The United States is not ruling out further military action against Iran, US War Secretary Pete Hegseth said Monday (Aug 24), warning that Washington could use force anywhere around Iran or the Strait of Hormuz if Tehran takes what he described as a reckless step.Asked whether kinetic strikes were currently on hold, Hegseth said Washington had made no such decision. "No. If we need to use kinetic strikes, we'll use them," he said. "If Iran is foolish enough to overplay their hand or mess with the American military, we'll do what we need to do."He added that the US was simultaneously escalating economic pressure, which he said was currently hurting Iran the most.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-calls-strait-of-hormuz-american-territory-vows-iran-will-never-get-nuclear-weapon-1787385976123">Trump calls Strait of Hormuz 'American territory', vows Iran will never get nuclear weapon</a><h2>Hegseth warns over the Strait of Hormuz</h2>Hegseth said Washington was prepared to use force "anywhere in the Strait of Hormuz or around Iran". He claimed the US had "total" control of the waterway and said its blockade remained effective, with oil shipments continuing through the strait."The world economy realises that," Hegseth said, arguing that Iran had failed in its effort to establish control over the strategic shipping route. He also pointed to damage inflicted on Iran's naval, radar and missile capabilities during previous US military operations."They still have some capabilities, but it's nowhere near what it was at all," Hegseth said, adding that US forces could protect commercial shipping and keep oil moving through the waterway.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/what-s-behind-rising-sugar-prices-in-india-government-breaks-silence-says-ethano-not-to-blamel-1787370008114">What's behind rising sugar prices in India? Government breaks silence, says 'ethanol...'</a><h2>US steps up 'Economic Outcast' campaign</h2>The military warning came as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a new campaign aimed at cutting Iran off from the global financial system.Bessent said the Treasury had launched "Operation Economic Outcast", describing it as an unprecedented effort to target Iran's financial connections and revenue streams."Our goal is to sever every economic lifeline that sustains this tyrannical regime," Bessent said.

Washington is keeping the military option open against Iran. US War Secretary Pete Hegseth has warned Tehran not to "overplay its hand" as the Trump administration simultaneously tightens economic pressure on Iran.

The United States is not ruling out further military action against Iran, US War Secretary Pete Hegseth said Monday (Aug 24), warning that Washington could use force anywhere around Iran or the Strait of Hormuz if Tehran takes what he described as a reckless step. Asked whether kinetic strikes were currently on hold, Hegseth said Washington had made no such decision. "No. If we need to use kinetic strikes, we'll use them," he said. "If Iran is foolish enough to overplay their hand or mess with the American military, we'll do what we need to do." He added that the US was simultaneously escalating economic pressure, which he said was currently hurting Iran the most. Also read | Trump calls Strait of Hormuz 'American territory', vows Iran will never get nuclear weapon Hegseth warns over the Strait of Hormuz Hegseth said Washington was prepared to use force "anywhere in the Strait of Hormuz or around Iran". He claimed the US had "total" control of the waterway and said its blockade remained effective, with oil shipments continuing through the strait. "The world economy realises that," Hegseth said, arguing that Iran had failed in its effort to establish control over the strategic shipping route. He also pointed to damage inflicted on Iran's naval, radar and missile capabilities during previous US military operations. "They still have some capabilities, but it's nowhere near what it was at all," Hegseth said, adding that US forces could protect commercial shipping and keep oil moving through the waterway. Also read | What's behind rising sugar prices in India? Government breaks silence, says 'ethanol...' US steps up 'Economic Outcast' campaign The military warning came as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a new campaign aimed at cutting Iran off from the global financial system. Bessent said the Treasury had launched "Operation Economic Outcast", describing it as an unprecedented effort to target Iran's financial connections and revenue streams. "Our goal is to sever every economic lifeline that sustains this tyrannical regime," Bessent said.

Washington is keeping the military option open against Iran. US War Secretary Pete Hegseth has warned Tehran not to "overplay its hand" as the Trump administration simultaneously tightens economic pressure on Iran.

'If Iran overplays its hand': US won't rule out 'kinetic strikes' on Tehran, War Secretary Hegseth warns

US Vice President JD Vance has said keeping oil and gasoline prices low for Americans is now Washington's top priority in the Iran war, while the prevention of a nuclear-armed Iran comes second.The comments mark a notable shift from President Donald Trump's repeated description of the conflict as a campaign aimed primarily at stopping Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.Speaking to Fox News on Thursday (Aug 13), Vance pointed to the sharp rise in oil prices during the early stages of the conflict before adding that keeping energy costs down had become the administration's first goal. "That's goal number one," Vance said, referring to keeping oil and gas affordable for Americans. He then identified preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon as "goal number two.""I know that oil is down today and it's way down from the highs in the early days of the conflict," Vance said on Fox News. "That's goal number one -- keep oil and gas cheap for Americans all over our country.""And then obviously goal number two is ensure that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon," he added.<h2>Strait of Hormuz now at the centre</h2>Vance's remarks come as the Strait of Hormuz has become one of the biggest pressure points in the conflict. Iran has made the reopening of the strategic waterway part of the wider confrontation, while Washington and Tehran remain divided over the conditions needed to ease the standoff.The strait is crucial to global energy markets, making any prolonged disruption a direct concern for oil prices and American consumers.Vance said the administration was balancing several priorities at once, including energy prices, military considerations and Iran's nuclear programme. "Sometimes we're focused on the energy piece of it because we want Americans to be able to afford the price of oil and gas," he said.<h2>Trump faces pressure to avoid deeper escalation</h2>Vance has previously been among the administration's more cautious voices on the military campaign launched against Iran. His latest comments suggest that economic pressure and negotiations could now play a bigger role as Washington weighs its next steps ahead of the mid-term elections.Vance also said Trump had a wide range of options available, describing the president as being "at the height of his authority" with diplomatic, military and economic tools at his disposal.This comes as US media reports have raised questions about the availability of some American missiles and drones, potentially adding another constraint to Trump's military options.&nbsp;

JD Vance has put a different priority on the table as the Iran war continues, raising fresh questions about what is driving Washington's strategy. The VP said keeping oil and gasoline affordable is now the US priority in the Iran war. 

US Vice President JD Vance has said keeping oil and gasoline prices low for Americans is now Washington's top priority in the Iran war, while the prevention of a nuclear-armed Iran comes second. The comments mark a notable shift from President Donald Trump's repeated description of the conflict as a campaign aimed primarily at stopping Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Speaking to Fox News on Thursday (Aug 13), Vance pointed to the sharp rise in oil prices during the early stages of the conflict before adding that keeping energy costs down had become the administration's first goal. "That's goal number one," Vance said, referring to keeping oil and gas affordable for Americans. He then identified preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon as "goal number two." "I know that oil is down today and it's way down from the highs in the early days of the conflict," Vance said on Fox News. "That's goal number one -- keep oil and gas cheap for Americans all over our country." "And then obviously goal number two is ensure that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon," he added. Strait of Hormuz now at the centre Vance's remarks come as the Strait of Hormuz has become one of the biggest pressure points in the conflict. Iran has made the reopening of the strategic waterway part of the wider confrontation, while Washington and Tehran remain divided over the conditions needed to ease the standoff. The strait is crucial to global energy markets, making any prolonged disruption a direct concern for oil prices and American consumers. Vance said the administration was balancing several priorities at once, including energy prices, military considerations and Iran's nuclear programme. "Sometimes we're focused on the energy piece of it because we want Americans to be able to afford the price of oil and gas," he said. Trump faces pressure to avoid deeper escalation Vance has previously been among the administration's more cautious voices on the military campaign launched against Iran. His latest comments suggest that economic pressure and negotiations could now play a bigger role as Washington weighs its next steps ahead of the mid-term elections. Vance also said Trump had a wide range of options available, describing the president as being "at the height of his authority" with diplomatic, military and economic tools at his disposal. This comes as US media reports have raised questions about the availability of some American missiles and drones, potentially adding another constraint to Trump's military options.

JD Vance has put a different priority on the table as the Iran war continues, raising fresh questions about what is driving Washington's strategy. The VP said keeping oil and gasoline affordable is now the US priority in the Iran war.&nbsp;

Iran's alleged nuclear arsenal no longer top concern for US? Vance says cheap oil is priority No. 1 in Iran war, nuclear threat 'goal number two'

WASHINGTON – For much of Israel’s turbulent history, most Americans viewed the Jewish state as a force for good, deserving to be the largest recipient of U.S. economic and military assistance in the world. That attitude is becoming history, according to public opinion surveys.&nbsp;One of the most striking came from Gallup, one of the world’s most respected polling firms, which tracked American sympathies for the main players in the Middle East conflict since 1921. Earlier this year, it found that for the first time, more Americans sympathise more with Palestinians than with Israelis – 41% to 38%. &nbsp;&nbsp;Other surveys have come to similar results, and experts agree that this shift points to a profound generational divide. Americans aged between 18 and 34 hold significantly more negative views than older generations. The figures: 53 percent sympathise more with Palestinians, 23 percent more with Israelis. &nbsp;&nbsp;The Washington-based Pew Research Center describes this as a record low for Israel support for this age group. This contrasts with 49 percent of older Americans (55 and older) favouring Israel and 31 percent for Palestinians. The pollsters note that this means that for the first time in decades, less than half of older Americans side with Israel.&nbsp;Those numbers stand in stark contrast with decades of a relationship so close that unquestioned support for Israel was one of the few issues in divided America on which, with very few exceptions, Democrats and Republicans agreed.&nbsp;The relationship had an auspicious start: U.S. President Harry Truman was the first foreign leader to recognise Israel when it declared independence on May 14, 1948. Truman issued a statement granting U.S. recognition of the new state just 11 minutes after its proclamation in Tel Aviv.&nbsp;Although the “special relationship” the two countries established proved durable for decades, much to the frustration of its hostile Arab neighbours, it now seems truly over.&nbsp;The most striking example of how much has changed is the fact that New York City, home to as many Jews as Jerusalem, has a mayor so critical of Israel that he threatened to arrest Israel’s Prime Minister when he visits New York for September’s U.N. General Assembly meeting. &nbsp;&nbsp;Mayor Zohran Mamdami, who took office in January, cited an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in 2024 on charges of war crimes committed by Israel in Gaza. Mamdami first issued the arrest threat when he was still campaigning to become mayor. He backed off 19 months later, saying the city had no legal authority to execute the arrest.&nbsp;A YouGov poll published in July found that 49 percent of Americans (68 percent Democrats, 55 percent Independents, and 24 percent Republicans) showed support for Mamdami’s arrest threat.&nbsp;More dissatisfaction with U.S. policies on Israel became apparent in Democratic primary races in advance of mid-term elections in November for the 435 seats in the House of Representatives. The one that made most headlines was in Michigan, where Abdul El-Sayed beat the pro-Israel Haley Stevens, who outspent her challenger by a 12-to1 margin.&nbsp;More than $31 million of her war chest came from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the powerful pro-Israel lobby which has played a major role in past elections. &nbsp;&nbsp;What is the reason for the deep generational gap in views of Israel? Older Americans grew up with memories of the Holocaust still fresh. Israel was perceived as a beleaguered nation surrounded by hostile Arabs whose superior armies attacked the country twice, in the 1967 six-day war an again in 1973. &nbsp;&nbsp;Outgunned and outmanned, Israel won. Moshe Dayan, the eye-patched defence chief, became an internationally acclaimed hero for leading the David vs Goliath fight that ensured Israel’s survival and eventual role as the Middle East’s dominant military and economic power. &nbsp;&nbsp;Younger generations came of age during Israel’s occupation of land that had been slated to become a sovereign Palestinian state under a 1947 partition plan developed by the United Nations. But the “two-state” solution never became reality. The prolonged peace process of the 1990s failed, and the system Israel developed drew comparisons with South Africa’s Apartheid.&nbsp;An agreement to bring peace looks even more remote after the October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israeli communities by militants of Hamas, a Sunni Islamist group based in Gaza. The attackers broke through the border fence, killed 1,200 people, including hundreds attending a music festival, in an orgy of stomach-turning violence. Another 250 were abducted and taken as hostages to Gaza.&nbsp;Shifts in American public opinion were underway before the Hamas attack, but they sharpened when Israel struck back with a ferocious bombing campaign U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres described as collective punishment. It killed more than 73,000 Palestinians, according to local health authorities.&nbsp;Much of Gaza has been turned into fields of rubble, and the misery inflicted on civilians, livestreamed over social media for more than two years, has helped change perceptions even among committed backers of Israel.&nbsp;An anti-Israeli backlash has become a feature of U.S. domestic politics and will play a role in the mid-term elections. For years, calls for downgrading the relationships have come mainly from the political left, but recently prominent figures in the MAGA (Make America Great Again) sphere have spoken up, too.&nbsp;Once unthinkable for right-wingers like Tucker Carlson, Steve Bannon, and Marjory Taylor-Green, their arguments mirror those of the left – Israel is dragging the United States into foreign wars that suck up resources America should use at home.&nbsp;Dissent on the right also comes from citizens who feel U.S. President Donald Trump broke most of the promises that helped him win a second term at the White House. They included “No more foreign wars”. Instead, Trump started a war against Iran. No end to that conflict, now in its sixth month, is in sight.

