iran's ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, confirmed that Tehran will provide safe passage to vessels bound for India through the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia, citing the longstanding friendship and shared interests between the two countries.
Answering a question on whether Iran would allow Indian-bound ships safe transit through the Strait, which is one of the critical routes for global energy trade, Fathali said, "Yes. Because India and I are friends. You can see the future, and I think that after two or three hours. Because we believe that. We believe that Iran and India are friends. We have common interests; we have a common fate."
He emphasised the mutual responsibility between the two nations, adding, "Suffering of the people of India is our suffering and vice versa. And for this reason, the government of India help us, and we should help the government of India because we have a common fate and common interest."
Meanwhile, Abdul Majid Hakeem Ilahi, representative of Iran's supreme leader in India, said that Iran never wanted the Strait of Hormuz to be blocked.
Noting that Iran has not closed the strategically significant Strait of Hormuz and ships are unable to pass through the strait amid the prevailing situation in West Asia, Ilahi told ANI that world leaders should put pressure on US President Donald Trump to stop the war against his country and that the people across the world are suffering due to the rise in oil prices.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

Day after Trump call, UK weighs 'Octopus' anti-drone shield in the Gulf.​

Source: ANI
March 15, 2026 11:26 IST
UK defence officials are evaluating the possibility of redirecting cutting-edge equipment initially intended for Eastern Europe to meet new regional demands.

IMAGE: US Navy and US Marine Corps aircraft attached to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 are arrayed on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln during the Operation Epic Fury attack on Iran from an undisclosed location, March 10, 2026. Photograph: Navy/Handout via Reuters
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is considering deploying thousands of interceptor drones to the Middle East, according to a report by The Telegraph published on Saturday.

Key Points​

• UK defence officials are evaluating the possibility of redirecting cutting-edge equipment initially intended for Eastern Europe to meet new regional demands.
• Military experts are assessing whether the 'Octopus' interceptor anti-drone system could be repurposed to strengthen British protection against Iran's Shahed drones
• Trump encouraged nations impacted by maritime interference in the vital channel to position warships alongside the United States as hostilities with Tehran persist.

The newspaper indicated that UK defence officials are evaluating the possibility of redirecting cutting-edge equipment initially intended for Eastern Europe to meet new regional demands.
Specifically, military experts are assessing if the 'Octopus' interceptor anti-drone system, produced in the UK to support Ukraine in countering Russian threats, could be repurposed to strengthen British protection against Iran's Shahed drones.
This consideration for advanced drone deployment comes as US President Donald Trump has issued a call to the United Kingdom and other international partners to deploy naval forces to assist in maintaining the passage of the Strait of Hormuz.
Utilising his Truth Social platform, the American leader encouraged nations impacted by maritime interference in the vital channel to position warships alongside the United States as hostilities with Tehran persist.
"Many countries, especially those affected by Iran's attempted closure of the Hormuz Strait, will be sending warships, in conjunction with the United States of America, to keep the strait open and safe," Trump wrote.
The urgency of this naval cooperation is underscored by the fact that the waterway serves as a critical artery connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, acting as one of the most significant conduits for global energy supplies.
Approximately 20 percent of the world's oil, amounting to nearly 20 million barrels daily, moves through the strait.
However, since the commencement of US-Israeli military operations a fortnight ago, multiple vessels have reportedly been targeted, causing severe logistical disruption and a spike in global fuel costs.
While the US President asserted that Tehran's conventional military strength has been neutralised, he cautioned that the region remains vulnerable to the types of asymmetrical threats the UK's drones might counter.
"We have already destroyed 100 percent of Iran's military capability, but it's easy for them to send a drone or two, drop a mine, or deliver a close-range missile somewhere along, or in, this waterway," he posted.
To address these lingering risks, he further indicated that American forces would persist with aggressive military measures to restore navigation through the route.
"In the meantime, the United States will be bombing the hell out of the shoreline, and continually shooting Iranian boats and ships out of the water. One way or the other, we will soon get the Hormuz Strait open, safe, and free," Trump stated.
Tehran has dismissed these claims, labeling assertions of its military collapse as being based on "fabricated lies."
In response to the request for assistance and the ongoing maritime threat, a spokesperson for the UK Ministry of Defence confirmed that London is reviewing its strategy.
"We are currently discussing with our allies and partners a range of options to ensure the security of shipping in the region," the spokesperson said.
This latest appeal for British support and the UK's subsequent evaluation follows previous friction between the US President and Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Trump had earlier criticised the UK leader for abstaining from the initial wave of strikes, which has complicated current diplomatic efforts.
"The United Kingdom, our once great ally, is finally giving serious thought to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East," Trump wrote last week, adding, "That's OK, Prime Minister Starmer, we don't need them any longer - but we will remember."
Although the UK declined to participate in the opening strikes that reportedly claimed the life of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Starmer has maintained his stance on independent military action.
Addressing MPs, the Prime Minister stated, "President Trump has expressed his disagreement with our decision not to get involved in the initial strikes, but it is my duty to judge what is in Britain's national interest."

