Middle East conflict

March 18, 2026 9:34 AM

Trump says NATO’s refusal to help on Iran is ‘very foolish mistake’

President Donald Trump on Tuesday said the United States had been informed by most of its NATO allies that they did not want to get involved with the country's military operation in Iran, a move he described as a "very foolish mistake." But Trump gave no indication that he plans to punish NATO allies for their stances, as he took questions from reporters in the Oval Office during the St. Patrick's Day visit of Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin. Trump said NATO countries were supportive of th...

March 18, 2026 12:56 PM

Iran strikes Tel Aviv with cluster warheads in retaliation for killing of security chief

A defiant Iran said Israel's killing of security chief Ali Larijani and other key officials would not hinder its operations with replacements swiftly appointed, as Israel launched a swathe of strikes against Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said the U.S. and Israel did not understand that the Islamic Republic was a robust political system and did not depend on any single individual. The death of senior officials would not disrupt governance and the stat...

March 17, 2026 5:12 PM

Centre pushes PNG adoption amid West Asia tensions, seeks states’ support

Amid ongoing tensions in West Asia and rising concerns over energy supplies, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has outlined a series of measures to accelerate the adoption of Piped Natural Gas (PNG) and expand city gas infrastructure across the country. Addressing an inter-ministerial press briefing on Tuesday, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the ministry, said that while crude oil and fuel supplies remain adequate, LPG availability continues to be an area of concern. “Petrol and d...

March 17, 2026 1:39 PM

West Asia Conflict Escalates as Drone and Missile Strikes Hit Baghdad and Doha

West Asia witnessed a sharp escalation early Tuesday as coordinated aerial attacks struck the Iraqi capital Baghdad and Qatar’s capital Doha, signalling a widening regional conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran. In Baghdad, the U.S. Embassy inside the heavily fortified Green Zone came under a fresh barrage of drones and rockets, marking the second such attack in three days. Iraqi authorities reported multiple interceptions by air defence systems, though at least one projectile ...

March 16, 2026 5:08 PM

No fuel dry-outs reported in India; crude stocks adequate, LPG supply under monitoring: Government

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on Monday assured that fuel supplies across India remain stable, with adequate crude oil availability and no reports of dry-outs at petrol pumps or LPG distributorships. In response to US and Israeli attacks, Iran has shut the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime chokepoint through which about 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supplies pass. Speaking at an inter-ministerial press briefing, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the ministry, sa...

March 16, 2026 10:44 AM

‘Already yielding results’: Jaishankar backs direct dialogue with Tehran to secure Indian tankers in Strait of Hormuz

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has emphasised the importance of direct dialogue with Tehran to ensure the safe movement of Indian vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, as India works to safeguard its energy security amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. In an interview with the Financial Times, the minister said New Delhi is actively engaging with Iran to facilitate the reopening of the strategically vital waterway, through which nearly 20 per cent of the world’s oil trade pas...

March 16, 2026 10:44 AM

Government steps up fuel supply monitoring, maritime safety measures amid West Asia conflict

The Centre has intensified monitoring of fuel supplies, maritime operations and the welfare of Indian nationals in the region amid evolving developments in West Asia. Authorities said adequate arrangements are in place to ensure uninterrupted availability of petroleum products and LPG across the country while maintaining the safety of Indian seafarers and citizens abroad. LPG Policy Changes to Optimise Supply To ensure better availability of LPG, the government has amended the LPG Control Orde...

March 15, 2026 2:02 PM

CBSE cancels Class 12 board exams in several West Asian countries

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has cancelled the Class 12 board examinations for students studying in several West Asian countries in view of the ongoing regional crisis. In its sixth circular issued since March 1, the board clarified that even the examination papers that had earlier been postponed will now stand cancelled. According to the circular released on March 15, 2026, the examinations scheduled from March 16 to April 10, 2026, for CBSE-affiliated schools located in Ba...

March 14, 2026 9:35 AM

Iran operations ‘going very well’, US delivering ‘big hits’: Trump

US President Donald Trump said military operations against Iran were “going very well” and claimed American forces had delivered “very big hits” as the conflict intensified across the Middle East. Speaking briefly to reporters at Joint Base Andrews on Friday, Trump described the military campaign as successful and suggested Iran’s capabilities had been severely degraded. “The situation in Iran is going very well. A lot of big hits today. A lot of big wins today, as you probably hav...

March 13, 2026 11:03 PM

Explainer: Why is it so easy for Iran to shut the Strait of Hormuz?

Following through on an old threat, Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, cutting off a vital waterway that normally carries about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, in retaliation for U.S.-Israeli strikes. As oil markets worry about a global energy crisis, the United States has said it may consider escorting vessels through the strait, which could prove very hard to secure - something Yemen's Houthis proved in disrupting Red Sea shipping last year. About a f...