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Countries around the world are grappling with a fuel crisis triggered by the ongoing war and rising tensions across key energy routes. The conflict has disrupted supply chains and raised concerns over global oil and gas flows.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has criticised the United States and Europe amid the ongoing war, accusing Washington of asking countries, including India, to buy Russian crude to stabilise energy markets. In remarks posted online, Araghchi claimed the White House was “begging the world, including India, to buy Russian oil” after the war triggered disruptions in global energy supplies. He also accused European governments of backing what he called an “illegal war on Iran”, sharply criticising their political and military support for the US-Israel campaign. The comments come as the US issued a temporary waiver allowing countries to purchase Russian oil already loaded at sea in an effort to stabilise global energy markets during the conflict.

‘A big hurdle for Iranians without weapons to challenge regime': Trump

US Vice President JD Vance has said that Kristi Noem has a “great opportunity to serve” in the newly created “Shields of America” position.

Iran has responded sharply after US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth mocked Iran’s leadership, saying they had gone underground “like rats” during the ongoing conflict. In response, Iranian messaging on social media mocked US leaders with a reference to “Epstein Island”, escalating the war of words between Washington and Tehran. The exchange comes as tensions remain high during the ongoing Iran conflict, with both sides trading military strikes and sharp rhetoric.

Israel has launched a wave of strikes inside Iran, saying its forces conducted 20 coordinated air operations within a 24-hour period as the conflict between the two countries intensifies. The Israeli military says the operations targeted Iranian military infrastructure as part of its ongoing campaign against Tehran. The strikes come amid escalating hostilities following Israel’s earlier offensive against Iranian targets and Iran’s retaliatory missile attacks. The latest operations mark another escalation in the widening Iran-Israel confrontation, with both sides continuing to exchange strikes across the region.

Iran has launched missiles toward central Israel amid the ongoing conflict between the two countries. Air raid sirens were reported in parts of Israel as the missile barrage targeted areas near Tel Aviv.

The United States has announced a reward of up to $10 million for information on leaders of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Authorities say individuals who provide credible information could receive financial compensation as well as relocation assistance. The offer is part of efforts by US officials to gather intelligence on IRGC leadership and activities. The announcement comes amid heightened tensions involving Iran and its regional network. US officials say the reward programme is aimed at encouraging sources to share information that could help authorities identify and track key IRGC figures.

Two US sailors were injured after a fire broke out aboard the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford while it was operating in the Red Sea during military operations linked to the Iran conflict. According to US officials, the fire originated in the ship’s main laundry area and was not related to combat. The two sailors sustained non-life-threatening injuries and are receiving medical treatment. The US Navy said the blaze was contained quickly and confirmed there was no damage to the ship’s propulsion system. The aircraft carrier remains fully operational and continues its deployment in the region. USS Gerald R. Ford, the US Navy’s newest aircraft carrier, is part of operations connected to the ongoing conflict involving Iran in the Middle East.

Sweden’s elite troops are conducting Arctic warfare drills as soldiers train in deep snow and extreme winter conditions. The exercises focus on preparing troops for combat operations in freezing environments. Visuals from the drills show Swedish forces moving through snow-covered terrain, testing mobility, survival tactics, and battlefield coordination in Arctic conditions. Such exercises are designed to ensure troops remain operational in some of the harshest climates. Cold-weather training has become a key part of military readiness in northern Europe as countries increase focus on Arctic and sub-Arctic defence capabilities.

IndiGo has announced an additional fuel charge on all domestic and international tickets. The airline cites rising ATF prices amid the ongoing West Asia crisis as the primary reason for the hike.

Why have Yemen’s Houthis not fully entered the ongoing Iran war? Experts say the Iran-aligned group may be deliberately holding back as Tehran manages the tempo of escalation across the region. Despite being part of Iran’s network of regional allies, the Houthis have not opened a major front in the conflict. Analysts suggest Iran could be calibrating the involvement of its partners to avoid triggering a wider regional war while keeping the option of escalation on the table. The Houthis have previously launched attacks in the Red Sea and against regional targets, but experts say their role in the current conflict appears limited so far. Observers believe Tehran may be pacing how and when its allied groups escalate the confrontation.

Iran has allowed two LPG tankers bound for India to transit the strategic Strait of Hormuz, according to reports. One of the vessels has already crossed the vital shipping route while another is expected to follow. The move comes amid heightened tensions in the region that have disrupted maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints. The development could help ease concerns over energy supplies to India, which relies heavily on LPG imports from the Middle East. The Strait of Hormuz handles a significant share of global oil and gas shipments and disruptions there have raised fears about energy security and global supply chains.

Thousands of people took to the streets in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh to mark Youm-E-Quds, the annual day of solidarity with Palestinians. Protesters carried banners, chanted slogans against Israeli actions, and expressed support for the Palestinian cause amid heightened tensions in West Asia. The demonstrations come amid growing regional unrest, with activists emphasizing the need for international attention to ongoing conflicts in Gaza and the broader Middle East. Local authorities monitored the protests closely to maintain public safety.

Iran has allowed two Indian-bound LPG tankers to pass safely through the Strait of Hormuz, providing a critical supply lifeline amid ongoing tensions in West Asia. The tankers, Shivalik and Nanda Devi, are carrying liquefied petroleum gas to India, marking a rare exception during the ongoing maritime disruptions caused by the U.S.–Israel–Iran conflict. Iran’s Ambassador to India emphasized that Indian vessels are considered friendly and eligible for safe passage. This move eases pressure on India’s energy security, particularly for LPG imports, which had been at risk due to heightened regional hostilities.

It is still very difficult to contact those inside Iran amid the internet outage imposed by the government at the start of the war, but some tech-savvy residents have been using Starlink devices and sharing their connection with others.

The list features Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, even as the US Secretary of War earlier claimed that Ayatollah Mojtaba was “wounded, likely disfigured” in US strikes.

Top Iranian security official Ali Larijani fired back at U.S. criticism amid the US‑Iran war, mocking American leaders by referencing Epstein Island in a viral social‑media post — a jab that underscores rising diplomatic and information‑war tensions between Tehran and Washington. His remarks came after U.S. comments accusing Iran’s leadership of hiding from conflict. The exchange highlights how the war’s rhetoric now mixes geopolitical confrontation with provocative personal attacks.

The US and Israeli military on February 28 launched strikes against Iran, killing its supreme leader Ali Khamenei. Iran retaliated, targeting US and Israeli bases in the region, disrupting global oil supply and sparking fears of shortages. Stay with WION to know the latest updates.