Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei says Iran dealt enemies ‘dizzying blow’ in battle
Updated – March 21, 2026 06:10 am IST

President Donald Trump walks to communicate with newshounds sooner than departing on Marine One from the South Lawn of the White Dwelling on March 20, 2026, in Washington.
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AP
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President Donald Trump said Friday that the USA changed into brooding about “winding down” military operations in opposition to Iran but changed into no longer seeking a ceasefire with the Islamic republic.
Iran’s unique supreme chief Mojtaba Khamenei in the meantime claimed in a message to brand the vital day of the Persian Original Yr to hang delivered a “dizzying blow” to enemies in the three-week-passe West Asia battle.
Additionally learn:Iran and the politics of martyrdom
Original blasts hit Tehran on Friday and Israel accused Iran of attacking holy sites in Jerusalem after a strike left a crater in the Archaic City end to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Western Wall and Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
Additionally Read: Low sinks after Benjamin Netanyahu tries to reassure on Iran battle
In an inter-ministerial briefing, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gasoline (MoPNG), on Friday (March 20, 2026) said that petrol costs amplify changed into restricted to premium variant of gasoline and the in model versions stay unaffected. Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gasoline (MoPNB) Joint Secretary Sujata Sharma said: “LPG hiss can even unbiased be worrisome, but no longer on the stage the keep we can not present to domestic customers. We’re also procuring cargoes from wherever we are able to.”
Practice updates here:
March 21, 2026 06:07
Iran centered Diego Garcia unsuitable with ballistic missiles
Iran fired two intermediate-vary ballistic missiles at Diego Garcia, a joint U.S.-U.K. military unsuitable in the middle of the Indian ocean, Wall Avenue Journal reported.
– Reuters
March 21, 2026 06:04
Israel military says inserting Hezbollah targets in Beirut
The Israeli military said it launched a wave of strikes on Lebanon’s capital Beirut focusing on Iran-backed militant neighborhood Hezbollah early Saturday, after calling on residents of several areas to evacuate.
In a transient commentary, the military said its forces had been “currently inserting Hezbollah terrorist organisation targets in Beirut”.
A military spokesman earlier issued a warning to residents of Beirut’s southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold, to evacuate ahead of strikes.
– AFP
March 21, 2026 05:47
Saudi Arabia intercepts 10 drones in east: defence ministry
Saudi Arabia intercepted 10 drones in the east of the nation, the defence ministry said on Saturday, as Iran continues inserting Gulf countries.
“10 drones intercepted and destroyed in the eastern home,” the Saudi defence ministry posted on X.
– AFP
March 21, 2026 04:49
Israel military says unique wave of missiles fired from Iran
— AFPMarch 21, 2026 04:44
US authorizes non eternal supply, sale of oil originating from Iran
The US on Friday gave a 30-day authorization for the supply and sale of indecent oil and petroleum merchandise of Iranian-beginning loaded vessels, in accordance to the U.S. Treasury Division.
– Reuters
March 21, 2026 03:33
Israel military warns residents of Beirut’s southern suburbs to evacuate
Israel’s military issued a warning Friday to residents of Beirut’s southern suburbs, a stronghold of Lebanese armed neighborhood Hezbollah, to evacuate ahead of strikes.
“The IDF continues to operate and strike Hezbollah’s terrorist military infrastructure right thru the suburbs with rising pressure,” said the Israeli military’s Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee on his decent Telegram channel.
– AFP
March 21, 2026 02:59
Trump says US getting end to meeting targets in Iran battle
President Donald Trump said on Friday the U.S. changed into getting very end to meeting its targets as it considers winding down its military efforts in the Iran battle and known as on worldwide locations that spend Strait of Hormuz to present protection to and police it “as mandatory.”
“The Hormuz Strait will can even unbiased amassed be guarded and policed, as mandatory, by other International locations who spend it — The US doesn’t!,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
“If requested, we can abet these Countries of their Hormuz efforts, on the other hand it shouldn’t be mandatory once Iran’s likelihood is eradicated,” he said.
– Reuters
March 21, 2026 02:34
Israel police probe blast sites after Iran missile warning
Israeli police said they had been investigating blast affect sites around Tel Aviv on Friday, after a warning that Iran had fired missiles and air raid sirens sounded in the metropolis.
Sirens and blasts had been also heard from Jerusalem, AFP correspondents said, following an earlier blast in the metropolis upright just a few hundred metres from Jerusalem’s revered holy sites of Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Western Wall and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
AFP can even no longer independently confirm whether it changed into an instantaneous hit by a missile or fragments that fell after an interception.
– AFP
March 21, 2026 01:55
Trump on Iran battle: ‘I construct no longer are making an try to construct a ceasefire’
President Donald Trump said on Friday he did no longer need a ceasefire in the U.S.-Israeli battle on Iran.
“Concept we are able to hang dialogue but I don’t are making an try to construct a ceasefire. , you don’t construct a ceasefire if you happen to’re obliterating the other facet,” Trump told newshounds.
– Reuters
March 21, 2026 01:14
Iraq cuts Basra oil output to 900,000 bpd from 3.3 million bpd after southern exports cease
Iraq’s Oil Minister Hayan Abdel-Ghani said indecent manufacturing at Basra Oil Company has been chop to 900,000 barrels per day (bpd) from 3.3 million bpd after exports from the nation’s southern ports had been halted, the ministry said on Friday.
The produced portions had been being pumped to operate refineries, the ministry added in a commentary.
– Reuters
March 20, 2026 23:37
UK approves US spend of British bases to strike Iran missile sites focusing on ships
The British government gave authorisation on Friday for the U.S. to spend military bases in Britain to construct strikes on Iranian missile sites which would maybe well be attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz. British ministers met on Friday to focus on the Iran battle and Iran’s blocking off of the Strait of Hormuz, in line with a Downing Avenue commentary.
“They confirmed that the agreement for the U.S. to make spend of UK bases in the collective self-defence of the home involves U.S. defensive operations to degrade the missile sites and capabilities being historical to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz,” the commentary said.
– Reuters
March 20, 2026 23:36
US can even ‘take out’ Iran’s Kharg Island any time: White Dwelling
The US can even “take out” Iran’s Kharg island each time it wished, the White Dwelling said Friday, after a file that President Donald Trump’s administration changed into brooding about plans to hang or blockade the oil hub.
Asked in regards to the Axios file, White Dwelling Major Deputy Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said in an announcement to AFP: “The US Navy can take out Kharg Island at any time if the President offers the narrate.”
– AFP
March 20, 2026 23:07
Germany’s Merz says he will communicate with Trump over weekend
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Friday that he would be speaking with U.S. President Donald Trump over the weekend.– Reuters
March 20, 2026 21:49
Fireplace at KPC refinery introduced below regulate after drone attack, Kuwaiti navy
A fireplace at a Kuwait Petroleum Company refinery changed into introduced below regulate after two drones centered the facility on Friday, the Kuwaiti navy said in an announcement, adding that no injuries had been reported.
Earlier on Friday, Kuwait’s hiss oil agency KPC said its Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery changed into hit, causing a fire in some items, the hiss recordsdata agency KUNA reported– Reuters
March 20, 2026 20:Forty five
U.S. government says one thing, fact says one more: Iranian FM
March 20, 2026 20:23
Iran’s unique Supreme Leader to hiss message interior minutes for Persian Original Yr
Iran’s unique Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei will hiss a message interior minutes marking the originate of Persian Original Yr, hiss media reported on Friday (March 20, 2026).
Reuters
March 20, 2026 20:23
U.S. to deploy of thousands of further troops to West Asia, file says
The US military is deploying thousands of further Marines and Sailors to West Asia, three U.S. officials told Reuters on Friday (March 20, 2026). The deployments of the U.S.Boxer, along with its Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and accompanying warship, approach a day after President Trump told newshounds that he changed into no longer hanging troops “anyplace,” but that if changed into going to, he wouldn’t characterize journalists.