The most striking example of how much has changed is the fact that New York City, home to as many Jews as Jerusalem, has a mayor so critical of Israel that he threatened to arrest Israel’s Prime Minister when he visits New York for September’s U.N. General Assembly meeting.  


WASHINGTON – For much of Israel’s turbulent history, most Americans viewed the Jewish state as a force for good, deserving to be the largest recipient of U.S. economic and military assistance in the world. That attitude is becoming history, according to public opinion surveys. One of the most striking came from Gallup, one of the world’s most respected polling firms, which tracked American sympathies for the main players in the Middle East conflict since 1921. Earlier this year, it found that for the first time, more Americans sympathise more with Palestinians than with Israelis – 41% to 38%. Other surveys have come to similar results, and experts agree that this shift points to a profound generational divide. Americans aged between 18 and 34 hold significantly more negative views than older generations. The figures: 53 percent sympathise more with Palestinians, 23 percent more with Israelis. The Washington-based Pew Research Center describes this as a record low for Israel support for this age group. This contrasts with 49 percent of older Americans (55 and older) favouring Israel and 31 percent for Palestinians. The pollsters note that this means that for the first time in decades, less than half of older Americans side with Israel. Those numbers stand in stark contrast with decades of a relationship so close that unquestioned support for Israel was one of the few issues in divided America on which, with very few exceptions, Democrats and Republicans agreed. The relationship had an auspicious start: U.S. President Harry Truman was the first foreign leader to recognise Israel when it declared independence on May 14, 1948. Truman issued a statement granting U.S. recognition of the new state just 11 minutes after its proclamation in Tel Aviv. Although the “special relationship” the two countries established proved durable for decades, much to the frustration of its hostile Arab neighbours, it now seems truly over. The most striking example of how much has changed is the fact that New York City, home to as many Jews as Jerusalem, has a mayor so critical of Israel that he threatened to arrest Israel’s Prime Minister when he visits New York for September’s U.N. General Assembly meeting. Mayor Zohran Mamdami, who took office in January, cited an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in 2024 on charges of war crimes committed by Israel in Gaza. Mamdami first issued the arrest threat when he was still campaigning to become mayor. He backed off 19 months later, saying the city had no legal authority to execute the arrest. A YouGov poll published in July found that 49 percent of Americans (68 percent Democrats, 55 percent Independents, and 24 percent Republicans) showed support for Mamdami’s arrest threat. More dissatisfaction with U.S. policies on Israel became apparent in Democratic primary races in advance of mid-term elections in November for the 435 seats in the House of Representatives. The one that made most headlines was in Michigan, where Abdul El-Sayed beat the pro-Israel Haley Stevens, who outspent her challenger by a 12-to1 margin. More than $31 million of her war chest came from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the powerful pro-Israel lobby which has played a major role in past elections. What is the reason for the deep generational gap in views of Israel? Older Americans grew up with memories of the Holocaust still fresh. Israel was perceived as a beleaguered nation surrounded by hostile Arabs whose superior armies attacked the country twice, in the 1967 six-day war an again in 1973. Outgunned and outmanned, Israel won. Moshe Dayan, the eye-patched defence chief, became an internationally acclaimed hero for leading the David vs Goliath fight that ensured Israel’s survival and eventual role as the Middle East’s dominant military and economic power. Younger generations came of age during Israel’s occupation of land that had been slated to become a sovereign Palestinian state under a 1947 partition plan developed by the United Nations. But the “two-state” solution never became reality. The prolonged peace process of the 1990s failed, and the system Israel developed drew comparisons with South Africa’s Apartheid. An agreement to bring peace looks even more remote after the October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israeli communities by militants of Hamas, a Sunni Islamist group based in Gaza. The attackers broke through the border fence, killed 1,200 people, including hundreds attending a music festival, in an orgy of stomach-turning violence. Another 250 were abducted and taken as hostages to Gaza. Shifts in American public opinion were underway before the Hamas attack, but they sharpened when Israel struck back with a ferocious bombing campaign U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres described as collective punishment. It killed more than 73,000 Palestinians, according to local health authorities. Much of Gaza has been turned into fields of rubble, and the misery inflicted on civilians, livestreamed over social media for more than two years, has helped change perceptions even among committed backers of Israel. An anti-Israeli backlash has become a feature of U.S. domestic politics and will play a role in the mid-term elections. For years, calls for downgrading the relationships have come mainly from the political left, but recently prominent figures in the MAGA (Make America Great Again) sphere have spoken up, too. Once unthinkable for right-wingers like Tucker Carlson, Steve Bannon, and Marjory Taylor-Green, their arguments mirror those of the left – Israel is dragging the United States into foreign wars that suck up resources America should use at home. Dissent on the right also comes from citizens who feel U.S. President Donald Trump broke most of the promises that helped him win a second term at the White House. They included “No more foreign wars”. Instead, Trump started a war against Iran. No end to that conflict, now in its sixth month, is in sight.

The most striking example of how much has changed is the fact that New York City, home to as many Jews as Jerusalem, has a mayor so critical of Israel that he threatened to arrest Israel’s Prime Minister when he visits New York for September’s U.N. General Assembly meeting. &nbsp;

Americans are falling out of love with Israel

Israeli and Lebanese envoys are set to hold a fresh round of peace talks in Washington next week amid continued Israeli Defence Forces operations against the militant group Hezbollah, despite a US-brokered ceasefire being in place from April 15. A US State Department official confirmed on Thursday that the talks will take place on May 14 and 15. This will be the third such meeting in recent months between the two countries, which have technically remained at war for decades and do not maintain diplomatic relations.&nbsp;The renewed engagement comes even as tensions remain high on the ground. The conflict in Lebanon escalated alongside broader regional hostilities involving Israel and Iran, with Washington still awaiting Tehran’s response to its latest proposal aimed at de-escalating the wider Middle East crisis and restoring stability in the Strait of Hormuz.&nbsp;US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday said a peace deal between the parties was “eminently achievable,” adding that Hezbollah remains the primary obstacle rather than any direct dispute between the two governments.&nbsp;Lebanon was drawn deeper into the conflict after Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel, following the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The situation further intensified exchanges between Israeli forces and the Iran-backed group.&nbsp;A ceasefire framework involving Israel, Lebanon and Hezbollah was extended until May 15 after the previous round of talks in Washington. However, Israel has continued targeted strikes against Hezbollah positions, while the group has also claimed attacks on Israeli forces operating in southern Lebanon.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/-tmc-chor-mahua-moitra-alleges-harassment-onboard-indigo-flight-blames-bjp-culture-1778176066725">‘TMC chor’: Mahua Moitra alleges harassment onboard IndiGo flight, blames ‘BJP culture’</a>&nbsp;Meanwhile, US media outlet Axios reported, citing officials, that Washington and Tehran are close to finalising a one-page memorandum of understanding. The proposed document is expected to outline a framework to end hostilities and restart negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme.&nbsp;Oil markets reacted positively to the prospect of de-escalation, with Brent crude and US West Texas Intermediate prices falling around five per cent on Thursday, extending losses from earlier in the week. However, prices remain higher than pre-conflict levels.&nbsp;The Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy route carrying nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas trade, continues to remain under pressure amid ongoing instability in the region.

The current Washington sessions mark the first high-level direct diplomatic engagement between Israel and Lebanon in over 30 years.

Israeli and Lebanese envoys are set to hold a fresh round of peace talks in Washington next week amid continued Israeli Defence Forces operations against the militant group Hezbollah, despite a US-brokered ceasefire being in place from April 15. A US State Department official confirmed on Thursday that the talks will take place on May 14 and 15. This will be the third such meeting in recent months between the two countries, which have technically remained at war for decades and do not maintain diplomatic relations. The renewed engagement comes even as tensions remain high on the ground. The conflict in Lebanon escalated alongside broader regional hostilities involving Israel and Iran, with Washington still awaiting Tehran’s response to its latest proposal aimed at de-escalating the wider Middle East crisis and restoring stability in the Strait of Hormuz. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday said a peace deal between the parties was “eminently achievable,” adding that Hezbollah remains the primary obstacle rather than any direct dispute between the two governments. Lebanon was drawn deeper into the conflict after Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel, following the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The situation further intensified exchanges between Israeli forces and the Iran-backed group. A ceasefire framework involving Israel, Lebanon and Hezbollah was extended until May 15 after the previous round of talks in Washington. However, Israel has continued targeted strikes against Hezbollah positions, while the group has also claimed attacks on Israeli forces operating in southern Lebanon. Also Read: ‘TMC chor’: Mahua Moitra alleges harassment onboard IndiGo flight, blames ‘BJP culture’ Meanwhile, US media outlet Axios reported, citing officials, that Washington and Tehran are close to finalising a one-page memorandum of understanding. The proposed document is expected to outline a framework to end hostilities and restart negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme. Oil markets reacted positively to the prospect of de-escalation, with Brent crude and US West Texas Intermediate prices falling around five per cent on Thursday, extending losses from earlier in the week. However, prices remain higher than pre-conflict levels. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy route carrying nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas trade, continues to remain under pressure amid ongoing instability in the region.

The current Washington sessions mark the first high-level direct diplomatic engagement between Israel and Lebanon in over 30 years.

Israel, Lebanon to hold fresh talks in Washington as US awaits Iran’s response to peace deal

Ameesha Patel, who was travelling from New York to Mumbai, has safely returned after a travel disruption that left her stranded for hours following a sudden closure of the UAE airspace. The actor looks at her social media to share the update.&nbsp;She was flying from New York to Mumbai via Dubai when the aircraft was forced to reroute mid-air. It happened shortly before landing, after the UAE authorities temporarily shut down airspace amid reports of missile activity in the region.&nbsp;&nbsp;Due to this, Patel's flight was redirected to Muscat, leaving passengers waiting for further updates.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/riddhima-kapoor-sahni-on-being-oldest-debutant-of-kapoor-family-there-s-a-certain-vulnerability-in-starting-fresh-1778038689272">Riddhima Kapoor Sahni on being oldest debutant of Kapoor family: There’s a certain vulnerability in starting fresh</a><h2>Ameesha Patel shares an update</h2>After reaching Mumbai, the actress posted a photo on X and wrote, "Finallyyyyyyy MUMBAI!!! Thank you everyone for all your prayers."&nbsp;Earlier, she had described the uncertainty during the journey, saying, "On my way back to MUMBAI from NEW YORK on Emirates! As we were about to land in DUBAI the airspace closed in the UAE due to fresh missile attacks! We have now been diverted to MUSCAT n are awaiting further updates!! When will this WAR end!! Praying."&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/karan-johar-credits-shah-rukh-khan-for-his-met-gala-2026-debut-here-s-why-1778037413738">Karan Johar credits Shah Rukh Khan for his Met Gala 2026 debut; here's why</a>&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Finallyyyyyyy MUMBAI!!! Thank u everyone for all@it prayers !! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻❤️!! ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/goomerkuunal1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@goomerkuunal1</a>⁩ <a href="https://t.co/hKptzRP73e">pic.twitter.com/hKptzRP73e</a>&mdash; ameesha patel (@ameesha_patel) <a href="https://twitter.com/ameesha_patel/status/2051662507228778953?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 5, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/renowned-film-producer-rb-choudary-dies-in-a-car-accident-rajinikanth-pawan-kalyan-pay-tribute-1777995429520">Film producer RB Choudary dies in a car accident, Rajinikanth pay tribute</a> The airspace disruption occurred amid rising tensions in the Middle East, reportedly due to an escalation involving Iran and the UAE. Missile and drone strikes are believed to have targeted several infrastructure, including oil facilities and major shipping routes.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">On my way back to MUMBAI from NEW YORK on Emirates! As we were about to land in DUBAI the airspace closed in UAE due to fresh missile Attacks! We have now been diverted to MUSCAT n are awaiting further updates !! When will this WAR end 🙏🏻🙏🏻!! Praying 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻❤️&mdash; ameesha patel (@ameesha_patel) <a href="https://twitter.com/ameesha_patel/status/2051349400765796359?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 4, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/vivek-agnihotri-reacts-to-mamata-banerjee-s-defeat-recalls-bengal-files-controversy-we-were-attacked-1777993447141">Vivek Agnihotri reacts to Mamata's defeat, recalls ‘Bengal Files’ controversy</a>&nbsp;Patel was travelling along with DJ Chetas and producer Kunal Goomer, and documenting the prolonged delay, she also shared a glimpse from the airport lounge. "24 hours from the time we left NYC and still counting hours to reach Mumbai. Endless airport lounge time," she wrote.<h2>Ameehsa Patel's work front</h2>She was last seen in Gadar 2 (2023) alongside Sunny Deol and Tauba Tera Jalwa (2024).&nbsp;

Ameesha Patel has safely reached Mumbai after a sudden disruption in the airspace that left her stranded for hours in Muscat along with other passengers on the flight. Read on to know more.

