middle east

April 1, New Delhi: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Wednesday that the country's Foreign Minister will meet with representatives from 35 nations this week to discuss reopening the Strait of Hormuz.PM Starmer said the talks will focus on protecting ships and seafarers, ensuring...

April 1, New Delhi: Oil prices edged up in early Wednesday trading, with Brent front-month futures extending a record rally from March, as volatility in the Middle East kept markets on edge, despite reports that the U.S. and Iran may be nearing a negotiated end to the conflict.Brent crude...

United Nations, April 1 – The military escalation in the Middle East, now in its fifth week, may cost the region's economies between 3.7 and 6 per cent of their collective GDP, representing up to $194 billion in losses, according to a new report.The total value of the losses may exceed the...

Baghdad, April 1 – An American journalist has been kidnapped in Baghdad by a suspected Iranian-backed Iraqi armed group, the US Department of State confirmed, raising fresh concerns over the safety of foreign nationals in the region.The State Department said it is actively working to secure...

Washington, April 1 – The United States is “ahead of schedule” in achieving its objectives in Iran, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in an interview with Fox News, asserting that ongoing military operations are being carried out with “extraordinary efficiency.”“We’re well on our way and...

Washington, April 1 – US President Donald Trump signaled a potential shift in American policy regarding securing the Strait of Hormuz, suggesting that other countries may need to take responsibility for protecting the critical shipping lane once US operations conclude.Trump told reporters in...

Jerusalem, March 31 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that Israel's campaign against Iran's regime "is not over", claiming that the joint operations with the US have "weakened" the regime.Starting February 28, the US and Israel launched joint strikes against Iran, which...

March 31, New Delhi – U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth warned that Iran must reach an agreement or face intensified military action.“If Iran is wise, they will reach an agreement,” Hegseth said, adding that President Donald Trump “does not bluff and does not back down – you can ask Khamenei...

New Delhi, March 31 External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke with his Portuguese counterpart Paulo Rangel on Tuesday, as the two leaders exchanged views on the West Asia conflict, besides discussing ways to further enhance bilateral cooperation.Jaishankar shared the update on X."Had a...

Washington, March 31 From seeking help from NATO allies in the Iran war to declaring he doesn’t need them, and from threatening to destroy Tehran’s energy infrastructure to postponing such strikes almost overnight – US President Donald Trump’s flip-flops since the start of the “military...

Beijing, March 31 China said on Tuesday that three of its ships carrying oil supplies have passed through the Strait of Hormuz and thanked relevant parties for their facilitation and coordination.Following coordination with relevant parties, three Chinese ships recently transited the Strait of...

Singapore, March 31 Joint ventures between businesses from India and Singapore are poised to benefit from potential opportunities in redevelopment in West Asia once the region stabilizes, a senior industry leader said on Tuesday.India and Singapore have built a bilateral partnership over the...

Washington, March 31 US President Donald Trump has told his aides that he is willing to end the military operation against Iran even if the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed, leaving the campaign to reopen it for a later date, according to the Wall Street Journal, citing administration...

Washington, March 31 – The United States expects to achieve its military objectives against Iran “in weeks, not months,” said Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as he outlined Washington’s conditions for ending the conflict and warned Tehran against attempting to control key global waterways...

Washington, March 31 – The Trump administration signaled on Monday that Arab nations could be asked to help bear the financial burden of the ongoing military campaign against Iran, even as US forces continue large-scale operations in the region.Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the idea of...

Washington, March 31 – The United States is intensifying its strikes on Iran while pursuing a deal to end Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, the White House said Monday, describing a dual-track approach of military pressure and diplomacy.Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the ongoing operation was...

March 30, New Delhi – U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iran on Monday to keep the Strait of Hormuz open or face possible U.S. strikes on its oil and power infrastructure. In a social media post, Trump said that failure to reach a deal could lead to attacks on Iran’s power plants, oil wells...

New York, March 30 – US President Donald Trump stated on Monday that a "new and more reasonable regime" was in place in Iran, indicating a change in leadership, and said that Washington had made "significant progress" in "serious talks" with it."A change in leadership" is a goal he has stated...

New Delhi, March 30 Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with his Dutch counterpart, Rob Jetten, on Monday and discussed the situation in West Asia, emphasizing the need for an early restoration of peace and stability in the region.During the phone call, the two leaders also discussed ways to...

Washington, March 30 – US President Donald Trump warned on Monday that the United States could strike Iran’s key energy infrastructure if a deal is not reached soon and the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened, even as he said talks were making progress.Trump said the United States is in “serious...