U.S. to deploy 3 more warships and roughly 2,500 more Marines to the West Asia, decent says
The U.S. is deploying three warships and 2,500 Marines to West Asia amid ongoing tensions in the home.
Reuters
March 20, 2026 19:49
Loud blasts heard in Jerusalem after Iran missile warning: AFP
March 20, 2026 19:41
Israel says killed intelligence head of Iran’s Basij pressure
Israel said Friday it had “eradicated” the intelligence chief of Iran’s Basij paramilitary pressure in a old strike that also killed the pressure’s top commander.
“Earlier this week, the air pressure, guided precisely by military intelligence, struck the senior leadership of the Basij unit in the coronary heart of Tehran, in an attack that eradicated the unit’s commander, Gholamreza Soleimani, along with several other senior commanders,” the military said.
“The IDF now confirms that in this strike Ismaeil Ahmadi, who served as head of the intelligence directorate of the Basij unit, changed into also eradicated.”— AFP
March 20, 2026 19:38
Indian gasoline tankers getting inspiring to wing thru Hormuz, recordsdata exhibits
Two Indian-flagged liquefied petroleum gasoline tankers are getting inspiring to wing thru the Strait of Hormuz in coming days after a stay in voyages and not using a indecent oil tankers leaving the waterway in the past 24 hours, in line with shipping recordsdata and sources.
The 2 tankers had been currently anchored in Gulf waters, in line with recordsdata from Kpler and shipping sources.
According to market assessments from sources on Friday, in line with on hand recordsdata, there had been no voyages right thru the last 24 hours by indecent tankers thru the waterway, with one empty indecent oil tanker, hit with U.S. sanctions, returning thru the Strait abet in direction of Iranian waters on March 18, separate Kpler recordsdata confirmed.– Reuters
March 20, 2026 19:37
Trump calls NATO allies ‘cowards’ over Iran
U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday branded the USA’ NATO allies “cowards” for no longer heeding his inquire of for military support in opposition to Iran to manage the Hormuz Strait shipping route.
“COWARDS, and we can REMEMBER!” he posted on his Truth Social platform.
US allies “don’t are making an try to abet originate the Strait of Hormuz, a easy military maneuver that’s the single motive in the abet of the excessive oil costs. So easy for them to construct, with so petite likelihood,” he posted.– Reuters
March 20, 2026 19:23
NATO mission in Iraq to originate evacuating temporarily, hiss recordsdata agency citing source
NATO has begun withdrawing personnel from Iraq due to regional tensions and conflict, a senior security source told Iraq’s hiss recordsdata agency on Friday.
The source added that the NATO mission is non-wrestle and advisory, and can unbiased amassed return once the battle ends and security in Iraq stabilises.— Reuters
March 20, 2026 19:10
Six Indians lost their lives in ‘diversified incidents’, says MEA
Amid the escalating West Asia conflict, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday said six Indian nationals hang lost their lives whereas one remains missing in “diversified incidents”.
At an inter-ministerial briefing, Extra Secretary (Gulf), MEA, Aseem R Mahajan, also said, “Leisurely the earlier day night, we received recordsdata referring to the tragic demise of an Indian nationwide, during an attack in Riyadh on March 18.” He, on the other hand, did no longer elaborate upon the conditions of this demise.
“We hiss our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased. Our Mission in Riyadh is alive to with the family and closely co-ordinating with local authorities for the early return of the mortal remains to India,” he said.— PTI
March 20, 2026 19:09
Issue of eight core sectors halved to 2.3% in February, sooner than West Asia crisis started