Ameesha Patel, who was travelling from New York to Mumbai, has safely returned after a travel disruption that left her stranded for hours following a sudden closure of the UAE airspace. The actor looks at her social media to share the update. She was flying from New York to Mumbai via Dubai when the aircraft was forced to reroute mid-air. It happened shortly before landing, after the UAE authorities temporarily shut down airspace amid reports of missile activity in the region. Due to this, Patel's flight was redirected to Muscat, leaving passengers waiting for further updates. Also Read: Riddhima Kapoor Sahni on being oldest debutant of Kapoor family: There’s a certain vulnerability in starting fresh Ameesha Patel shares an update After reaching Mumbai, the actress posted a photo on X and wrote, "Finallyyyyyyy MUMBAI!!! Thank you everyone for all your prayers." Earlier, she had described the uncertainty during the journey, saying, "On my way back to MUMBAI from NEW YORK on Emirates! As we were about to land in DUBAI the airspace closed in the UAE due to fresh missile attacks! We have now been diverted to MUSCAT n are awaiting further updates!! When will this WAR end!! Praying." Also Read: Karan Johar credits Shah Rukh Khan for his Met Gala 2026 debut; here's why

Ameesha Patel has safely reached Mumbai after a sudden disruption in the airspace that left her stranded for hours in Muscat along with other passengers on the flight. Read on to know more.

Ameesha Patel safely reaches Mumbai after flight diversion amid Middle East tensions

President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the US has beaten Iran badly and Tehran’s navy is now reduced to little boats with a machine gun in front. Trump also emphasised that if the United States had not engaged in the conflict “we would’ve had an Iran with a nuclear weapon.”“Maybe we wouldn’t all be here right now,” he added.&nbsp;The United Nations, the European Union, and the US imposed extensive economic sanctions on Iran from 2010 over suspicions that its nuclear programme was being used to develop a bomb. Iran claims its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes only but carries out nuclear enrichment that is close to weapon standards.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-iran-cannot-be-allowed-to-block-hormuz-says-pete-hegseth-warns-tehran-would-face-overwhelming-firepower-1777983957232">‘Iran cannot be allowed to block Hormuz,’ says Pete Hegseth, warns Tehran would face ‘overwhelming firepower’</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;President Trump said the US “have beaten [Iran] badly”, adding that the Iranian navy is “reduced to little boats with a machine gun on the front of them.”&nbsp;The US had attacked small Iranian boats in the Strait of Hormuz. In a Truth Social post on Monday, Trump said, “We’ve shot down seven small Boats or, as they like to call them, ‘fast’ Boats.”In an interaction at the Oval Office, Trump claimed that Iran had started the war with 159 ships, and added, “Every single ship they had is resting underwater at the bottom of the sea.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-and-us-preparing-for-potential-short-campaign-to-pressure-iran-into-talks-report-1777987157027">Israel and US preparing for potential ‘short campaign’ to pressure Iran into talks: Report</a><h2>‘Iran has no chance. They never did’&nbsp;</h2>&nbsp;Trump downplayed the conflict between the US and Iran and termed the war a ‘skirmish’.“I call it a skirmish because Iran has no chance. They never did. They know it," Trump told reporters during the signing of a proclamation related to youth fitness.&nbsp;“They express it to me when I talk to them and then they get on television and say how well they’re doing,” he added.He repeated that the US has wiped out Iran’s military, navy, air force, and leaders, and said, “We can’t let Iran have a nuclear weapon.”&nbsp;Trump derided the Iranian “fast boat” attacks on US Navy vessels and commercial ships, and called them “little boats with peashooters.”&nbsp;The president further described protesters in Iran being shot “between the eyes” by Iranian snipers.“They killed 42,000 people last month. 42,000 unarmed protesters,” he added.

President Donald Trump said in an Oval Office interaction on Tuesday that Iran had started the war with 159 ships and added that every single ship they had is resting underwater at the bottom of the sea. Trump also downplayed the conflict with Iran as a ‘skirmish’.

President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the US has beaten Iran badly and Tehran’s navy is now reduced to little boats with a machine gun in front. Trump also emphasised that if the United States had not engaged in the conflict “we would’ve had an Iran with a nuclear weapon.” “Maybe we wouldn’t all be here right now,” he added. The United Nations, the European Union, and the US imposed extensive economic sanctions on Iran from 2010 over suspicions that its nuclear programme was being used to develop a bomb. Iran claims its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes only but carries out nuclear enrichment that is close to weapon standards. Also Read: ‘Iran cannot be allowed to block Hormuz,’ says Pete Hegseth, warns Tehran would face ‘overwhelming firepower’ President Trump said the US “have beaten [Iran] badly”, adding that the Iranian navy is “reduced to little boats with a machine gun on the front of them.” The US had attacked small Iranian boats in the Strait of Hormuz. In a Truth Social post on Monday, Trump said, “We’ve shot down seven small Boats or, as they like to call them, ‘fast’ Boats.” In an interaction at the Oval Office, Trump claimed that Iran had started the war with 159 ships, and added, “Every single ship they had is resting underwater at the bottom of the sea.” Also Read: Israel and US preparing for potential ‘short campaign’ to pressure Iran into talks: Report ‘Iran has no chance. They never did’ Trump downplayed the conflict between the US and Iran and termed the war a ‘skirmish’. “I call it a skirmish because Iran has no chance. They never did. They know it," Trump told reporters during the signing of a proclamation related to youth fitness. “They express it to me when I talk to them and then they get on television and say how well they’re doing,” he added. He repeated that the US has wiped out Iran’s military, navy, air force, and leaders, and said, “We can’t let Iran have a nuclear weapon.” Trump derided the Iranian “fast boat” attacks on US Navy vessels and commercial ships, and called them “little boats with peashooters.” The president further described protesters in Iran being shot “between the eyes” by Iranian snipers. “They killed 42,000 people last month. 42,000 unarmed protesters,” he added.

President Donald Trump said in an Oval Office interaction on Tuesday that Iran had started the war with 159 ships and added that every single ship they had is resting underwater at the bottom of the sea. Trump also downplayed the conflict with Iran as a ‘skirmish’.

‘Iran beaten badly, its navy reduced to little boats with machine guns,’ says Trump

US President Donald Trump has declined to confirm whether the fragile ceasefire with Iran remains intact, offering a guarded response as tensions escalate in the Strait of Hormuz. “We’ll let you know,” Trump said when asked about the status of the truce.&nbsp;Pressed further on whether the ceasefire had effectively collapsed and if military strikes could resume imminently, Trump avoided a direct answer. “Well, I can’t tell you that,” he said, adding, “You wouldn’t, if I answered that question, you’d say this man is not smart enough to be President,” Al Jazeera reported.<h2>Warnings to Iran amid Strait tensions</h2>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-he-ll-leave-white-house-in-8-9-years-sparks-speculations-about-third-term-watch-1777946939926">Trump says he'll leave White House in 8-9 years, sparks third term buzz</a>&nbsp;In a separate interview earlier, the American president issued a stark warning to Iranian forces, saying they would be “blown off the face of the Earth” if US ships in the Strait of Hormuz or the Persian Gulf were targeted. Despite the strong rhetoric, he also struck a contrasting note, asserting that war with Iran “militarily is essentially over”.&nbsp;Referring to recent maritime movements, Trump said, “Ships are moving. You know, we moved quite a few last night, big ones. There was no firing. I guess there has been some recently. I’m looking into it.” He added that Iran “better hope [the ceasefire] remains in effect” and that “the best thing that can happen to them is that we keep it in effect”.<h2>Military escalation and shipping risks</h2>The situation on the ground remains volatile, with the US Central Command confirming that American forces engaged Iranian units and sank six small boats targeting civilian vessels, as part of efforts to reopen the critical Strait of Hormuz.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-calls-iran-war-polls-fake-as-ceasefire-uncertainty-grows-in-strait-of-hormuz-1777939421539">Trump calls Iran war polls 'fake' as ceasefire uncertainty grows in Hormuz</a>&nbsp;According to the military, two American-flagged merchant ships successfully transited the strait under US protection, even as Iran launched missiles, drones and small boats at civilian shipping. US Central Command said “each and every” threat had been neutralised.&nbsp;Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates reported coming under attack for the first time since the ceasefire began in early April. Its defence systems intercepted multiple missiles and drones, while authorities in Fujairah said a drone strike triggered a fire at an oil facility, injuring three Indian nationals. Iran has neither fully confirmed nor denied involvement in the attacks, though officials have warned against further escalation.

President Trump declined to confirm the Iran ceasefire’s status amid escalating Strait of Hormuz tensions, warning of destruction if US ships are targeted despite claiming major military conflict is over.

US President Donald Trump has declined to confirm whether the fragile ceasefire with Iran remains intact, offering a guarded response as tensions escalate in the Strait of Hormuz. “We’ll let you know,” Trump said when asked about the status of the truce. Pressed further on whether the ceasefire had effectively collapsed and if military strikes could resume imminently, Trump avoided a direct answer. “Well, I can’t tell you that,” he said, adding, “You wouldn’t, if I answered that question, you’d say this man is not smart enough to be President,” Al Jazeera reported. Warnings to Iran amid Strait tensions Also read: Trump says he'll leave White House in 8-9 years, sparks third term buzz In a separate interview earlier, the American president issued a stark warning to Iranian forces, saying they would be “blown off the face of the Earth” if US ships in the Strait of Hormuz or the Persian Gulf were targeted. Despite the strong rhetoric, he also struck a contrasting note, asserting that war with Iran “militarily is essentially over”. Referring to recent maritime movements, Trump said, “Ships are moving. You know, we moved quite a few last night, big ones. There was no firing. I guess there has been some recently. I’m looking into it.” He added that Iran “better hope [the ceasefire] remains in effect” and that “the best thing that can happen to them is that we keep it in effect”. Military escalation and shipping risks The situation on the ground remains volatile, with the US Central Command confirming that American forces engaged Iranian units and sank six small boats targeting civilian vessels, as part of efforts to reopen the critical Strait of Hormuz. Also read: Trump calls Iran war polls 'fake' as ceasefire uncertainty grows in Hormuz According to the military, two American-flagged merchant ships successfully transited the strait under US protection, even as Iran launched missiles, drones and small boats at civilian shipping. US Central Command said “each and every” threat had been neutralised. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates reported coming under attack for the first time since the ceasefire began in early April. Its defence systems intercepted multiple missiles and drones, while authorities in Fujairah said a drone strike triggered a fire at an oil facility, injuring three Indian nationals. Iran has neither fully confirmed nor denied involvement in the attacks, though officials have warned against further escalation.

President Trump declined to confirm the Iran ceasefire’s status amid escalating Strait of Hormuz tensions, warning of destruction if US ships are targeted despite claiming major military conflict is over.

What’s the status of Iran truce? Trump says, ‘we’ll let you know’, declines to reveal if strikes could resume

Two US service members participating in a joint military exercise in Morocco have gone missing, authorities from both countries confirmed on Sunday (May 03), adding that search operations are currently underway.&nbsp;The personnel were part of the ongoing African Lion 2026 exercise, which began last month in Agadir and involves nearly 5,000 troops from over 40 nations, with activities scheduled to continue until May 8.&nbsp;According to Morocco’s armed forces, the two service members went missing on Saturday evening near a cliff in the Cap Draa area of Tan Tan. Soon after the incident, joint search and rescue efforts were launched involving Moroccan, American and other participating forces.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/did-iranian-tanker-carrying-oil-worth-220-million-evade-us-blockade-what-we-know-1777810639033">Did Iranian tanker carrying oil worth $220 million evade US blockade? What we know</a>&nbsp;The operation is being carried out using ground teams, aircraft and maritime units to locate the missing personnel.&nbsp;United States Africa Command also confirmed the development, stating that the incident is under investigation and that efforts to trace the missing service members are ongoing.&nbsp;Officials have not yet provided further details on the circumstances surrounding the incident.&nbsp;

The military personnel were participating in the African Lion 2026 exercise in Morocco.

Two US service members participating in a joint military exercise in Morocco have gone missing, authorities from both countries confirmed on Sunday (May 03), adding that search operations are currently underway. The personnel were part of the ongoing African Lion 2026 exercise, which began last month in Agadir and involves nearly 5,000 troops from over 40 nations, with activities scheduled to continue until May 8. According to Morocco’s armed forces, the two service members went missing on Saturday evening near a cliff in the Cap Draa area of Tan Tan. Soon after the incident, joint search and rescue efforts were launched involving Moroccan, American and other participating forces. Also Read: Did Iranian tanker carrying oil worth $220 million evade US blockade? What we know The operation is being carried out using ground teams, aircraft and maritime units to locate the missing personnel. United States Africa Command also confirmed the development, stating that the incident is under investigation and that efforts to trace the missing service members are ongoing. Officials have not yet provided further details on the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The military personnel were participating in the African Lion 2026 exercise in Morocco.

