West Asia conflict

March 20, 2026 10:30 AM

Trump tells Israel not to repeat strikes on Iranian energy as crisis deepens

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday he had told Israel not to repeat its attacks on Iranian natural gas infrastructure as tit-for-tat strikes on energy plants sent energy prices spiralling, sharply escalating the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. Trump's comment came as energy prices jumped on Thursday after Iran responded to an Israeli attack on a major gas field by hitting Qatar's Ras Laffan Industrial City, which processes around a fifth of the world's liquefied natural gas, causing damage ...

March 20, 2026 9:49 AM

Iran attacks wipe out 17% of Qatar’s LNG capacity for up to five years, QatarEnergy CEO says

Iranian attacks have knocked out 17% of Qatar's liquefied natural gas (LNG) export capacity, causing an estimated $20 billion in lost annual revenue and threatening supplies to Europe and Asia, QatarEnergy's CEO and state minister for energy affairs told Reuters on Thursday. Saad al-Kaabi said two of Qatar's 14 LNG trains and one of its two gas-to-liquids (GTL) facilities were damaged in the unprecedented strikes. The repairs will sideline 12.8 million tons per year of LNG for three to five yea...

March 19, 2026 5:29 PM

PM Modi speaks with Oman’s Sultan, discusses regional stability and Strait of Hormuz security

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday held a telephonic conversation with Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, during which the two leaders discussed regional developments and exchanged festive greetings. In a post on X, PM Modi described the interaction as “productive,” noting that both nations remain aligned on promoting peace, stability, and secure maritime movement in the region. PM Modi conveyed advance Eid wishes to the people of Oman and expressed appreciation for the Sultan’s ef...

March 19, 2026 5:22 PM

PM Modi speaks with Malaysia’s PM Anwar Ibrahim, discusses West Asia situation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday held a telephonic conversation with Anwar Ibrahim, during which the two leaders exchanged greetings and discussed the evolving situation in West Asia. In a post on X, PM Modi said he had spoken with his Malaysian counterpart and extended festive greetings, while also discussing the “deeply concerning situation” in the region. PM Modi conveyed warm wishes to Ibrahim and the people of Malaysia on the occasion of the upcoming festival of Hari Raya Aidi...

March 19, 2026 4:42 PM

Govt launches ‘RELIEF’ Scheme to support exporters amid West Asia logistics disruptions

The Government on Thursday approved a new intervention titled RELIEF (Resilience & Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation) under the Export Promotion Mission (EPM) to support Indian exporters facing disruptions due to the evolving geopolitical situation in West Asia. The move comes amid heightened security concerns around the Strait of Hormuz, which have led to vessel diversions, longer shipping routes, congestion at transshipment hubs, and increased freight and insurance costs. Th...

March 18, 2026 5:06 PM

Domestic LPG production rises 40%; no port congestion, says govt

India’s domestic liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) production has increased by 40 per cent, the government said on Wednesday, even as concerns over supply disruptions persist due to tensions in West Asia and the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Addressing a joint briefing, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said the country has adequate stocks of crude oil, petrol, diesel, and aviation turbine fuel (ATF), with no reports of dry-outs at fuel stations. However,...

March 18, 2026 3:35 PM

Middle East tensions escalate as US strikes Iran near Strait of Hormuz

Tensions across the Middle East have surged sharply, with US Central Command launching heavy strikes on Iranian missile positions near the Strait of Hormuz - a critical artery for global oil supplies. Officials say five-thousand-pound bunker-buster munitions were used to target fortified underground sites threatening international shipping. The situation intensified further with reported strikes near Iran’s Bushehr nuclear facility, though damage assessments are still underway. Across the Gul...

March 18, 2026 3:32 PM

Riyadh hosts emergency ministerial meet amid escalating regional crisis

Saudi Arabia is hosting an emergency meeting of foreign ministers from Arab and Islamic countries in Riyadh this evening, as tensions across West Asia continue to intensify. The high-level talks come nearly three weeks into a widening conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, which has already triggered missile strikes on Gulf infrastructure and disrupted global shipping and aviation. Saudi authorities say the meeting aims to strengthen coordination and support regional security a...

March 18, 2026 1:45 PM

Indian-flagged tanker Jag Laadki reaches Mundra amid West Asia tensions

Indian-flagged crude oil tanker Jag Laadki has successfully arrived at Mundra Port in Gujarat, marking a significant addition to the country’s energy imports amid rising tensions in West Asia. The vessel docked at the port carrying approximately 80,886 metric tonnes of crude oil, sourced from the United Arab Emirates and loaded at Fujairah Port. Measuring 274.19 metres in length with a beam of 50.04 metres, the tanker has a deadweight tonnage of around 164,716 tonnes and a gross tonnage of a...

March 18, 2026 1:01 PM

Top US security official quits, says Iran did not pose immediate threat

A top security official in U.S. President Donald Trump's administration resigned over the war in Iran on Tuesday, saying the country had posed no imminent threat to the United States. Joe Kent, who headed the National Counterterrorism Center, is the first senior official in Trump's administration to resign over the conflict, now in its third week. "I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran. Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war ...