Issue of eight core sectors halved to 2.3% in February, sooner than West Asia crisis started
Core sector development in India plummeted to 2.3% in February, amid declining domestic manufacturing and impending West Asia crisis impacts.
March 20, 2026 18:57
French Foreign Minister calls on Iran to beget ‘vital concessions’
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Friday on a run to to Israel that Iran must beget vital concessions as fragment of any prolonged-term political retort following the West Asia battle.
“Regardless of the raze consequence of the continued military operations, it will also unbiased amassed be complemented by a political retort that produces lasting outcomes,” Mr. Barrot told journalists in Tel Aviv.
“In this regard, the Iranian regime can even unbiased amassed be inspiring to beget vital concessions — an intensive replace of stance.”
Mr. Barrot repeated a European call for a moratorium on strikes in opposition to vitality infrastructure after an Israeli bombardment of Iran’s key gasfield pushed up vitality costs.— AFP
March 20, 2026 18:Forty five
Iran threatens world tourism sites and says it is amassed building missiles almost 3 weeks into battle
Iran threatened to accommodate recreational and tourist sites worldwide and insisted it changed into amassed building missiles. Friday’s expose of defiance got here almost three weeks into U.S.-Israeli strikes that hang killed a slew of Tehran’s top leaders and hammered its weapons and vitality industries.
Iran fired on Israel and vitality sites in neighbouring Gulf Arab states as many in the home marked most likely the most holiest days on the Muslim calendar. Iranians had been also marking the Persian Original Yr, is known as Nowruz, a in general festive holiday that’s more subdued this twelve months.
With petite recordsdata coming out of Iran, it changed into no longer obvious how mighty injury its arms, nuclear or vitality facilities hang sustained for the reason that battle started Feb 28 or even who changed into in fact accountable of the nation. However Iran has confirmed it is amassed able to attacks which would maybe well be choking off oil offers and denting the global economic system, raising meals and gasoline costs a ways beyond the West Asia.– AP
March 20, 2026 18:18
India sees Qatar LNG present chop after Iran strike
Liquefied natural gasoline (LNG) offers from Qatar to India would be impacted following Iranian strikes on vitality facilities in the Middle Eastern nation, a government decent said on Friday.
India, the realm’s fourth-largest LNG importer, depends on Qatar for approximately 41% of its gasoline imports.
In 2024/25, India imported over 27 million metric hundreds LNG, with Qatar supplying 11.2 million heaps, in line with government recordsdata.
“(LNG) capability of Qatar has been hit, this can even unbiased hit us too,” Sujata Sharma, a joint secretary in the federal oil ministry, told a recordsdata conference. India is Qatar’s 2d greatest LNG customer.— Reuters
March 20, 2026 18:01
Switzerland halts weapons exports to U.S. due to Iran battle
Switzerland on Friday said it wouldn’t hiss licences for firms to export weapons to the USA due to the continued attacks on Iran, citing its neutrality.
“The export of battle materiel to worldwide locations spellbinding about the global armed conflict with Iran can not be permitted for the duration of the conflict,” the government said in an announcement.
“Exports of battle materiel to the USA can not currently be permitted,” it added.— Reuters
March 20, 2026 16:21
Indian nationwide killed in Saudi Arabia due to ‘contemporary events of March 18’, says embassy
An Indian nationwide changed into killed in Saudi Arabia due to the “contemporary events of March 18”, the Indian Embassy equipped on Friday (March 20, 2026).
In a social media post, the Indian mission expressed its “deepest condolences on the tragic demise of an Indian nationwide in Riyadh due to contemporary events on March 18th”.
The conditions referring to the Indian nationwide’s demise are no longer obvious.
The Embassy said that it is alive to with the deceased’s family and local authorities. “We stay dedicated to extending all that you shall be ready to evaluate of support in this subject,” it added.
A day earlier, the Indian embassy said alerts had been received by residents in Riyadh and one more regions on Wednesday (March 18). “The Indian neighborhood is told to stay amassed and still,” it said.
“Please adhere strictly to the guidelines and instructions issued by Saudi authorities. Depend handiest on verified recordsdata shared by the authorities thru decent channels similar to @SaudiDCD and other permitted government handles,” it said.
On February 28, the U.S. and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran, which got here after days of plan-up with U.S. President Donald Trump ramping up the stress on Tehran to agree to a unique deal on its nuclear programme. Iran’s retaliation escalated the battle to all of the Gulf home. — PTI
March 20, 2026 16:08
Israeli military says inserting Iranian home on Caspian Sea
Israel’s military said on Friday (March 20, 2026) it changed into launching strikes in Iran’s Noor home on the shores of the Caspian Sea, as it kept up its bombing campaign after nearly three weeks of battle.
“The IDF has begun inserting targets belonging to the Iranian fright regime,” the navy said in an announcement.
The new strikes approach after Israel’s military said Thursday its jets had hit several Iranian naval vessels in the Caspian Sea. — AFP
March 20, 2026 15:39
Top charge petrol notice rises by ₹2-3 per litre
Petrol costs amplify restricted to premium variant of gasoline, by ₹2-3/litre, and no longer the in model version which remains unaffected. Frequent public is most likely no longer affected: Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gasoline (MoPNG).
Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gasoline (MoPNB) Joint Secretary Sujata Sharma said “40% amplify in moderate day to day domestic manufacturing of LPG.”
She added “LPG hiss can even unbiased be worrisome, but no longer on the stage the keep we can not present to domestic customers. We’re also procuring cargoes from wherever we are able to.”
Ms. Sharma further added that “13,700 PNG connections given in top 15 geographical areas.”
March 20, 2026 15:26
Singapore Airways to flee further flights between Singapore and London
Singapore Airways will operate further SQ314 and SQ313 flights between Singapore and London’s Gatwick Airport from March 31 to August 29 to meet increased inquire of, local media reported on Friday (March 20, 2026).