Two US service members go missing during military exercise in Morocco

Iran is reportedly weighing an unusual and controversial tactic as tensions persist in the Gulf, with trained dolphins being considered for potential attacks on US naval vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.&nbsp;According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, Iranian officials are exploring the possibility of deploying dolphins equipped with mines to strike enemy ships. The development comes amid growing internal pressure in Tehran following a prolonged blockade that has significantly restricted the country’s oil exports.&nbsp;While a fragile ceasefire with the US remains in place, some hardline factions in Iran increasingly view the blockade as tantamount to war and are calling for renewed military action. The reported dolphin strategy reflects a broader push to consider unconventional methods as the economic crisis deepens.<h2>Is it the first time?&nbsp;</h2>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-impossible-operation-or-bad-deal-iran-revolutionary-guards-warn-trump-s-options-limited-1777801762056">‘Impossible operation or bad deal’: Iran Guards warn Trump has limited options</a>&nbsp;Iran has previously explored the use of military-trained dolphins. According to the BBC, the country acquired such animals from the Soviet navy in 2000. At the time, they were reportedly trained to attack targets using harpoons and carry explosives for missions that could include suicide-style strikes against enemy vessels.

“The blockade is increasingly viewed in Tehran not as a substitute for war, but as a different manifestation of it,” Hamidreza Azizi, a visiting fellow at a Berlin-based research institute, told WSJ. He added that Iranian decision makers may begin to see renewed conflict as less costly than enduring a prolonged blockade.&nbsp;Alongside the reported use of dolphins, Iran could also deploy submarines in the strategic waterway. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has additionally threatened to cut key telecommunications cables running through the strait, a move that could disrupt global internet traffic and further escalate tensions.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-yet-to-pay-big-enough-price-says-trump-casting-doubts-on-prospects-of-iran-s-new-peace-proposal-1777789239320">Iran yet to 'pay big enough price', says Trump on Tehran's new peace proposal</a>&nbsp;For commercial shipping, however, the primary concern remains surface-level threats rather than underwater mines. US officials have issued mixed assessments of the scale of the mine threat. Donald Trump has ordered the US Navy to “shoot and kill” any Iranian vessels attempting to lay mines in the strait.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Iran is reportedly considering using Soviet-acquired, mine-equipped dolphins and submarines to target US warships in the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions over oil blockades and strategic maritime security.

Iran is reportedly weighing an unusual and controversial tactic as tensions persist in the Gulf, with trained dolphins being considered for potential attacks on US naval vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, Iranian officials are exploring the possibility of deploying dolphins equipped with mines to strike enemy ships. The development comes amid growing internal pressure in Tehran following a prolonged blockade that has significantly restricted the country’s oil exports. While a fragile ceasefire with the US remains in place, some hardline factions in Iran increasingly view the blockade as tantamount to war and are calling for renewed military action. The reported dolphin strategy reflects a broader push to consider unconventional methods as the economic crisis deepens. Is it the first time? Also read: ‘Impossible operation or bad deal’: Iran Guards warn Trump has limited options Iran has previously explored the use of military-trained dolphins. According to the BBC, the country acquired such animals from the Soviet navy in 2000. At the time, they were reportedly trained to attack targets using harpoons and carry explosives for missions that could include suicide-style strikes against enemy vessels.

Iran is reportedly considering using Soviet-acquired, mine-equipped dolphins and submarines to target US warships in the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions over oil blockades and strategic maritime security.

Iran could deploy ‘dolphins equipped with mines’ to strike US warships, says report

Iran has formally responded to a US-backed 9-point proposal with a detailed 14-point plan, setting out its conditions for ending ongoing hostilities, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency. The response, delivered through Pakistani mediators, signals Tehran’s push for a broader and more permanent resolution rather than a temporary pause in fighting. While Washington had proposed a two-month truce, Iran has rejected the idea of an extended ceasefire, insisting that all core issues be resolved within 30 days.&nbsp;US President Donald Trump reacted cautiously, saying he would review the proposal but expressed scepticism over its viability. Writing on Truth Social, Trump said Tehran “has not yet paid a big enough price” for its actions over decades and added that it was difficult to imagine the proposal being acceptable.<h2>What’s inside the 14-point proposal?</h2>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-yet-to-pay-big-enough-price-says-trump-casting-doubts-on-prospects-of-iran-s-new-peace-proposal-1777789239320">Iran yet to 'pay big enough price', says Trump casting doubts on prospects of Iran's new peace proposal</a>&nbsp;According to Tasnim, Iran’s 14-point proposal outlines a comprehensive framework aimed at ending the conflict across multiple fronts, including regional tensions involving Lebanon. The plan calls for firm security guarantees to prevent future military action against Iran and demands the withdrawal of US forces from surrounding regions.&nbsp;It also seeks the lifting of naval restrictions and blockades, alongside the release of frozen Iranian assets held abroad. Tehran has further demanded compensation for damages linked to sanctions and sustained military pressure. Economically, the proposal presses for the removal of all US and international sanctions.&nbsp;A key element of the plan includes establishing a mechanism to govern the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil transit chokepoint, with the aim of ensuring stability and uninterrupted maritime flows.&nbsp;Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said the proposal, conveyed via Pakistan, is designed to “permanently end the imposed war”. He added that “the ball is in America’s court” to decide between diplomacy and confrontation, Tasnim reported. Tehran is now awaiting an official response from Washington.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-says-ball-is-in-us-court-as-trump-weighs-next-move-amid-stalled-talks-1777743937475">Iran says ‘ball is in US court’ as Trump weighs next move amid stalled talks</a>&nbsp;Despite acknowledging that “they want to make a deal”, Trump reiterated concerns about Iran’s leadership, describing it as “very disjointed”. He also signalled that military options remain on the table, warning that if Iran “misbehave… it’s a possibility that could happen”.&nbsp;“They told me about the concept of the deal. They’re going to give me the exact wording now,” Trump added.

Iran countered a US-backed proposal with a 14-point plan seeking a permanent resolution within 30 days. Demands include US withdrawal, sanctions removal, and compensation, while President Trump expressed scepticism over the deal’s viability.

Iran has formally responded to a US-backed 9-point proposal with a detailed 14-point plan, setting out its conditions for ending ongoing hostilities, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency. The response, delivered through Pakistani mediators, signals Tehran’s push for a broader and more permanent resolution rather than a temporary pause in fighting. While Washington had proposed a two-month truce, Iran has rejected the idea of an extended ceasefire, insisting that all core issues be resolved within 30 days. US President Donald Trump reacted cautiously, saying he would review the proposal but expressed scepticism over its viability. Writing on Truth Social, Trump said Tehran “has not yet paid a big enough price” for its actions over decades and added that it was difficult to imagine the proposal being acceptable. What’s inside the 14-point proposal? Also read: Iran yet to 'pay big enough price', says Trump casting doubts on prospects of Iran's new peace proposal According to Tasnim, Iran’s 14-point proposal outlines a comprehensive framework aimed at ending the conflict across multiple fronts, including regional tensions involving Lebanon. The plan calls for firm security guarantees to prevent future military action against Iran and demands the withdrawal of US forces from surrounding regions. It also seeks the lifting of naval restrictions and blockades, alongside the release of frozen Iranian assets held abroad. Tehran has further demanded compensation for damages linked to sanctions and sustained military pressure. Economically, the proposal presses for the removal of all US and international sanctions. A key element of the plan includes establishing a mechanism to govern the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil transit chokepoint, with the aim of ensuring stability and uninterrupted maritime flows. Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said the proposal, conveyed via Pakistan, is designed to “permanently end the imposed war”. He added that “the ball is in America’s court” to decide between diplomacy and confrontation, Tasnim reported. Tehran is now awaiting an official response from Washington. Also read: Iran says ‘ball is in US court’ as Trump weighs next move amid stalled talks Despite acknowledging that “they want to make a deal”, Trump reiterated concerns about Iran’s leadership, describing it as “very disjointed”. He also signalled that military options remain on the table, warning that if Iran “misbehave… it’s a possibility that could happen”. “They told me about the concept of the deal. They’re going to give me the exact wording now,” Trump added.

Iran countered a US-backed proposal with a 14-point plan seeking a permanent resolution within 30 days. Demands include US withdrawal, sanctions removal, and compensation, while President Trump expressed scepticism over the deal’s viability.

Removal of US sanctions, compensation for damages and more: Here’s what’s inside Iran’s 14-point plan to end war

Iran has said it requires “credible guarantees” against further attacks by the US and Israel before it can ensure long-term stability in the Gulf, as tensions in the region continue to escalate. Speaking at a United Nations Security Council session on Monday (April 27), Iran’s ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, stressed that regional security depended on halting aggression against Tehran.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Lasting stability and security in the Persian Gulf and the wider region can only be achieved through a durable and permanent cessation of aggression against Iran supplemented by credible guarantees of non-recurrence and full respect for the legitimate sovereign rights and interests of Iran,” he said.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/jimmy-kimmel-melania-trump-joke-backlash-trump-attack-1777361851059">Jimmy Kimmel defends Melania joke following Trump assassination attempt and backlash- What did Jimmy Kimmel say about Melania Trump?</a>&nbsp;Meanwhile, Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, blamed Washington for the breakdown of recent negotiations, saying US demands had derailed progress. Speaking during a visit to St Petersburg, Araghchi said, “The US approaches caused the previous round of negotiations, despite progress, to fail to reach its goals because of the excessive demands.” During the visit, Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly pledged Moscow’s support in efforts to end the conflict.&nbsp;This came after the US President Donald Trump said on Sunday (April 26) that Iran could reopen talks if it wished, telling Fox News, “If they want to talk, they can call us.” He added that his decision to cancel sending envoys to Pakistan over the weekend did not indicate a return to hostilities.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/from-video-games-to-trump-criticism-what-whcd-shooter-s-social-media-revealed-1777359464035">From video games to Trump criticism: What WHCD shooter’s social media revealed</a>&nbsp;According to Reuters, Trump is dissatisfied with an Iranian proposal that reportedly omits any discussion of Tehran’s nuclear programme. The proposal, earlier reported by the Associated Press citing regional officials, suggested Iran would end its closure of the Strait of Hormuz if the US lifted its blockade and ceased hostilities, while postponing nuclear talks. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt later said the proposal was “being discussed”.

Iran demands “credible guarantees” against US-Israeli attacks for Gulf stability, while Foreign Minister Araghchi blames Washington for failed talks. President Trump suggests phone negotiations amid ongoing Strait of Hormuz disputes.

Iran has said it requires “credible guarantees” against further attacks by the US and Israel before it can ensure long-term stability in the Gulf, as tensions in the region continue to escalate. Speaking at a United Nations Security Council session on Monday (April 27), Iran’s ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, stressed that regional security depended on halting aggression against Tehran. “Lasting stability and security in the Persian Gulf and the wider region can only be achieved through a durable and permanent cessation of aggression against Iran supplemented by credible guarantees of non-recurrence and full respect for the legitimate sovereign rights and interests of Iran,” he said. Also read: Jimmy Kimmel defends Melania joke following Trump assassination attempt and backlash- What did Jimmy Kimmel say about Melania Trump? Meanwhile, Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, blamed Washington for the breakdown of recent negotiations, saying US demands had derailed progress. Speaking during a visit to St Petersburg, Araghchi said, “The US approaches caused the previous round of negotiations, despite progress, to fail to reach its goals because of the excessive demands.” During the visit, Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly pledged Moscow’s support in efforts to end the conflict. This came after the US President Donald Trump said on Sunday (April 26) that Iran could reopen talks if it wished, telling Fox News, “If they want to talk, they can call us.” He added that his decision to cancel sending envoys to Pakistan over the weekend did not indicate a return to hostilities. Also read: From video games to Trump criticism: What WHCD shooter’s social media revealed According to Reuters, Trump is dissatisfied with an Iranian proposal that reportedly omits any discussion of Tehran’s nuclear programme. The proposal, earlier reported by the Associated Press citing regional officials, suggested Iran would end its closure of the Strait of Hormuz if the US lifted its blockade and ceased hostilities, while postponing nuclear talks. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt later said the proposal was “being discussed”.

Iran demands “credible guarantees” against US-Israeli attacks for Gulf stability, while Foreign Minister Araghchi blames Washington for failed talks. President Trump suggests phone negotiations amid ongoing Strait of Hormuz disputes.