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

Why Iran Is Open To ‘Complete End To The War’ On Day 16: 3 Reasons Explained​

March 15, 2026, 15:41 IST

​

The United States and Israel launched a joint large-scale military offensive against Iran on February 28. (File pic/AFP)​

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Sunday said Tehran would welcome any initiative to a “complete end to the war," Reuters reported, citing state media.

Will it be so easy? Will the US and Israel agree? What happened on Day 16? Why did Iran say so?

What forced Iran to change its mind? The 3 reasons​

While Tehran publicly frames its peace proposal as a commitment to regional stability, analysts point to several “breaking points" that have forced this pivot.
1. Decimation of military
Since Operation Epic Fury began on February 28, 2026, US and Israeli forces have executed what President Trump described as the most powerful bombing raids in history, according to Al Jazeera and other reports.

The initial strikes killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and dozens of top IRGC officials, creating a profound power vacuum and command instability. The US claims to have destroyed over 50 naval vessels, including a major drone carrier, and decimated Iran’s missile and drone manufacturing.

Iranian ballistic missile attacks are reportedly down by over 90%, and its air defences have been almost entirely neutralised, allowing Israel to strike anywhere in Iran with impunity.
2. The Kharg Island threat
Iran’s most critical economic lifeline is Kharg Island, which handles 90% of its oil exports.
Iran’s ‘Orphan Pearl’ Kharg Island Is Precious For The World Too: Why Trump Must Spare It
On March 13, the U.S. destroyed over 90 military targets on the island but deliberately spared the oil infrastructure. Trump has explicitly stated that if Iran continues to block the Strait of Hormuz, the oil terminals are "next."

This threat of total economic annihilation is a primary driver for Iran’s peace conditions, according to reports.
3. Internal and regional instability
The regime is facing unprecedented pressure on multiple domestic fronts:
With oil exports largely halted due to the maritime blockade and insurance cancellations, the Iranian rial is in free fall and inflation is soaring.

• Leadership is reportedly concerned that prolonged hardship will trigger a mass uprising similar to the 2022 protests, potentially toppling the remaining clerical structure.
• Massive displacement in Lebanon over 830,000 people and the heavy toll on Hezbollah have weakened Iran’s “forward defence" strategy, leaving it more exposed.

Iran had set 3 conditions to end the war with US-Israel

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has outlined three specific conditions that must be met to end the ongoing war with the United States and Israel. These demands, released following strategic discussions with leaders from Russia and Pakistan, represented Tehran’s first formal “off-ramp" proposal since the conflict began on February 28.

Condition 1: Tehran demands that the international community formally acknowledge its sovereign rights, specifically its right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Condition 2: Iran is seeking financial compensation for the extensive damage to its infrastructure, including the destruction of over 16,000 residential units and numerous medical centres during U.S. and Israeli airstrikes.

Condition 2: Iran insists on “ironclad," legally binding assurances from the international community that the U.S. and Israel will not engage in future aggression or invasions once a ceasefire is reached, according to Al Jazeera and other media reports.
Trump’s response and why he wants to keep the war going

US President Donald Trump has largely dismissed these conditions. Trump stated that while Iran appears ready to make a deal, the current “terms aren’t good enough yet". He also threatened more strikes on Kharg Island, remarking the U.S. might hit it “a few more times just for fun".