The airline will also deploy the Airbus A380 for SQ237 and SQ228 flights between Singapore and Melbourne between between March 29 and Oct 24, rising capability from the present Boeing 777-300ER historical for the service.
As well, the airline also cancelled a possibility of flights between Singapore and Dubai till April 30. — Reuters
March 20, 2026 15:24
Trump administration mulls to hang or block Iran’s Kharg Island
The Trump administration is brooding about plans to hang or blockade Iran’s Kharg Island to stress Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, says Axios
March 20, 2026 14:51
Israeli reservist arrested on suspicion of spying for Iran
Israeli police said on Friday (March 20, 2026) they had arrested an navy reservist who served on the Iron Dome air defence procedure on suspicion of passing secrets to Iran.
The arrest comes as Israel and the USA are locked in a battle with Iran that has spread across West Asia.
“Raz Cohen, a 26-twelve months-passe resident of Jerusalem who served in the reserves in the Iron Dome procedure, changed into no longer too prolonged previously arrested on suspicion of committing security offenses inspiring contact with Iranian intelligence,” Israeli police said.
“Over the direction of several months, the citizen maintained contact with Iranian intelligence operatives and, below their instructions, changed into requested to construct diversified security missions, including passing on sensitive security recordsdata.”
Iran has been firing barrages of missiles at Israel in retaliation for a US-Israeli bombing campaign that started on February 28 with the killing of supreme chief Ali Khamenei.
Israel’s hiss-of-the-art work air defences hang managed to intercept so much of the missiles fired by Tehran, but there hang been deaths and injury to just a few strategic sites.
According to Israeli rescue companies and products and authorities, Iranian missile fire in direction of Israel has killed 15 civilians in the nation for the reason that originate of the battle.
Four Palestinian females also died after Iranian missile fire in the occupied West Financial institution, the Ramallah-based fully mostly Successfully being Ministry said. — AFP
March 20, 2026 14:27
Costs replace sideways after Qatar LNG attack
Benchmark Dutch wholesale gasoline costs traded sideways on Friday morning, after touching their highest stage since January 2023 in the old session, as some European countries and Japan equipped to be half of efforts to right right passage for ships thru the Strait of Hormuz.
The benchmark Dutch front-month contract on the TTF hub had been purchasing and selling around 61.88 euros per megawatt hour (MWh) by 0841 GMT, having fallen to an intra-day low of 58.69 euros in early replace, ICE recordsdata confirmed.
The British front-month contract edged up by around 0.87 pence to 157.51pence per therm.
Costs surged on Thursday, touching their highest stage since January 2023, after QatarEnergy said missiles struck LNG facilities on the Ras Laffan complex, causing broad injury.
QatarEnergy’s chief executive told Reuters the attacks hang knocked out 17% of the nation’s export capability for 3 to 5 years. “What issues now would possibly well be no longer handiest the volume lost but the precedent keep. Once serious Gulf vitality infrastructure is viewed as inclined, traders will notice that likelihood for longer than the initial outage itself,” said Jan-Eric Fahnrich, senior analyst, gasoline & LNG examine at Rystad Energy.
Qatar’s North Arena LNG expansion is probably going to even be delayed due to more stress for labour and arena subject.
“Right here’s likely to on the very least extend the onset of a that you shall be ready to evaluate of duration of oversupply. Nonetheless, claims that this ends any possibility of oversupply in the early 2030s can even unbiased be premature as well-known expansion volumes from North The US are amassed expected and further last investment decisions would be prompted,” he added. — Reuters
March 20, 2026 14:24
Israeli refinery proprietor says most most important infrastructure broken in Iranian strike
The proprietor of an Israeli oil refinery hit in an Iranian missile strike said on Friday that most most important infrastructure changed into broken in Thursday’s attack but that nearly all manufacturing facilities had been working and the leisure had been being restarted.
Oil Refineries Ltd said in an announcement that there had been “localised hits” at its complex in Haifa, northern Israel, inserting electrical infrastructure supplying a service facility and an originate hiss adjacent to an administrative building.
There hang been no injuries or casualties, it said in an announcement to the Tel Aviv stock alternate.
The most most important infrastructure belongs to a third birthday party, it said, and changed into expected to approach to operations interior just a few days.
Oil Refineries Ltd did no longer establish the third birthday party, specify what number of manufacturing facilities had been working or when the manufacturing facilities had been expected to approach to tubby operations.
Israel’s Energy Minister Eli Cohen had said on Thursday that an Iranian strike hit Oil Refineries, causing injury to a energy grid but that it changed into no longer well-known.
The strike prompted a non eternal energy outage in aspects of the nation. — Reuters
March 20, 2026 14:06
Abbas Araghchi told British counterpart U.K. complicit in U.S., Israel ‘aggression’
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told his British counterpart Yvette Cooper in a cell phone call that any US spend of British bases would be viewed as “participation in aggression” in opposition to the Islamic republic.
It changed into no longer obvious when the call with Cooper took procedure.
“These actions will with out a doubt be judicious participation in aggression and can unbiased amassed be recorded in the historical past of relations between the two worldwide locations,” said Araghchi, in line with an announcement launched Friday by the international ministry. — AFP
March 20, 2026 13:23
Iran Modern Guards tell U.S.-Israel strikes abolish spokesman
Iran’s Modern Guards said on Friday (March 20, 2026) that U.S-Israeli strikes had killed their spokesman Ali Mohammad Naini.
Mr. Naini “changed into martyred in the criminal cowardly terrorist attack by the American-Zionist facet at destroy of day”, the Guards said in an announcement on their Sepah News internet internet page. — AFP
March 20, 2026 13:21
Sri Lanka refused ground salvage entry to to U.S. warplanes
Sri Lanka refused permission for the USA to procedure two of its warplanes at an airport in the island’s south in early March, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake told Parliament on Friday (March 20, 2026).