‘Want credible guarantees’ against future US attacks before ensuring long-term stability in Gulf, says Iran

As the war involving the US, Israel and Iran enters its second month, the language surrounding the conflict has taken on increasing significance, with several commonly used terms carrying deep historical, religious and political meanings.&nbsp;The fighting has killed thousands and disrupted global energy flows, with tensions centred on the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint through which around 20 per cent of the world’s oil supply normally passes. According to analysts, restrictions and threats of closure in the strait have amplified its importance in global discourse.&nbsp;Here are ten key terms shaping how the war is being described.&nbsp;<ol><li>Hormuz</li></ol>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-will-happen-to-the-iranian-ship-seized-by-us-navy-here-s-what-we-know-1776684312442">What will happen to the Iranian ship seized by US Navy? Here’s what we know</a>&nbsp;The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman, connects the Gulf to the Arabian Sea and remains one of the most strategically important maritime routes in the world. Its name is widely believed to be linked to “Ahura Mazda”, the supreme deity in Zoroastrianism, meaning “Wise Lord”, although alternative theories suggest Persian or Greek linguistic roots. Historically, the medieval Kingdom of Hormuz controlled trade routes in the region.&nbsp;2. Shahed &nbsp;Shahed drones, used extensively by Iran during the conflict, are low-cost loitering munitions often described as kamikaze drones. They are typically deployed in large numbers to overwhelm air defences. The word “Shahed”, of Arabic origin, means “witness”, and is also used in Persian with the same meaning.&nbsp;3. Tomahawk &nbsp;The term “tomahawk” originally referred to a hand-held axe used by Indigenous peoples of North America. According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word comes from an Algonquian language, meaning “a cutting tool”, reflecting its historical use before being adopted in modern military terminology.&nbsp;4. Minab &nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-america-is-not-serious-at-all-iran-will-not-attend-second-round-of-peace-talks-after-aggression-against-iranian-vessel-1776679047911">‘America is not serious at all’: Iran will not attend second round of peace talks after ‘aggression’ against Iranian vessel</a>&nbsp;Minab is known for its fertile agricultural landscape and is often described as an oasis. Located near the Strait of Hormuz, it is noted for citrus fruits and dates. The name is commonly believed to derive from Persian elements meaning “clear water”, though alternative theories link it to historical fortifications referenced in Encyclopaedia Iranica.&nbsp;5. Bab al-Mandeb &nbsp;The Bab al-Mandeb, meaning “Gate of Tears”, connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and serves as a critical passage for global trade between Asia and Europe via the Suez Canal. Since the start of the war, Iran-aligned Houthi forces in Yemen have threatened to disrupt shipping through the strait, underlining its strategic importance.&nbsp;6. Epic Fury &nbsp;“Operation Epic Fury” is the codename used by Washington for its joint military campaign with Tel Aviv against Iran, launched on February 28. The term combines the Greek-derived “epic”, meaning a grand or heroic story, with “fury”, from Latin, meaning rage. Together, it conveys the idea of “heroic rage” or large-scale force, as reflected in official White House statements.&nbsp;7. Ayatollah “Ayatollah” is a high-ranking title in Shia Islam, granted to senior clerics recognised for their expertise in theology and jurisprudence. Derived from Arabic, the term means “Sign of God”, combining “ayah” meaning sign and “Allah” meaning God.&nbsp;8. Kharg Kharg Island is Iran’s main oil export hub in the Gulf and has been described as a restricted or “forbidden” island due to its strategic importance. The origin of its name is uncertain, though some interpretations suggest links to older Iranian languages referring to heat or climate.&nbsp;9. Kafir The word “kafir” gained attention during the conflict after US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth was seen with an Arabic tattoo. Often translated as “non-believer”, the term more literally means “one who conceals the truth”, derived from the Arabic root k-f-r, meaning to cover or hide. The word appears frequently in the Quran in various forms.&nbsp;10. Khatam al-Anbiya “Khatam al-Anbiya”, the name of the central headquarters of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, translates to “Seal of the Prophets”. The phrase originates from the Quran and refers to the Prophet Muhammad. The term combines “khatam”, meaning seal, and “al-anbiya”, meaning prophets. According to Iranian officials, including spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari, the name reflects religious symbolism embedded in the country’s military structure.

As the conflict enters its second month, ten key terms - ranging from strategic chokepoints like Hormuz to religious titles and military codenames - define the historical, linguistic, and political landscape of the war.

As the war involving the US, Israel and Iran enters its second month, the language surrounding the conflict has taken on increasing significance, with several commonly used terms carrying deep historical, religious and political meanings. The fighting has killed thousands and disrupted global energy flows, with tensions centred on the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint through which around 20 per cent of the world’s oil supply normally passes. According to analysts, restrictions and threats of closure in the strait have amplified its importance in global discourse. Here are ten key terms shaping how the war is being described. Hormuz Also read: What will happen to the Iranian ship seized by US Navy? Here’s what we know The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman, connects the Gulf to the Arabian Sea and remains one of the most strategically important maritime routes in the world. Its name is widely believed to be linked to “Ahura Mazda”, the supreme deity in Zoroastrianism, meaning “Wise Lord”, although alternative theories suggest Persian or Greek linguistic roots. Historically, the medieval Kingdom of Hormuz controlled trade routes in the region. 2. Shahed Shahed drones, used extensively by Iran during the conflict, are low-cost loitering munitions often described as kamikaze drones. They are typically deployed in large numbers to overwhelm air defences. The word “Shahed”, of Arabic origin, means “witness”, and is also used in Persian with the same meaning. 3. Tomahawk The term “tomahawk” originally referred to a hand-held axe used by Indigenous peoples of North America. According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word comes from an Algonquian language, meaning “a cutting tool”, reflecting its historical use before being adopted in modern military terminology. 4. Minab Also read: ‘America is not serious at all’: Iran will not attend second round of peace talks after ‘aggression’ against Iranian vessel Minab is known for its fertile agricultural landscape and is often described as an oasis. Located near the Strait of Hormuz, it is noted for citrus fruits and dates. The name is commonly believed to derive from Persian elements meaning “clear water”, though alternative theories link it to historical fortifications referenced in Encyclopaedia Iranica. 5. Bab al-Mandeb The Bab al-Mandeb, meaning “Gate of Tears”, connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and serves as a critical passage for global trade between Asia and Europe via the Suez Canal. Since the start of the war, Iran-aligned Houthi forces in Yemen have threatened to disrupt shipping through the strait, underlining its strategic importance. 6. Epic Fury “Operation Epic Fury” is the codename used by Washington for its joint military campaign with Tel Aviv against Iran, launched on February 28. The term combines the Greek-derived “epic”, meaning a grand or heroic story, with “fury”, from Latin, meaning rage. Together, it conveys the idea of “heroic rage” or large-scale force, as reflected in official White House statements. 7. Ayatollah “Ayatollah” is a high-ranking title in Shia Islam, granted to senior clerics recognised for their expertise in theology and jurisprudence. Derived from Arabic, the term means “Sign of God”, combining “ayah” meaning sign and “Allah” meaning God. 8. Kharg Kharg Island is Iran’s main oil export hub in the Gulf and has been described as a restricted or “forbidden” island due to its strategic importance. The origin of its name is uncertain, though some interpretations suggest links to older Iranian languages referring to heat or climate. 9. Kafir The word “kafir” gained attention during the conflict after US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth was seen with an Arabic tattoo. Often translated as “non-believer”, the term more literally means “one who conceals the truth”, derived from the Arabic root k-f-r, meaning to cover or hide. The word appears frequently in the Quran in various forms. 10. Khatam al-Anbiya “Khatam al-Anbiya”, the name of the central headquarters of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, translates to “Seal of the Prophets”. The phrase originates from the Quran and refers to the Prophet Muhammad. The term combines “khatam”, meaning seal, and “al-anbiya”, meaning prophets. According to Iranian officials, including spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari, the name reflects religious symbolism embedded in the country’s military structure.

As the conflict enters its second month, ten key terms - ranging from strategic chokepoints like Hormuz to religious titles and military codenames - define the historical, linguistic, and political landscape of the war.

US-Iran-Israel war: These are 10 frequently used words and their meanings

As the peace talks between the US and Iran failed in Islamabad, Pakistan, US President Donald trump was busy watching an UFC fight in Miami, Florida on Saturday (Apr 11). Along with him were US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, and UFC chief Dana White as well as several members of Trump family. Trump attended the co-main event of the night in which Brazil's Paulo Costa defeated Azamat Murzakanov at the Kaseya Center. The US president entered the arena shortly after 9 PM as his deputy, Vice-president JD Vance, told reporters that the peace talks with Iran have failed. The Democrats called out Trump for his 'priorities' as the world suffers from US-Iran war started on Feb 28.<h2>Democrats call out Trump for attending UFC fight as Iran peace talks fail</h2>"The Secretary of State skipped the Iran negotiations in Pakistan to attend a UFC fight. So did the Special Envoy for South and Central Asia, while Pakistan has no confirmed U.S. ambassador," the House Democrats Foreign Affairs Committee wrote on social media platform X. "Tens of thousands of Americans are in harm’s way. Gas prices are rising. This is not serious leadership. It’s amateur hour."Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-i-don-t-want-a-pope-who-criticises-president-of-us-trump-targets-pope-leo-over-his-iran-war-remark-1776051554636">'Weak on crime, terrible on foreign policy': Trump targets Pope Leo</a>Representing the US in the talks were Jared Kushner, Trump's daughter Ivanka's husband and VP Vance. Speaking to media after the failed talks, Vance said: "We need to see an affirmative commitment that [Iran] will not seek a nuclear weapon, and they will not seek the tools that would enable them to quickly achieve a nuclear weapon. That is the core goal of the president of the United States, and that’s what we’ve tried to achieve through these negotiations."<h2>Trump stays on to support to UFC</h2>After Costa beat Murzakanov, the Brazilian stepped out of the octagon to shake hands with Trump and the US president told the fighter: "You’re a beautiful guy … You could be a model, you look so good. You’re too good looking to be a fighter, you are some fighter."Trump also watched another fight, the bloody bout between Josh Hokit and Curtis Blaydes. UFC chief Dana White, a longtime supporter of Trump, has also added a Hokit fight to June's card at the US President's insistence. Trump, a known support of UFC, has announced a fight event in June at the White House to mark the 250th anniversary of the US, set to take place on 14th June - also Trump's 80th birthday.

Trump attended the UFC co-main event of Saturday night in which Brazil's Paulo Costa defeated Azamat Murzakanov at the Kaseya Center. The US president entered the arena shortly after 9 PM as his deputy, Vice-president JD Vance, told reporters that the peace talks with Iran have failed.

As the peace talks between the US and Iran failed in Islamabad, Pakistan, US President Donald trump was busy watching an UFC fight in Miami, Florida on Saturday (Apr 11). Along with him were US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, and UFC chief Dana White as well as several members of Trump family. Trump attended the co-main event of the night in which Brazil's Paulo Costa defeated Azamat Murzakanov at the Kaseya Center. The US president entered the arena shortly after 9 PM as his deputy, Vice-president JD Vance, told reporters that the peace talks with Iran have failed. The Democrats called out Trump for his 'priorities' as the world suffers from US-Iran war started on Feb 28. Democrats call out Trump for attending UFC fight as Iran peace talks fail "The Secretary of State skipped the Iran negotiations in Pakistan to attend a UFC fight. So did the Special Envoy for South and Central Asia, while Pakistan has no confirmed U.S. ambassador," the House Democrats Foreign Affairs Committee wrote on social media platform X. "Tens of thousands of Americans are in harm’s way. Gas prices are rising. This is not serious leadership. It’s amateur hour." Also Read - 'Weak on crime, terrible on foreign policy': Trump targets Pope Leo Representing the US in the talks were Jared Kushner, Trump's daughter Ivanka's husband and VP Vance. Speaking to media after the failed talks, Vance said: "We need to see an affirmative commitment that [Iran] will not seek a nuclear weapon, and they will not seek the tools that would enable them to quickly achieve a nuclear weapon. That is the core goal of the president of the United States, and that’s what we’ve tried to achieve through these negotiations." Trump stays on to support to UFC After Costa beat Murzakanov, the Brazilian stepped out of the octagon to shake hands with Trump and the US president told the fighter: "You’re a beautiful guy … You could be a model, you look so good. You’re too good looking to be a fighter, you are some fighter." Trump also watched another fight, the bloody bout between Josh Hokit and Curtis Blaydes. UFC chief Dana White, a longtime supporter of Trump, has also added a Hokit fight to June's card at the US President's insistence. Trump, a known support of UFC, has announced a fight event in June at the White House to mark the 250th anniversary of the US, set to take place on 14th June - also Trump's 80th birthday.

Trump attended the UFC co-main event of Saturday night in which Brazil's Paulo Costa defeated Azamat Murzakanov at the Kaseya Center. The US president entered the arena shortly after 9 PM as his deputy, Vice-president JD Vance, told reporters that the peace talks with Iran have failed.

'It is amateur hour': Donald Trump watches UFC fight with Marco Rubio as US-Iran peace talks fail in Pakistan

The war between the US and Iran has entered an even more volatile phase, marked by sharp rhetoric and escalating political stakes. A fresh exchange of words between US President Donald Trump and Iran’s top security official Ali Larijani illustrates just how tense the situation has become following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.&nbsp;Khamenei was killed on February 28, the first day of the ongoing conflict between Iran and the US–Israel alliance. His death marked a historic moment for the Islamic Republic, triggering political upheaval within the country and igniting calls for revenge from its leadership. Among the loudest voices has been Larijani, who vowed that Iran would “relentlessly avenge the blood of our Leader and our people.” In a message posted on social media platform X, he warned that Trump would “pay the price” for the strikes that killed Khamenei.&nbsp;“Trump got a taste of what happened in Venezuela and liked it, thinking he could quickly do the same in Iran. Now he’s stuck,” Larijani said. He added, “We will not leave him alone. He must pay the price for what he did. He killed our leader and martyred more than 1,000 of our people. This is not a simple matter.”&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-today-iran-will-be-hit-very-hard-trump-warns-says-pezeshkian-apologised-because-tehran-s-being-beaten-to-hell-1772884575098">‘Today, Iran will be hit very hard’: Trump warns, says Pezeshkian apologised because Tehran’s ‘being beaten to HELL’</a><h2>What did Trump say in response?</h2>Trump’s response was characteristically blunt. Speaking to CBS News, the US president dismissed Larijani’s warning, saying he “could not care less.” He added that he did not even know who Larijani was and claimed the Iranian official had “already been defeated.” Trump also brushed aside criticism from other Iranian leaders, calling their statements weak and insisting that Tehran’s influence in the region was fading.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-you-re-going-to-work-your-a-off-uber-ceo-on-work-life-balance-expects-employees-to-reply-emails-on-weekends-1772896459712">‘You’re going to work your a** off’: Uber CEO on work-life balance, expects employees to reply emails on weekends</a>&nbsp;

Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani vowed revenge for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s killing in US-Israeli strikes, warning Donald Trump would “pay the price.” Trump dismissed the threat, saying he “could not care less.”

