West Asia conflict

April 29, 2026 3:15 PM

US imposes sanctions on 35 individuals, entities for aiding Iran’s sanctions evasions

The U.S. government ratcheted up pressure on Tehran on Tuesday, imposing sanctions on 35 entities and individuals for their roles in Iran's shadow banking sector, and threatened sanctions against banks doing business with Chinese "teapot" refineries that it said are paying tolls for shipments to cross the Strait of Hormuz. The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control said the designated individuals and firms had facilitated the movement of the equivalent of tens of billions of dol...

April 29, 2026 3:07 PM

US spy agencies examine how Iran would react to Trump declaring victory

U.S. intelligence agencies are studying how Iran would respond if President Donald Trump were to declare a unilateral victory in the two-month-old war that has killed thousands and become a political liability for the White House, two U.S. officials and a person familiar with the matter said. The intelligence community is analyzing the question along with others at the request of senior administration officials. The goal is to understand the implications of Trump potentially pulling back from a...

April 29, 2026 2:59 PM

EXPLAINER-What is OPEC+ and how does it affect oil prices?

The United Arab Emirates, one of OPEC+'s largest producers, will leave the oil producers' alliance on May 1, it said on Tuesday. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies, including Russia, are known collectively as OPEC+. Last year, the group produced nearly 50% of the world's oil and oil liquids, according to International Energy Agency estimates. The UAE is the fourth largest producer in OPEC+. Below are facts about OPEC+ and its role. WHAT ARE OPEC AND OPEC+? OPEC ...

April 29, 2026 2:59 PM

Trump hits back at German chancellor after Iran criticism

U.S. President Donald Trump criticized German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over the war in Iran on Tuesday, a day after Merz said the Iranians were humiliating the United States in talks to end it. "The Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz, thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about!" Trump wrote in a Truth Social post, mischaracterizing Merz's position. Merz has said Iran must not have a nuclear weapon. Merz said on Monday that Iran's leaders...

April 28, 2026 10:32 PM

Iran’s Guards seize wartime power, blunting Supreme Leader’s role

Two months into a war with the U.S. and Israel, Iran no longer has a single, undisputed clerical arbiter at the pinnacle of power — an abrupt break with the past that may be hardening Tehran’s stance as it weighs renewed talks with Washington. Since its creation in 1979, the Islamic Republic has revolved around a supreme leader with final authority on all key matters of state. But the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on the first day of the war, and the elevation of his wounded son, Mojtab...

April 28, 2026 10:30 PM

Trump says Iran wants US to open Hormuz Strait as soon as possible

President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Iran has said it was in a state of collapse and wants the United States to open the Strait of Hormuz while it sorts out its leadership. It was not clear from Trump's social media post how Iran had communicated that message and no immediate comment from Iran was available. "Iran has just informed us that they are in a 'State of Collapse.' They want us to 'Open the Hormuz Strait,' as soon as possible, as they try to figure out their leadership situatio...

April 28, 2026 10:28 PM

Trump says Iran has told him it is in a ‘state of collapse’

Donald Trump said Iran had informed him it was in a "state of collapse" and was figuring out its leadership situation, as efforts to end the conflict appeared at an impasse on Tuesday with the U.S. president unhappy at the latest plans from Tehran. Iran's most recent proposal on resolving the two-month war would set aside discussion of its nuclear programme until the conflict was concluded and disputes over shipping from the Gulf resolved. Trump wants nuclear issues dealt with from the outset,...

April 28, 2026 6:57 PM

Over 67,000 LPG cylinders seized amid West Asia crisis; govt assures fuel supply, boosts support for key sectors

The Centre on Tuesday said more than 67,000 LPG cylinders have been seized, over 1,160 FIRs registered, and 271 people arrested since March 2026 as part of a nationwide crackdown on hoarding and black marketing amid the ongoing West Asia crisis. At an inter-ministerial briefing held at the National Media Centre, officials from key ministries assured that adequate supplies of petrol, diesel, LPG, and natural gas are being maintained despite global disruptions. The government urged citizens to av...

April 28, 2026 3:25 PM

EXPLAINER-Who takes charge if the US president is incapacitated?

Saturday's attack at a black-tie Washington gala that featured President Donald Trump did not result in any deaths, but it did raise the question about who would take charge if he or other top members of his administration were harmed. U.S. law lays out a clear line of succession, which includes top congressional officials and cabinet secretaries. Events such as the September 11, 2001, attacks have raised the possibility that all of these officials could be killed if they were gathered in one ...

April 28, 2026 3:18 PM

US, Iran clash at UN after Tehran gets nuclear non-proliferation role

The United States and Iran clashed at the United Nations on Monday over Tehran's nuclear program and its selection to be one of dozens of vice presidents at a month-long conference to review the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The 11th conference to review implementation of the NPT, which came into force in 1970, began on Monday at the United Nations in New York. Different groups nominated 34 conference vice presidents, and the conference chair, Vietnam's U.N. ambassador Do Hung Viet, said Ir...