Sri Lanka refused ground salvage entry to to U.S. warplanes
Sri Lanka denies U.S. warplanes salvage entry to to its airport, balancing ties with the U.S. and Iran amid replace interests.
March 20, 2026 13:03
Iran’s supreme chief says enemies’ ’security can even unbiased amassed be taken away’ after intelligence minister’s killing
Iran’s supreme chief says enemies’ security can even unbiased amassed be taken away’ after the intelligence Minister’s killing.
– AP
March 20, 2026 12:49
Spokesman for Iran’s Modern Guard insists Tehran amassed building missiles
The spokesman for Iran’s Paramilitary Modern Guard insisted Friday (March 20) that Tehran changed into amassed building missiles, seeking to counter a divulge by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that it now no longer can even.
Gen. Ali Mohammad Naeini made the feedback in a file quoted by Iran’s hiss-flee IRAN newspaper.
Referencing how Iranian schools hang in mind a 20 as an out of this world web, the present said: “Our missile industrial web is 20 and there is just not any longer any hiss in this regard because we’re producing missiles even during battle prerequisites, which is improbable, and there is just not any longer any hiss hiss in stockpiling.” He also said the battle would run on.
– AP
March 20, 2026 12:16
India can even unbiased amassed’ve issued condolences on Khamenei’s killing even with out condemning U.S.-Israeli movement: Shashi Tharoor
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Friday (March 20) said that India issuing a successfully timed condolence on the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would hang been the “most acceptable thing to construct” despite the real fact that the U.S.-Israeli movement changed into no longer condemned.He also said that the government must act with restraint during conditions of such raging conflict, asserting that he would hang told the related to a Congress government.
– ANI
March 20, 2026 12:03
Israel says it struck Syrian ‘commander centre’ and weapons depots after attacks on Druze
Israel’s military said Friday (March 20) it struck sites in Syria in response to attacks in opposition to the Druze.
The navy said it struck infrastructure belonging to Syria in response to attacks on Druze population in Sweida in southern Syria.
Syria’s hiss-flee SANA recordsdata agency did no longer at once acknowledge the attack, which marks the vital Israeli attack on Syria as its battle with the USA focusing on Iran continues.
– AP
March 20, 2026 12:00
Israel strikes ‘decimated’ Iran as battle roils markets
Israel launched a unique wave of strikes on Tehran on Friday (March 20, 2026) after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran changed into being “decimated”, and as Gulf countries faced a new keep of attacks.
The Iranian capital, below end to day to day bombardment since a joint U.S.-Israeli attack started the battle on February 28, changed into hit by strikes the Israeli military said had been “focusing on infrastructure of the Iranian fright regime”.
– AFP
March 20, 2026 11:49
Iraq’s Kurdistan is turning into the unique frontline in a widening Iran battle