The war between the US and Iran has entered an even more volatile phase, marked by sharp rhetoric and escalating political stakes. A fresh exchange of words between US President Donald Trump and Iran’s top security official Ali Larijani illustrates just how tense the situation has become following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Khamenei was killed on February 28, the first day of the ongoing conflict between Iran and the US–Israel alliance. His death marked a historic moment for the Islamic Republic, triggering political upheaval within the country and igniting calls for revenge from its leadership. Among the loudest voices has been Larijani, who vowed that Iran would “relentlessly avenge the blood of our Leader and our people.” In a message posted on social media platform X, he warned that Trump would “pay the price” for the strikes that killed Khamenei. “Trump got a taste of what happened in Venezuela and liked it, thinking he could quickly do the same in Iran. Now he’s stuck,” Larijani said. He added, “We will not leave him alone. He must pay the price for what he did. He killed our leader and martyred more than 1,000 of our people. This is not a simple matter.” Also read: ‘Today, Iran will be hit very hard’: Trump warns, says Pezeshkian apologised because Tehran’s ‘being beaten to HELL’ What did Trump say in response? Trump’s response was characteristically blunt. Speaking to CBS News, the US president dismissed Larijani’s warning, saying he “could not care less.” He added that he did not even know who Larijani was and claimed the Iranian official had “already been defeated.” Trump also brushed aside criticism from other Iranian leaders, calling their statements weak and insisting that Tehran’s influence in the region was fading. Also read: ‘You’re going to work your a** off’: Uber CEO on work-life balance, expects employees to reply emails on weekends

Iran’s security chief, Ali Larijani, vowed revenge for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s killing in US-Israeli strikes, warning Donald Trump would “pay the price.” Trump dismissed the threat, saying he “could not care less.”

'Could not care less': Trump replies to Khamenei’s top advisor's threat amid Iran war

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday (Mar 7) aboard Air Force One that he did not want the Kurds to launch an offensive against Iran. This come in sharp contrast with his statement to Reuters news agency on Thursday when he said that he would be "all for" an offensive by Iranian Kurdish fighters in support of the US-Israeli war against the Islamic republic. “We're not looking to the Kurds going in. We're very friendly with the Kurds, as you know, but we don't want to make the war any more complex than it already is,” he said.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Trump says we DO NOT seek supporting the Kurds in performing any kind of ground invasion in to Iran: &quot;We&#39;re not looking to the Kurds going in.&quot; &quot;We&#39;re very friendly with the Kurds, as you know, but we don&#39;t want to make the war any more complex than it already is.&quot; &quot;They&#39;re… <a href="https://t.co/hqbmeEwojx">pic.twitter.com/hqbmeEwojx</a>&mdash; Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) <a href="https://twitter.com/GuntherEagleman/status/2030436437108113565?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-s-top-leadership-denies-reports-of-rift-after-pezeshkian-s-sorry-to-gulf-nations-1772946361827">Iran's top leadership denies reports of rift after Pezeshkian's 'sorry' to Gulf nations</a><h2>What reports claimed about Kurdish involvement?</h2>The Jerusalem Post, earlier this week, reported that hundreds of Kurdish fighters have begun ground activity in areas near the Iraq-Iran border. However, an official in the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) of Iraq said that the region rejects the use of its territory to launch attacks against neighboring countries, while emphasizing that decisions regarding such matters fall under the authority of the federal government in Baghdad. The Deputy Chief of Staff of Iraqi Kurdistan, Aziz Ahmad has called the reports fake and said, “Not a single Iraqi Kurd has crossed the border.” Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-we-don-t-need-them-any-longer-but-we-will-remember-trump-tells-starmer-as-us-using-uk-bases-for-defensive-iran-operations-1772918512010">'We don’t need them any longer, but we will remember': Trump tells Starmer as US using UK bases for 'defensive' Iran operations</a><h2>What was the conversation between Iran FM and Kurdish leader?</h2>Iraqi Kurdish leader and Iranian foreign minister spoke after reports of CIA arming Iranian Kurds. "During the conversation, Bafel Talabani expressed his condolences and sympathy over the martyrdom of the Supreme Leader (Ayatollah Ali Khamenei) and all those killed in the American-Zionist crime," the ministry said in a statement. The statement added that Araghchi also referred to "terrorist movements" along the shared border and stressed the need to strengthen cooperation to safeguard border security in line with bilateral security understandings.<h2>CIA arming Iranian Kurds?</h2>An Axios report claimed that several Kurdish Iranian factions are preparing for a possible ground offensive against Iran and the Mossad and the CIA are backing them, two U.S. and Israeli officials and a third source with knowledge said., according to U.S. and Israeli officials and a senior official in one of the factions. "The war started with a kinetic phase by the U.S. and Israeli militaries, but as the war continues there will be other efforts by the Mossad and the CIA," an Israeli official said. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Congress in a closed-door briefing on Tuesday: "We're not arming the Kurds. But you never know with the Israelis."

Trump said he does not want Kurdish forces launching an offensive against Iran, reversing earlier remarks supporting such a move. Reports claimed Kurdish fighters were active near the Iran–Iraq border and could receive outside backing, but Iraqi Kurdistan officials denied any cross-border attacks.

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday (Mar 7) aboard Air Force One that he did not want the Kurds to launch an offensive against Iran. This come in sharp contrast with his statement to Reuters news agency on Thursday when he said that he would be "all for" an offensive by Iranian Kurdish fighters in support of the US-Israeli war against the Islamic republic. “We're not looking to the Kurds going in. We're very friendly with the Kurds, as you know, but we don't want to make the war any more complex than it already is,” he said.

Trump said he does not want Kurdish forces launching an offensive against Iran, reversing earlier remarks supporting such a move. Reports claimed Kurdish fighters were active near the Iran–Iraq border and could receive outside backing, but Iraqi Kurdistan officials denied&nbsp;

'We're very friendly with...': Trump's Kurdish U-turn amid raging war with Iran

The weapon that ultimately killed the Supreme Leader wasn't even born as an offensive weapon. The Blue Sparrow was originally designed by Rafael Advanced Defence Systems as a "dummy" target to mimic Soviet-era Scud missiles used during the Gulf War.



The weapon that ultimately killed the Supreme Leader wasn't even born as an offensive weapon. The Blue Sparrow was originally designed by Rafael Advanced Defence Systems as a "dummy" target to mimic Soviet-era Scud missiles used during the Gulf War.&nbsp;

'Above ground trap': How Israel hacked Iran to time the 'Blue Sparrow' missile strike

Amid raging war in West Asia, Norwegian police on Sunday (Mar 8) reported an explosion near the US embassy in the capital Oslo. No &nbsp;casualties has been reported in the incident so far and it is unclear if the blast is related to the conflict in West Asia. According to AFP, &nbsp;the explosion occurred around 1 am local time (0000 GMT). Oslo Police Department said in a statement that they had no information about the blast's cause or who was behind it. The police also said it was in contact with the embassy about the incident and that a large number of resources were on site.US embassies are on high alert amid attack from Iran and several embassies in West Asian countries have been shut with the US urging all Americans to leave the region as soon as possible.&nbsp;Oslo police said in a statement, "investigators were examining the scene, while dogs, drones, and helicopters were involved in the search for one or more potential perpetrators. Police view such incidents in public spaces as very serious, and are investigating the case with substantial resources and high priority.” Police commander Michael Dellemyr told TV2 police, “We're not connecting it to the conflict. It's far too early&nbsp;for that.” He also said that there was no indication as yet that the incident at the embassy in Oslo was connected to the conflict.&nbsp;Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

An explosion occurred near the US embassy in Oslo early Sunday, Norwegian police said, adding there were no casualties. Authorities are investigating the cause of the blast and have deployed significant resources at the site

Amid raging war in West Asia, Norwegian police on Sunday (Mar 8) reported an explosion near the US embassy in the capital Oslo. No casualties has been reported in the incident so far and it is unclear if the blast is related to the conflict in West Asia. According to AFP, the explosion occurred around 1 am local time (0000 GMT). Oslo Police Department said in a statement that they had no information about the blast's cause or who was behind it. The police also said it was in contact with the embassy about the incident and that a large number of resources were on site. US embassies are on high alert amid attack from Iran and several embassies in West Asian countries have been shut with the US urging all Americans to leave the region as soon as possible. Oslo police said in a statement, "investigators were examining the scene, while dogs, drones, and helicopters were involved in the search for one or more potential perpetrators. Police view such incidents in public spaces as very serious, and are investigating the case with substantial resources and high priority.” Police commander Michael Dellemyr told TV2 police, “We're not connecting it to the conflict. It's far too early for that.” He also said that there was no indication as yet that the incident at the embassy in Oslo was connected to the conflict. Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

An explosion occurred near the US embassy in Oslo early Sunday, Norwegian police said, adding there were no casualties. Authorities are investigating the cause of the blast and have deployed significant resources at the site

Explosion near US embassy in Norway's Oslo, no clarity on links with Iran war

If the Blue Sparrow can completely bypass all radar and crack a leadership compound in the capital in broad daylight, it means Israel and the U.S. now have a tested, undeniable method for obliterating Iran's deeply buried nuclear enrichment sites at Fordow and Natanz.

If the Blue Sparrow can completely bypass all radar and crack a leadership compound in the capital in broad daylight, it means Israel and the U.S. now have a tested, undeniable method for obliterating Iran's deeply buried nuclear enrichment sites at Fordow and Natanz.

Iran War: Understanding the terrifying 'mach 5' physics of Blue Sparrow missile that killed Ali Khamenei

The defence partnership is accelerating rapidly. During Prime Minister Modi's recent diplomatic engagements with Tel Aviv in early 2026, leaked intelligence reports indicate Israel offered India an even larger derivative of the Sparrow family: the Golden Horizon. 

The defence partnership is accelerating rapidly. During Prime Minister Modi's recent diplomatic engagements with Tel Aviv in early 2026, leaked intelligence reports indicate Israel offered India an even larger derivative of the Sparrow family: the Golden Horizon.&nbsp;

Iran War: How India built its own version of Israel's missile from space 'Blue Sparrow'

A massive fire broke out at Mehrabad International Airport in western Tehran after a series of strikes as Israel and the US continue their operation against Iran. This came after the Israeli forces said that they were carrying out an “extensive” wave of strikes against regime targets in the Iranian capital. A burning plane and large plumes of smoke were visible at the busiest airport in the Islamic Republic in videos shared by eyewitnesses on social media.Shortly before, the Israeli military said that it was launching a “broad-scale new wave of strikes” in the country. It was not clear which parts of the airport were bombed in the fresh wave of attack. Tehran’s airport was also targeted on March 4, with Israel saying that the attack dismantled defence and detection systems that were a threat to the Israeli Air Force.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Mehrabad International Airport in Iran&#39;s capital, Tehran, is burning tonight after a series of US/Israeli airstrikes. Aircraft are reportedly on fire. <a href="https://t.co/sR4fr3VY7c">pic.twitter.com/sR4fr3VY7c</a>&mdash; OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) <a href="https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/2030078114395484277?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Footage of extensive US/Israeli airstrikes hitting Mehrabad International Airport in Iran&#39;s capital, Tehran, tonight. <a href="https://t.co/Vrpw4Pbs7i">pic.twitter.com/Vrpw4Pbs7i</a>&mdash; OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) <a href="https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/2030069030636171358?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">NOW: Mehrabad International Airport in western Tehran is on fire after strikes by Israel/U.S. <a href="https://t.co/HS7cDdb0it">pic.twitter.com/HS7cDdb0it</a>&mdash; Clash Report (@clashreport) <a href="https://twitter.com/clashreport/status/2030059738424046043?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Tehran tonight, Mehrabad Airport area. Via <a href="https://twitter.com/mamlekate?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mamlekate</a> <a href="https://t.co/0MxIztEecB">pic.twitter.com/0MxIztEecB</a>&mdash; Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) <a href="https://twitter.com/visegrad24/status/2030058863706173595?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

This comes as the conflict widens in West Asia after the US and Israeli military launched strikes on Iran on February 28, killing Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei and several other top Iranian officials. The operation was named ‘Epic Fury’ by the US and ‘Lion’s Roar’ by Israel. The attacks came amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran and ongoing talks over Iran’s nuclear program. In retaliation, Iran launched attacks on Israel and US military bases in the region, including in Bahrain, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan.In a latest warning to Iran, US President Donald Trump on Friday (March 6) said there will be ‘no deal’ with Iran unless it agrees to ‘unconditional surrender’, hardening his stance as tensions escalate. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote, “There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER! After that, and the selection of a GREAT &amp; ACCEPTABLE Leader(s), we, and many of our wonderful and very brave allies and partners, will work tirelessly to bring Iran back from the brink of destruction, making it economically bigger, better, and stronger than ever before.”Khamenei’s death was confirmed on March 1, with Iran vowing strong revenge over the killing of its supreme leader and warning that US bases in the region would be treated as American territory. Gulf states have cautioned against further escalation, even as Washington and Tel Aviv signal that operations could continue for weeks.As the conflict escalates, Iran-aligned groups have joined the fight. International leaders have called for de-escalation as some condemned the US-led action, while most NATO allies voiced support for Washington.Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

A massive fire erupted at Tehran’s Mehrabad International Airport after a wave of strikes during the ongoing conflict. Eyewitness videos showed a burning aircraft and thick smoke rising from Iran’s busiest airport.