Trump has urged allies, specifically China, Japan, South Korea, and the UK, to send warships to help secure the Strait of Hormuz.

Prime Minister Netanyahu has indicated that Israel’s goal is the permanent removal of Iran’s nuclear capabilities and its regional proxies Hezbollah and Houthis, a process that could take months of sustained bombing.

Switzerland has rejected two US requests for military overflights related to the conflict, citing its laws of neutrality.
Can US President Trump Secure Strait of Hormuz With Global Show of Force Against Iran?
Meanwhile, Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has vowed to keep the Strait of Hormuz shut as a strategic lever until Iran’s security is guaranteed. While the Strait remains impassable for most, Iranian officials claim they have allowed some ships to pass, though they require all vessels to coordinate directly with the Iranian Navy.

The war’s end likely hinges on Kharg Island. If the US destroys the oil terminals, Iran’s economy collapses, which could lead to either a rapid surrender or a “suicidal" final escalation. If the US continues to spare the oil, it keeps a “bargaining chip" alive for a negotiated peace.
Till march 15: The US-Israel-Iran war entered its 16th day on March 15 with a massive escalation in air operations and a widening regional impact.
Israel, US attack: The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced a new, broad wave of airstrikes targeting Iranian infrastructure in western provinces to degrade ballistic missile launch capabilities. Israel claimed to have killed two senior Iranian intelligence officials, Abdollah Jalali-Nasab and Amir Shariat, in a strike in Tehran.
US-Israeli strikes reportedly hit a factory in Isfahan, killing at least 15 people.
Iran has approximately 1,430 missiles and hundreds of drones at Israel and U.S. bases in the Gulf. Impacts were reported in central Israel (Beersheba and Holon), while interceptions occurred over Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar. Iranian state media released footage of its underground “missile cities" to showcase its remaining long-range ballistic and anti-ship missile power, Al Jazeera reported.
Black rain: Residents in Tehran reported oily ‘black rain’ caused by toxic smoke from bombed oil facilities returning to Earth.

Evacuations and disruptions: South Korea conducted an “unprecedented" military operation to evacuate over 200 citizens from the region. The US State Department ordered non-emergency personnel and their families to leave Oman.

In Lebanon, the death toll from Israeli strikes on Hezbollah has risen to 826, with over 830,000 people displaced.

Air India and other carriers cancelled most flights to Dubai and Abu Dhabi due to UAE airspace restrictions. Formula One cancelled the upcoming Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix scheduled for April. CBSE cancelled Class 12 board exams for students in Middle Eastern countries including Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, according to reports.
What may lead to a ceasefire
Iran is under extreme pressure from the destruction of its military infrastructure.

With oil prices hitting $150 per barrel, there is immense international pressure on President Trump from allies and China to stabilise the Strait of Hormuz to prevent a global recession.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

Trump Rejects Putin’s Offer To Move Iran’s Enriched Uranium To Russia: Report:March 14, 2026, 15:46 IST​

US President Trump rejected Russian President Putin's proposal to move Iran’s enriched uranium to Russia, warning Moscow against intelligence sharing with Iran.​

US President Trump rejected Russian President Putin's proposal to move Iran’s enriched uranium to Russia, warning Moscow against intelligence sharing with Iran. (Image: AP)
US President Donald Trump has reportedly rejected a proposal from Russian President Vladimir Putin to move Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile to Russia as part of efforts to end the ongoing US-Israel war with Tehran, according to an Axios report.

The offer was made during a phone call between the two leaders earlier this week, but Trump is said to have declined the suggestion.
The development comes as Trump acknowledged that Moscow could be providing limited assistance to Iran in its confrontation with the United States.

“I think he might be helping them a little bit, yeah, I guess, and he probably thinks we’re helping Ukraine, right?" Trump said during an interview with Fox News host Brian Kilmeade on Friday. “Yeah, we’re helping them also."

He added that such dynamics were common in global geopolitics.