Iraq’s Kurdistan is turning into the unique frontline in a widening Iran battle
Iraq’s Kurdistan faces escalating drone attacks amid a widening Iran conflict, raising fears of regional instability and civilian casualties.
March 20, 2026 11:Forty five
LPG crisis: In Kerala, battle reaches the doorsteps
For 32 years, Divakaran (name changed) has been operating a cooking gasoline distribution agency in Ernakulam district, Kerala, never once imagining that he would possibly well hang to bag police protection for operating his industrial establishment at any point.
It changed into most likely the most toughest weeks in contemporary years for Liquefied Petroleum Gasoline (LPG) distributors love Divakaran across the nation as the battle that broke out in West Asia prompted speculations about an impending scarcity of cooking gasoline. The dismay- domestic customers made a beeline for his agency expecting scarcity of LPG cylinders.

LPG crisis: In Kerala, battle reaches the doorsteps
The LPG crisis in Kerala, prompted by the West Asia battle, severely impacts local companies, tourism, and most most important companies and products.
March 20, 2026 11:01
Stare: Trump compares Pearl Harbor to strikes on Iran in meeting Japan’s chief

Trump’s Pearl Harbor commentary stuns Japan PM during Iran battle discussion
In a gathering with Eastern Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in the Oval Office, US President Donald Trump changed into requested why he did no longer narrate allies about his thought to attack Iran. Trump spoke back by raising Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor during World Battle II, asserting, “Who knows better about surprise than Japan?”
March 20, 2026 09:37
Israel hits Tehran with airstrikes on Persian Original Yr as battle jolts vitality markets
Israel pounded Tehran with airstrikes Friday (March 20) as Iranians marked Nowruz, or the Persian Original Yr, in the middle of a battle that has despatched shock waves thru the global economic system and risked drawing Iran’s Arab neighbours at once into the conflict.
Activists reported hearing strikes around Iran’s capital. The attacks got here a day after Israel pledged to refrain from more strikes on a key Iranian gasoline self-discipline and Iran intensified attacks on oil and natural gasoline facilities around the Gulf.