A massive fire broke out at Mehrabad International Airport in western Tehran after a series of strikes as Israel and the US continue their operation against Iran. This came after the Israeli forces said that they were carrying out an “extensive” wave of strikes against regime targets in the Iranian capital. A burning plane and large plumes of smoke were visible at the busiest airport in the Islamic Republic in videos shared by eyewitnesses on social media. Shortly before, the Israeli military said that it was launching a “broad-scale new wave of strikes” in the country. It was not clear which parts of the airport were bombed in the fresh wave of attack. Tehran’s airport was also targeted on March 4, with Israel saying that the attack dismantled defence and detection systems that were a threat to the Israeli Air Force.

A massive fire erupted at Tehran’s Mehrabad International Airport after a wave of strikes during the ongoing conflict. Eyewitness videos showed a burning aircraft and thick smoke rising from Iran’s busiest airport.

VIDEO | Massive fire at Tehran’s airport after Israel announces fresh strikes

The conflict in West Asia has reached its seventh day. US and Israeli officers invoked the 'Book of Revelation' to motivate the troops and frame the war on Iran as “divine battle” to accelerate towards Armageddon or bring about the biblical end of times. An unnamed non-commissioned commander wrote to the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) that the war briefing included citations out of the Book of Revelation and the return of Jesus Christ. The Foundation has claimed that it has received more than 110 such complaints from troops across the US armed forces. The complainant alleges that the commander told the officers President Donald Trump had been “anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to cause Armageddon and mark his return to Earth.”&nbsp;

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&nbsp;Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu compared Iran to an ancient biblical enemy, the Amalekites from the Torah. The “Amalek” are known in Jewish tradition as representing “pure evil”. “We read in this week’s Torah portion, ‘Remember what Amalek did to you.’ We remember - and we act.”&nbsp;US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Iran is run by a lunatic, religious fanatic regime, and they cannot be allowed to have a nuclear weapon. US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth said, "Crazy regimes like Iran, hell-bent on prophetic Islamic delusions, cannot have nuclear weapons.” Referring to the Shia eschatology, where the rise of the religious leaders comes close to the end of times.Before the return of the Mahdi, the hidden twelfth Imam and the restoration of justice

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">A video shows a group of pastors praying over President Donald Trump in the Oval Office <a href="https://t.co/ACG6Pzs002">pic.twitter.com/ACG6Pzs002</a>&mdash; Reuters (@Reuters) <a href="https://twitter.com/Reuters/status/2029878407878656456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth talking in 2018 about the &#39;miracle&#39; of reconstructing the 3rd Temple of Solomon, the place where the Antichrist will be worshiped according to our Orthodox Christian faith. <a href="https://t.co/SkWcBHHSk6">pic.twitter.com/SkWcBHHSk6</a>&mdash; Orthodox Christian (@orthodox_33ad) <a href="https://twitter.com/orthodox_33ad/status/2028976990007476265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/holi-clash-uttam-nagar-delhi-tarun-kumar-killed-water-balloon-fight-1772791870825">Holi clash in Delhi: 26-year-old Tarun Kumar killed after water balloon altercation</a>The Third Temple of Solomon is to be built where the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque stand. It is considered to be the third-holiest place for Muslims on Earth. According to Muslim theology, it is the place where the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven. According to Jewish eschatology, throughout almost 1,900 years of exile, the Jewish people yearned to return to Israel, build the Third Temple in Jerusalem and restore the Temple service. The orthodox Jews believe that the Mosque has to be desecrated for the reconstruction of the Third Temple. While some argue that people are not build it untill the Messiah comes. The same is the case for orthodox Muslims who believe that the whole compound is the Al-Aqsa Mosque or Haram al-Sharif. Any desecration of this will create a volatile situation and a direct confrontation between the Islamic world and the Jewish world. This is one of the most sensitive issues in modern history.&nbsp;Iran has long been a Shia religious nation and has been struggling for religious autonomy in the region. Some hardline factions within the regime believe that regional chaos and the destruction of enemies are necessary to trigger the return of the Mahdi. The underlying rhetoric of the war draws on competing apocalyptic traditions and points towards civilisational or theological confrontations.&nbsp;

US and Israeli leaders invoke biblical and religious narratives amid the Iran conflict, referencing Armageddon, Amalek and Shia end-times beliefs.

The conflict in West Asia has reached its seventh day. US and Israeli officers invoked the 'Book of Revelation' to motivate the troops and frame the war on Iran as “divine battle” to accelerate towards Armageddon or bring about the biblical end of times. An unnamed non-commissioned commander wrote to the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) that the war briefing included citations out of the Book of Revelation and the return of Jesus Christ. The Foundation has claimed that it has received more than 110 such complaints from troops across the US armed forces. The complainant alleges that the commander told the officers President Donald Trump had been “anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to cause Armageddon and mark his return to Earth.”

US and Israeli leaders invoke biblical and religious narratives amid the Iran conflict, referencing Armageddon, Amalek and Shia end-times beliefs.

Is the US-Iran war a religious war? US troops were briefed of Armageddon, return of Jesus

Israel used Blue Sparrow missiles, among others, to kill Khamenei. These missiles are notorious for going to space before taking a shot at their target. This manoeuvre makes it hard for the enemy to intercept them. Here is all you need to know about Blue Sparrow missiles. 

Israel used Blue Sparrow missiles, among others, to kill Khamenei. These missiles are notorious for going to space before taking a shot at their target. This manoeuvre makes it hard for the enemy to intercept them. Here is all you need to know about Blue Sparrow missiles.&nbsp;

Missiles from space killed Khamenei - What are Blue Sparrow missiles?

US President Donald Trump on Thursday (Mar 5) indicated that he wanted to start from scratch in Iran and "clean out" the leadership. He hinted that he had some names in mind for a "good leader" who could take over from the Iranian leadership. Who does the POTUS want to lead Tehran? Here's what we know.<h2>Step 1: "clean out everything"</h2>In a telephonic interview with NBC News, Trump revealed US plans for Iran and said, "We want to go in and clean out everything". The US president said that they "don’t want someone who would rebuild over a 10-year period".He described the leader as "good" and said that they "have some people who I think would do a good job".Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/america-s-deadliest-war-crime-investigation-finds-us-likely-responsible-for-devastating-school-strike-that-killed-150-iranian-girls-1772766411530">US investigation admits America may be responsible for devastating school strike that killed over 150 Iranian girls</a><h2>But who does Trump want in power in Iran?</h2>Trump coyly refused to take any names but said that he was making sure that the people he had in mind survive the ongoing war between US-Israel and Iran. "We are watching them, yeah," he said.Previously, he told NBC that while he doesn't know who would lead Iran next, "but at some point they’ll be calling me to ask who I’d like".A power vacuum in IranIran faces a power vacuum since the death of its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint strike by Israel and the US. Khamenei's assassination was part of the coordinated airstrikes by Washington and Tel Aviv, with Israel calling the campaign Operation Lion’s Roar and Washington naming it Operation Epic Fury.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-no-matter-where-he-hides-israeli-defence-minister-threatens-to-assassinate-any-successor-to-iran-s-khamenei-new-supreme-leader-mojtaba-khamenei-1772613368778">'No matter where he hides': Israeli Defence Minister threatens to 'assassinate' any successor to Iran's Khamenei</a>Khamenei's death was confirmed on March 1. The joint strikes which took him out also killed several senior Iranian figures.Recent reports suggested that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's son, Mojtaba Khamenei, has been elected as the next Supreme Leader by Iran's Assembly of Experts. However, Iran on Mar 4 rubbished the reports. In a post shared via the Consulate General in Mumbai X account, Iran said that the "reports circulating on media regarding potential candidates for leadership selected by Iran's Assembly of Experts have no official source and are officially denied."

Is the US planning a regime change in Iran after the war? Donald Trump says he wants to “clean out” Iran’s leadership and hinted he already has people in mind to lead the country after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed. But who could replace him? Scroll down to read more.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday (Mar 5) indicated that he wanted to start from scratch in Iran and "clean out" the leadership. He hinted that he had some names in mind for a "good leader" who could take over from the Iranian leadership. Who does the POTUS want to lead Tehran? Here's what we know. Step 1: "clean out everything" In a telephonic interview with NBC News, Trump revealed US plans for Iran and said, "We want to go in and clean out everything". The US president said that they "don’t want someone who would rebuild over a 10-year period". He described the leader as "good" and said that they "have some people who I think would do a good job". Also read | US investigation admits America may be responsible for devastating school strike that killed over 150 Iranian girls But who does Trump want in power in Iran? Trump coyly refused to take any names but said that he was making sure that the people he had in mind survive the ongoing war between US-Israel and Iran. "We are watching them, yeah," he said. Previously, he told NBC that while he doesn't know who would lead Iran next, "but at some point they’ll be calling me to ask who I’d like". A power vacuum in Iran Iran faces a power vacuum since the death of its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint strike by Israel and the US. Khamenei's assassination was part of the coordinated airstrikes by Washington and Tel Aviv, with Israel calling the campaign Operation Lion’s Roar and Washington naming it Operation Epic Fury. Also read | 'No matter where he hides': Israeli Defence Minister threatens to 'assassinate' any successor to Iran's Khamenei Khamenei's death was confirmed on March 1. The joint strikes which took him out also killed several senior Iranian figures. Recent reports suggested that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's son, Mojtaba Khamenei, has been elected as the next Supreme Leader by Iran's Assembly of Experts. However, Iran on Mar 4 rubbished the reports. In a post shared via the Consulate General in Mumbai X account, Iran said that the "reports circulating on media regarding potential candidates for leadership selected by Iran's Assembly of Experts have no official source and are officially denied."

Is the US planning a regime change in Iran after the war? Donald Trump says he wants to “clean out” Iran’s leadership and hinted he already has people in mind to lead the country after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed. But who could replace him? Scroll down to read more.

'Clean out': Trump wants Iran’s leadership removed, says THIS is his Khamenei successor pick. Find out who!