“So he [Putin] says that, and China would say the same thing, you know. It’s like, hey, they do it, and we do it, in all fairness. They do it, and we do it," Trump said.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

Weeks, No Limits, Or Nearly Over? Trump's Mixed Signals On Iran War Have Even America Worried March 12, 2026, 15:08 IST​

Trump initially presented the attack as strikes against military targets and later demanded Iran’s “unconditional surrender," which implies regime-level capitulation​

Trump has continued to insist that the United States is winning decisively while leaving open the possibility of further military action if Iran escalates. (AP)
How long will the war with Iran last, and what will victory even look like? It seems even America isn’t sure now.

Since launching the military campaign along with Israel, US President Donald Trump has offered a series of changing—and conflicting—answers. At different moments, he has suggested the war could last weeks, warned there are no time limits, demanded Iran’s unconditional surrender and then hinted the conflict might soon be over.

In the first days of the West Asia conflict, Trump said the campaign would continue until all military objectives were achieved, signalling a potentially prolonged operation. He later suggested the war could last four to five weeks, though he added it might extend “far longer" depending on developments on the ground, The Guardian reported.

Soon after, the messaging shifted again. Trump said the United States had “no time limits" on how long the war might continue, suggesting an open-ended military campaign.

Analysts say such evolving timelines have created uncertainty about Washington’s strategic planning. Experts writing for the London School of Economics note that the war has been marked by vague deadlines and unclear victory goals, making it difficult to determine what would constitute success or when the conflict might end.
“War Almost Finished"—But Also Not Over
At other moments, Trump has suggested the war could end quickly.

In interviews and public remarks, he said the conflict was “almost finished" and claimed US forces had already destroyed most of Iran’s military capabilities. He also told reporters the war could end soon because there was “practically nothing left" to target in Iran, implying that the campaign had largely achieved its goals.

Yet these remarks have often been followed by warnings that operations could continue if necessary—again leaving both escalation and de-escalation on the table.
Confusion Over the Endgame
ifting rhetoric has fuelled questions in Washington and abroad about the administration’s endgame.

Observers speaking to The Guardian note that Trump has alternated between describing the conflict as a short military operation and suggesting it could expand into a longer campaign aimed at forcing Iran’s leadership to capitulate. Analysts argue that this lack of clarity makes it difficult for allies, markets and regional actors to anticipate the next phase of the war.

Even a week into the conflict, the White House had not clearly defined what victory would look like or how the war would conclude. At the same time, Trump has continued to insist that the United States is winning decisively while leaving open the possibility of further military action if Iran escalates.
A War With No Clear Finish Line

The result, analysts say, is a conflict whose goals appear to have evolved in real time.
Trump Says Iran 'Excursion' Could End Soon, Warns Of '20 Times Harder Strikes' If Hormuz Choked | 4k
From limited strikes on military targets to demands for unconditional surrender, to claims that the war is nearly over, Trump’s messaging has shifted repeatedly within just days of the campaign beginning.

For critics, these contradictions point to a deeper problem: the absence of a clearly articulated strategy for ending the war—a question that continues to hang over the conflict as it unfolds.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

‘Biggest Surprise I Had’: Donald Trump On Iran's Attack On Gulf Nations​

March 15, 2026, 12:05 IST
Iran launched missiles and drones at several countries in the Gulf region during the conflict, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
US President Donald Trump says oil prices ‘small price to pay’.
US President Donald Trump has said that he was “very surprised" that Iran decided to attack other Middle Eastern countries in response to the US-Israeli joint strikes beginning February 28, even as he claimed Tehran is ready to negotiate a deal to end the war.

In a telephone interview with NBC News, Trump said Iran appeared willing to negotiate but he was not ready to agree to a deal because the proposed terms were not acceptable.

“Iran wants to make a deal, and I don’t want to make it because the terms aren’t good enough yet," Trump said, adding that any agreement to end the conflict would have to be “very solid."

Though Trump declined to reveal specific conditions for a potential ceasefire agreement, he indicated that a commitment by Iran to permanently abandon its nuclear ambitions would likely be a key requirement.