Israel hits Tehran with airstrikes on Persian Original Yr as battle jolts vitality markets
Israel’s airstrikes on Tehran during Nowruz escalate the Iran-Israel conflict, impacting global vitality markets and regional stability.
March 20, 2026 09:09
Joint commentary on Strait of Hormuz by European countries, Japan, Canada
Main European countries, Japan and Canada issued a joint commentary on Thursday (March 19, 2026) asserting they had been inspiring to be half of acceptable efforts to guarantee right passage thru the Strait of Hormuz and would take steps to stabilise vitality markets.

Joint commentary on Strait of Hormuz by European countries, Japan, Canada
European countries, Japan, and Canada unite to make certain right passage thru the Strait of Hormuz and stabilize vitality markets.
March 20, 2026 08:39
Fireplace at Kuwait refinery as Gulf states approach below drone, missile attacks
Kuwait’s hiss oil agency KPC said its Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery changed into hit by more than one drone attacks early on Friday (March 20), causing a fire in some items, with no initial casualties reported, the hiss recordsdata agency said.
Firefighters spoke back at once, with several items shut down as a precaution to guarantee workers’ security.

Fireplace at Kuwait refinery as Gulf states approach below drone, missile attacks
Drone attacks ignite fire at Kuwait’s refinery amid escalating Iranian strikes on Gulf vitality infrastructure in retaliation for Israeli actions.
– Reuters
March 20, 2026 08:39
Low sinks after Benjamin Netanyahu tries to reassure on Iran battle
Low costs fell bigger than 2% on Friday (March 20, 2026) after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran changed into being “decimated” and that the battle would quit sooner than many feared.
Traders also welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump’s remarks that Israeli forces wouldn’t target to any extent further of Tehran’s vitality infrastructure, after strikes on a key gasoline self-discipline Wednesday (March 18) sparked warnings of retaliation in opposition to installations across the Gulf.

Low sinks after Benjamin Netanyahu tries to reassure on Iran battle
Low oil costs drop over 2% as Netanyahu reassures traders amid ongoing Iran conflict and rising vitality market concerns.
March 20, 2026 08:27
Gulf states tell responding to missile, drone attacks
Emirati and Kuwaiti air defences had been responding to missile fire early Friday (March 20), authorities in the Gulf states said, whereas Saudi Arabia intercepted drone attacks.
In diversified areas in the Gulf, Bahrain’s Within Ministry said that shrapnel from an “Iranian aggression” prompted a fire at a warehouse, which changed into introduced below regulate and resulted in no injuries. The Ministry earlier said air raid sirens had been activated.
– AFP
March 20, 2026 08:23
Japan’s Takaichi tries to reaffirm alliance with Trump as he seeks abet securing Strait of Hormuz
Eastern Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has sought to reaffirm her alliance with President Donald Trump after the president this week regarded as if it would possibly maybe well complain that Japan changed into among the many countries that did no longer fast be half of his call to abet protect the Strait of Hormuz.
Ms. Takaichi, who met with Mr. Trump on the White Dwelling, told the Republican President that Japan has adverse Iran’s building of its nuclear programme and appealed to his must be viewed as a peacemaker, regardless of his launching a battle of possibility with Iran.

Japan’s Takaichi tries to reaffirm alliance with Trump as he seeks abet securing Strait of Hormuz
Japan’s Prime Minister Takaichi seeks to toughen ties with Trump whereas addressing security concerns in the Strait of Hormuz.
March 20, 2026 08:22
Iranian attack hits Israeli oil refinery in Haifa, some injury reported
An Iranian missile attack hit Israel’s Oil Refineries in the northern port metropolis of Haifa but did no longer cause “well-known injury”, Israel’s Energy Ministry said on Thursday (March 19, 2026).
Energy Minister Eli Cohen said energy changed into temporarily disrupted, with electricity restored to most of these that had been affected.

Iranian attack hits Israeli oil refinery in Haifa, some injury reported
Iranian missile attack on Haifa oil refinery causes minor injury and transient energy disruption, and not using a casualties reported.
March 20, 2026 08:21
U.S. can even unbiased put off sanctions on Iranian oil stranded in tankers, Bessent says
The U.S. can even unbiased quickly put off sanctions from Iranian oil that’s stranded on tankers to abet take global offers and chop costs, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Thursday (March 19, 2026).
“Within the upcoming days, we can even unbiased unsanction the Iranian oil that’s on the water. It’s about 140 million barrels,” Mr. Bessent told Fox Alternate Network’s “Mornings with Maria” program. “So, reckoning on the design you rely it, that’s 10 days to 2 weeks of present,” he added.

