March 24, 2026 1:42 PM

Bahrain pushes UN-backed action for Hormuz shipping; France tables rival text

Bahrain has put forward a draft U.N. Security Council resolution that would authorise countries to use "all necessary means" - diplomatic language for force - to protect commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz, according to a text seen by Reuters on Monday. Diplomats said the draft text was backed by other Gulf Arab states and the United States, although they said it was unlikely to get through the council, where Russia and China had veto power. France circulated a more concilia...

March 11, 2026 10:09 AM

Combatants in Mideast war trade more air strikes as Iran clamps down on dissent

The U.S. and Israel traded air strikes with Iran's military across the Middle East as the besieged Tehran government warned its state security forces were ready with "fingers on the trigger" to confront any revival of anti-government protests. Following an exchange of some of the heaviest bombardments in the region yet on Tuesday, the combatants renewed their attacks on opposing targets in Israel, Lebanon and the Gulf early on Wednesday as the war stretched into its 12th day. The conflict has ...

March 9, 2026 11:34 AM

Iran defies Trump, elevates Khamenei’s son Mojtaba as successor

Iran's clerical leadership chose confrontation over compromise in appointing Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father, Ali Khamenei, a move regional officials say is a direct rebuke to U.S. President Donald Trump, who had declared the son "unacceptable". Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a U.S.-Israeli strike at the start of the conflict, now in its second week. The appointment of Mojtaba as his successor by the Assembly of Experts locks hardliners firmly in control in Tehran -...

March 9, 2026 10:37 AM

Over 52,000 Indians return safely from Gulf amid Iran war: MEA

More than 52,000 Indians have returned safely from the Gulf region between March 1 and 7 as the conflict involving Iran continues to disrupt travel across West Asia, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Sunday. Of these, 32,107 passengers travelled on Indian carriers, the ministry said. “India is continuously monitoring the evolving situation in West Asia and the Gulf region, especially with regard to the welfare of Indian nationals who have been stranded there during transit or on...

March 3, 2026 5:42 PM

India strongly reiterates call for dialogue and diplomacy amid West Asia tensions; safety of Indians top priority: MEA

India on Tuesday said it remains deeply concerned over the ongoing conflict in the West Asia region, noting that the situation has “deteriorated significantly and continuously” since hostilities began on February 28. Randhir Jaiswal, the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, said in a statement, “We had expressed our deep concern at the commencement of the conflict in Iran and the Gulf region on 28 February 2026. Even at that time, India had urged all sides to exercis...

March 2, 2026 6:38 PM

Iran conflict disrupts global shipping as tankers are stranded, damaged

Insurance companies are cancelling war risk coverage for vessels in the Gulf as the widening Iran conflict disrupted shipping, leaving at least four tankers damaged, a seafarer killed and 150 ships stranded around the Strait of Hormuz. Shipping through the strait between Iran and Oman, which carries around one fifth of oil consumed globally as well as large quantities of gas, has ground to a near halt after vessels in the area were hit as Iran retaliated to U.S. and Israeli strikes. The disrup...

October 9, 2024 2:17 PM

Gulf states must not allow use of airspace against Iran, Iranian official says

Tehran has told Gulf Arab states it would be "unacceptable" if they allowed use of their airspace or military bases against Iran and warned that any such move would draw a response, a senior Iranian official said. The comments come amid growing concern over possible Israeli retaliation for last week's Iranian missile attack, as Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi headed to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states for talks on Wednesday. They followed discussions between Iran and Gulf Arab capitals...