“He’s not interested in that right now, and we’re going to continue with the mission unabated. Maybe there’s a day, but not right now," a senior White House official told news agency Reuters.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

Iran on Sunday (March 15, 2026) warned countries against getting involved in its war with the United States and Israel after President Donald Trump urged world powers to escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz chokepoint in the Gulf.

Tehran also sent a stern message to its Arab neighbours, telling them that the Islamic Republic has what its foreign minister called “ample evidence” that U.S. bases on their territories were being used to launch attacks.

“This war will end when we are certain that it will not be repeated and that reparations will be paid,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Arabic-language news platform Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.


“We experienced this last year: Israel attacked, then the United States,” he said, recalling Israel’s 14-day air war in June last year, which briefly drew in U.S. forces for a night of strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
Energy prices have soared across the world since Iran responded to the new US-Israeli campaign by threatening shipping sailing through the Strait of Hormuz, which usually sees the passage of 20 percent of global oil and gas exports to the global market.
Mr. Trump responded on Saturday (March 14, 2026) by urging “China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and others” to send ships to escort tankers, while the US military will continue to pound drone, boat, and missile launch sites in Iranian territory north of the strait.
But the countries he listed have given only guarded responses, and Araghchi, in a call with French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot, warned them to “refrain from any action that could lead to escalation and expansion of the conflict."
The U.K. Ministry of Defence was non-committal, saying, “we are currently discussing with our allies and partners a range of options to ensure the security of shipping in the region ”.

Britain’s minister for energy security, Ed Miliband, told the BBC the “plan now has to be to de-escalate the conflict... We are talking to our allies. There are different ways in which we can make maritime shipping possible.”
South Korea said it was monitoring Mr. Trump’s remarks on social media, while the policy chief of Japan’s ruling party, Takayuki Kobayashi, said the bar for sending Japanese navy ships to the region under existing laws was “extremely high."
Global oil prices have surged by 40% as Iran has choked off the vital sea passage and attacked energy and shipping industry targets in its Gulf neighbours. The strikes were in retaliation for the U.S. and Israeli air campaign that killed its supreme leader, triggering a war across the Middle East.

As global markets reel, Mr. Trump has doubled down, telling NBC News in a weekend interview that he thought Tehran was keen to come to the table but that the US would fight on to force better terms.
He said he might, again, bomb targets on Iran’s oil hub, Kharg Island, “just for fun."
“Iran wants to make a deal, and I don’t want to make it because the terms aren’t good enough yet,” Mr. Trump told NBC News.

Iran’s new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, has—in a written statement—vowed to keep Hormuz closed.
But Mr. Trump dismissed this and suggested his foe might not even be in control, saying, "I don’t know if he’s even alive. So far, nobody has been able to show him.”

Tehran cafes reopen​

Despite the hardline talk from all sides, residents of Tehran were able to go about their work week in the most normal atmosphere since the start of the war on February 28.
Traffic was busier than last week, and some cafes and restaurants had reopened.
One resident whizzed down the street on an electric hoverboard, and more than a third of stalls in the Tajrish bazaar, a popular shopping hub in the north of the capital, had reopened five days before Nowruz, the Persian New Year.
Some shoppers queued at ATMs to withdraw cash. Online operations at Bank Melli, one of the country’s largest, had been paralysed in recent days.

Players drop asylum bids​

The captain of the Iranian women’s football team, which played in the Asian Cup in Australia, has withdrawn her bid for asylum, state media said Sunday.
That made her the fifth member of the delegation to change her mind, leaving just two seeking sanctuary.
The captain, Zahra Ghanbari, was on her way back to Iran via Malaysia, the IRNA news agency said.
Rights groups have repeatedly accused Iranian authorities of pressuring athletes abroad by threatening relatives or with the seizure of property if they defect or make statements against the Islamic republic.
More than 1,200 people have been killed by U.S. and Israeli strikes, according to Iranian health ministry figures that could not be independently verified.
The U.N. refugee agency says up to 3.2 million people have been displaced in Iran.
The Pentagon says more than 15,000 targets in Iran have been hit by US and Israeli forces.