U.S. can even unbiased put off sanctions on Iranian oil stranded in tankers, Bessent says
U.S. can even unbiased take sanctions on Iranian oil in tankers to take global offers and decrease costs, says Treasury Secretary Bessent.
March 20, 2026 08:20
Six allies inspiring to abet ‘efforts to make certain right passage’ thru Hormuz Strait
Six vital global powers, including Britain, France, Germany and Japan, said Thursday (March 19, 2026) they had been inspiring “to contribute to appropriate efforts to make certain right passage thru the Strait of Hormuz”.
“We welcome the commitment of countries who are participating in preparatory planning” the grouping — which also involves Italy and the Netherlands said in a joint commentary, as they condemned “in the strongest phrases contemporary attacks by Iran on unarmed industrial vessels in the Gulf”.

Six allies inspiring to abet ‘efforts to make certain right passage’ thru Hormuz Strait
Six allied countries pledge encourage for right passage thru the Hormuz Strait amid ongoing Iranian blockades affecting global shipping.
March 20, 2026 08:18
EU asks for reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and no more strikes on vitality, water sites
European leaders hang demanded the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and a moratorium on strikes on water and vitality infrastructure in the West Asia as they met in Brussels to grapple with rising vitality costs prompted by the battle.
All heads of the 27 European Union countries known collectively as the European Council issued a joint commentary Thursday calling for the stabilization of vitality shipments and “de-escalation and maximum restraint” from warring events.
“The European Council deplores the loss of civilian lifestyles and is closely monitoring the a ways-reaching affect of the hostilities, including on economic stability,” the commentary learn. The leaders also requested Iran to cease inserting neighbours across the Persian Gulf, sought global cooperation to forestall any immense-scale refugee crises in the West Asia, and said some EU countries are exploring ways “to make certain freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.”

EU asks for reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and no more strikes on vitality, water sites
EU leaders call for reopening the Strait of Hormuz and a cease to strikes on vitality and water infrastructure amid rising tensions.
– AP
March 20, 2026 07:44
Lebanon president requires Israel truce as French minister visits
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said a proposed framework to cease combating between Israel and Iran-backed militant Hezbollah changed into “amassed on the desk”, as he hosted French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on Thursday.
Lebanon changed into pulled into the regional battle on March 2, when Hezbollah fired rockets in direction of neighbouring Israel in response to the killing of its ally Iran’s supreme chief in Israeli-US attacks.
-AFP
March 20, 2026 07:43
Iran fires at Israel after Netanyahu boasts of battle positive aspects
Iran launched more than one rounds of missiles in direction of Israel unhurried on Thursday, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared the Islamic republic has been “decimated” by battle.
Israel’s military said it had identified three rounds of missile fire in the hour and a half of preceding nighttime, and one more just a few hours later.
AFP newshounds heard several loud blasts over Jerusalem as air raid sirens rang out across the metropolis during 1 of the sooner attacks.
The Magen David Adom emergency companies and products reported no casualties, but police said there changed into injury in different locations.
-AFP
March 20, 2026 07:42
UAE says it dismantled ‘terrorist community’ funded by Iran and Hezbollah
United Arab Emirates authorities said on Friday they had dismantled a “terrorist community” funded and operated by Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Iran, and arrested its contributors.
According to the hiss recordsdata agency, the community changed into spellbinding about “money laundering, financing terrorism and threatening nationwide security.”
There changed into no rapid commentary from Hezbollah or Iran.
“The community had been working interior the nation below a fictitious industrial duvet and sought to infiltrate the nationwide economic system and construct exterior schemes threatening the nation’s financial stability,” the UAE hiss recordsdata agency said.
-Reuters
March 20, 2026 07:16
Trump, Netanyahu slit up on gasoline self-discipline attack, raise questions on whether or not they’re in sync on battle
U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s diverging language on Israel’s decision to attack a serious Iranian gasoline self-discipline marks essentially the most valuable disagreement of thought between the two leaders for the reason that originate of the 20-day battle in opposition to Iran.
The attack by Israel on the South Pars gasoline self-discipline introduced about Iran to retaliate in opposition to vitality infrastructure in other West Asian worldwide locations. The Iranian strikes resulted in already elevated global vitality costs further surging and spurred Gulf allies to call for Mr. Trump to rein in Mr. Netanyahu.
Read the tubby story here:

Trump, Netanyahu slit up on gasoline self-discipline attack, raise questions on whether or not they’re in sync on battle
Trump and Netanyahu’s divergent views on the gasoline self-discipline attack raise concerns about their alignment in the continued Iran conflict.
Printed – March 20, 2026 07:00 am IST
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