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

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...

Iran conflict disrupts global shipping as tankers are stranded, damaged

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...

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

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...