Massive aviation disruptions caused by the conflict involving Iran, the US and Israel have led to more than 23,000 global flight cancellations and costs exceeding $1 billion, including fuel, rerouting and revenue impacts. Indian airlines that are heavily reliant on Gulf routes for passenger traffic have also been significantly affected. In the initial days of the conflict, India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had directed airlines to avoid airspace over Tehran, Tel Aviv, Beirut, Jeddah, Bahrain, Muscat, Baghdad, Amman, Kuwait, the UAE and Doha until early March, leading to widespread suspensions. Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation figures cite 1,221 Indian flights cancelled as of early March. Hundreds of flights are being impacted daily on major routes, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah in the UAE; Doha in Qatar; Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam in Saudi Arabia; Muscat in Oman; and Tel Aviv in Israel.<h2>How Indian airlines are coping with Gulf aviation disruptions</h2>Air India suspended all flights to and from the UAE (Dubai, Abu Dhabi), Saudi Arabia (Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam), Qatar (Doha) and Israel (Tel Aviv) initially until March 2–3, with extensions in phases to March 5. The flag carrier cancelled up to 125 flights on peak days. It is also operating limited repatriation or special flights from cities such as Dubai and Jeddah to bring stranded passengers home. The airline is offering free rescheduling or full refunds for bookings made on or before 28 February for travel up to 5 March. Some Europe routes, such as London and Amsterdam, are also affected or rerouted.The largest Indian carrier, IndiGo, has been the hardest hit, as it normally operates around 65 daily round trips on Gulf routes. The airline cancelled over 500 Middle East and select international flights from February 28 to March 3, reportedly up to 162 on March 3 alone. Services to the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia were suspended, and flexibility and waivers have been extended to March 7 for affected bookings.&nbsp;It is also operating some relief flights, including from Jeddah to Ahmedabad, for stranded Indians and on other routes. Routes from Indian cities to Doha, Dubai and Abu Dhabi are heavily impacted.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-strikes-israel-wion-speaks-to-indian-stuck-in-tel-aviv-major-airlines-halt-services-wion-1772283569270/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-strikes-israel-wion-speaks-to-indian-stuck-in-tel-aviv-major-airlines-halt-services-wion-1772283569270/embed</a>Air India Express suspended its entire Gulf schedule until around March 1, including services to Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Around 55 flights were cancelled, which is nearly half of its approximately 110 daily Gulf flights. It is also offering free rescheduling or full refunds for bookings made up to February 28 for travel up to March 5. At the time of writing, it has resumed some limited operations, for example to Muscat.SpiceJet has cancelled flights to the UAE and other Gulf hubs.Tens of thousands of passengers, many of them Indian workers in the Gulf, have been affected. Airport congestion was seen in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai, with over 250 international flights cancelled.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-shuts-its-air-space-several-airlines-cancel-flights-to-the-middle-east-1772271923845">Iran shuts its air space, several airlines cancel flights to the Middle East</a><h2>Global aviation chaos due to the Iran–Israel–US conflict</h2>When it comes to international operators, more than half of the 36,000 scheduled flights in the region have been affected, according to Cirium analytics. Revenue losses in the initial days could reach up to $2.6 billion.Airspace closures or restrictions have primarily affected Iran, Iraq, Israel and Jordan.Flight cancellations in Bahrain reached 97 per cent on some initial days of the conflict, while in Qatar they were as high as 86 per cent and in Kuwait 81 per cent. The United Arab Emirates saw cancellation rates of up to 81 per cent on some days, with major global aviation hubs such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi among the hardest hit.Partial restrictions were imposed on Saudi Arabia, Oman, Syria and Lebanon.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/-dubai-tel-aviv-all-closed-apocalyptic-flight-radar-shows-10-countries-bracing-for-armageddon-after-assassination-of-ali-khamenei-1772367667109">'Dubai, Tel Aviv all closed': Apocalyptic flight radar shows 10 countries bracing for armageddon after assassination of Ali Khamenei</a><h2>Major global airlines affected by disruptions</h2>The UAE’s Emirates has extended the full suspension of scheduled flights to and from Dubai through at least 7 March. It is mostly operating limited repatriation and cargo flights. Emirates is among the most affected airlines, with hundreds of daily cancellations, including at least 338 on one recent day.Qatar Airways has suspended services to and from Doha, extending the halt into early March, with high cancellation rates in Qatari airspace. Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways has suspended all scheduled commercial flights until at least 6 March, with only some repatriation flights operating.The UAE low-cost carrier flydubai has also been affected by suspensions, while smaller carriers such as Flynas have cancelled routes to affected hubs, including Dubai and Riyadh.United Airlines has cancelled US–Tel Aviv–Dubai routes, while Cathay Pacific from Hong Kong halted services to Dubai and Riyadh until 14 March.Air France has suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv, Beirut, Dubai and Riyadh through early March.British Airways has cancelled flights to Tel Aviv and Bahrain, and affected Gulf routes such as Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi for several days.Japan Airlines has suspended Tokyo–Doha routes through mid-March, and various European and Asian carriers have issued similar suspensions or waivers.

Global aviation has been hit hard by the Middle East conflict involving Iran, the US and Israel. Over 23,000 flights were cancelled worldwide. Indian airlines and Gulf routes face major suspensions and passenger chaos

Massive aviation disruptions caused by the conflict involving Iran, the US and Israel have led to more than 23,000 global flight cancellations and costs exceeding $1 billion, including fuel, rerouting and revenue impacts. Indian airlines that are heavily reliant on Gulf routes for passenger traffic have also been significantly affected. In the initial days of the conflict, India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had directed airlines to avoid airspace over Tehran, Tel Aviv, Beirut, Jeddah, Bahrain, Muscat, Baghdad, Amman, Kuwait, the UAE and Doha until early March, leading to widespread suspensions. Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation figures cite 1,221 Indian flights cancelled as of early March. Hundreds of flights are being impacted daily on major routes, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah in the UAE; Doha in Qatar; Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam in Saudi Arabia; Muscat in Oman; and Tel Aviv in Israel. How Indian airlines are coping with Gulf aviation disruptions Air India suspended all flights to and from the UAE (Dubai, Abu Dhabi), Saudi Arabia (Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam), Qatar (Doha) and Israel (Tel Aviv) initially until March 2–3, with extensions in phases to March 5. The flag carrier cancelled up to 125 flights on peak days. It is also operating limited repatriation or special flights from cities such as Dubai and Jeddah to bring stranded passengers home. The airline is offering free rescheduling or full refunds for bookings made on or before 28 February for travel up to 5 March. Some Europe routes, such as London and Amsterdam, are also affected or rerouted. The largest Indian carrier, IndiGo, has been the hardest hit, as it normally operates around 65 daily round trips on Gulf routes. The airline cancelled over 500 Middle East and select international flights from February 28 to March 3, reportedly up to 162 on March 3 alone. Services to the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia were suspended, and flexibility and waivers have been extended to March 7 for affected bookings. It is also operating some relief flights, including from Jeddah to Ahmedabad, for stranded Indians and on other routes. Routes from Indian cities to Doha, Dubai and Abu Dhabi are heavily impacted. https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-strikes-israel-wion-speaks-to-indian-stuck-in-tel-aviv-major-airlines-halt-services-wion-1772283569270/embed Air India Express suspended its entire Gulf schedule until around March 1, including services to Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Around 55 flights were cancelled, which is nearly half of its approximately 110 daily Gulf flights. It is also offering free rescheduling or full refunds for bookings made up to February 28 for travel up to March 5. At the time of writing, it has resumed some limited operations, for example to Muscat. SpiceJet has cancelled flights to the UAE and other Gulf hubs. Tens of thousands of passengers, many of them Indian workers in the Gulf, have been affected. Airport congestion was seen in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai, with over 250 international flights cancelled. Also read: Iran shuts its air space, several airlines cancel flights to the Middle East Global aviation chaos due to the Iran–Israel–US conflict When it comes to international operators, more than half of the 36,000 scheduled flights in the region have been affected, according to Cirium analytics. Revenue losses in the initial days could reach up to $2.6 billion. Airspace closures or restrictions have primarily affected Iran, Iraq, Israel and Jordan. Flight cancellations in Bahrain reached 97 per cent on some initial days of the conflict, while in Qatar they were as high as 86 per cent and in Kuwait 81 per cent. The United Arab Emirates saw cancellation rates of up to 81 per cent on some days, with major global aviation hubs such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi among the hardest hit. Partial restrictions were imposed on Saudi Arabia, Oman, Syria and Lebanon. Also read: 'Dubai, Tel Aviv all closed': Apocalyptic flight radar shows 10 countries bracing for armageddon after assassination of Ali Khamenei Major global airlines affected by disruptions The UAE’s Emirates has extended the full suspension of scheduled flights to and from Dubai through at least 7 March. It is mostly operating limited repatriation and cargo flights. Emirates is among the most affected airlines, with hundreds of daily cancellations, including at least 338 on one recent day. Qatar Airways has suspended services to and from Doha, extending the halt into early March, with high cancellation rates in Qatari airspace. Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways has suspended all scheduled commercial flights until at least 6 March, with only some repatriation flights operating. The UAE low-cost carrier flydubai has also been affected by suspensions, while smaller carriers such as Flynas have cancelled routes to affected hubs, including Dubai and Riyadh. United Airlines has cancelled US–Tel Aviv–Dubai routes, while Cathay Pacific from Hong Kong halted services to Dubai and Riyadh until 14 March. Air France has suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv, Beirut, Dubai and Riyadh through early March. British Airways has cancelled flights to Tel Aviv and Bahrain, and affected Gulf routes such as Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi for several days. Japan Airlines has suspended Tokyo–Doha routes through mid-March, and various European and Asian carriers have issued similar suspensions or waivers.

Global aviation has been hit hard by the Middle East conflict involving Iran, the US and Israel. Over 23,000 flights were cancelled worldwide. Indian airlines and Gulf routes face major suspensions and passenger chaos

23,000 flights cancelled, losses cross $1 billion: Indian airlines hit hard as Middle East conflict grounds global aviation

US President Donald Trump could lose a pivotal "race against time" with Iran if America runs out of interceptors first, warned a former top US military commander, even as he postulated that the US-Israel joint strikes on Iran may be because of the POTUS's hubris. Talking to The Times, James Alexander "Sandy" Winnefeld Jr. the former vice-chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said that the high-risk attacks on Tehran could be a "desperation move" ahead of the US midterm elections. Here's what he said.<h2>Trump saving himself from impeachment?</h2>Winnefeld told The Times that Operation Epic Fury could be Trump's attempt to boost his plummeting public approval ratings ahead of the crucial midterm elections. The former US military commander, who happens to be the most senior figure yet to speak out critically about the war, noted that if Trump loses control of Congress in the midterms, it could potentially lead to the POTUS's early ejection from the White House via impeachment.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-race-against-time-can-us-s-patriot-thaad-missiles-outlast-iran-s-shahed-drone-swarms-top-military-commander-warns-1772691101439">Can US' Patriot interceptors outlast Iran’ Shahed drones? Top Cmdr warns...</a>"This could be a bit of a desperation move in order to try to galvanise the American public behind him," he said. "It is entirely possible that if he loses the midterms, he will be a lame duck president, and he won’t be able to accomplish as much as he wants to on his agenda."Winnefeld stated that it was "also a real threat to him personally". He noted that there was "no question" that "there will be new investigations opened up, potentially a long, drawn-out path towards a third impeachment." This, he said, was the "last thing that Donald Trump wants".Calling the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran a "risk," the former US commander said, Trump was "taking risks with inflation if oil prices maintain a high level. He’s taking a chance with his own political base, who actually elected him on a platform of no foreign wars."Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/fact-check-is-united-states-using-indian-naval-bases-to-attack-iran-under-operation-epic-fury-1772684291682">Fact-check: Is United States using Indian naval bases to attack Iran?</a><h2>Trump could end the war, but only if...</h2>The former top US military commander said that the US-Israel-Iran war was bound to end sooner rather than later, with a "some kind of a nuclear deal to save face".According to him, one way that might happen is with mediators coming up with a way for Trump to "declare victory before he runs out of ammunition"."One way you could envision this ending is that Oman and Qatar, both of whom are close to the Iranians, step in and negotiate something where Trump is allowed to declare victory before he runs out of ammunition. Iran agrees to not enrich or export anything that it’s already enriched".

Is Donald Trump risking a wider war with Iran to save his political future?

Former US commander Sandy Winnefeld suggests the Iran strikes could be a “desperation move” before midterm elections, warning the US may face a race against time. Scroll down to read more.

US President Donald Trump could lose a pivotal "race against time" with Iran if America runs out of interceptors first, warned a former top US military commander, even as he postulated that the US-Israel joint strikes on Iran may be because of the POTUS's hubris. Talking to The Times, James Alexander "Sandy" Winnefeld Jr. the former vice-chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said that the high-risk attacks on Tehran could be a "desperation move" ahead of the US midterm elections. Here's what he said. Trump saving himself from impeachment? Winnefeld told The Times that Operation Epic Fury could be Trump's attempt to boost his plummeting public approval ratings ahead of the crucial midterm elections. The former US military commander, who happens to be the most senior figure yet to speak out critically about the war, noted that if Trump loses control of Congress in the midterms, it could potentially lead to the POTUS's early ejection from the White House via impeachment. Also read | Can US' Patriot interceptors outlast Iran’ Shahed drones? Top Cmdr warns... "This could be a bit of a desperation move in order to try to galvanise the American public behind him," he said. "It is entirely possible that if he loses the midterms, he will be a lame duck president, and he won’t be able to accomplish as much as he wants to on his agenda." Winnefeld stated that it was "also a real threat to him personally". He noted that there was "no question" that "there will be new investigations opened up, potentially a long, drawn-out path towards a third impeachment." This, he said, was the "last thing that Donald Trump wants". Calling the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran a "risk," the former US commander said, Trump was "taking risks with inflation if oil prices maintain a high level. He’s taking a chance with his own political base, who actually elected him on a platform of no foreign wars." Also read | Fact-check: Is United States using Indian naval bases to attack Iran? Trump could end the war, but only if... The former top US military commander said that the US-Israel-Iran war was bound to end sooner rather than later, with a "some kind of a nuclear deal to save face". According to him, one way that might happen is with mediators coming up with a way for Trump to "declare victory before he runs out of ammunition". "One way you could envision this ending is that Oman and Qatar, both of whom are close to the Iranians, step in and negotiate something where Trump is allowed to declare victory before he runs out of ammunition. Iran agrees to not enrich or export anything that it’s already enriched".

Is Donald Trump risking a wider war with Iran to save his political future?Former US commander Sandy Winnefeld suggests the Iran strikes could be a “desperation move” before midterm elections, warning the US may face a race against time. Scroll down to read more.

Is Operation Epic Fury a 'desperation move' by Trump to win the US midterms? Ex US commander says...

Amid the ongoing US and Israeli joint military operation against Iran, the Iraqi group Kataeb Hezbollah confirms the death of their commander. The Tehran-backed group said one of their commanders died in a strike near Jurf al-Nasr, in southern Iraq, on Wednesday (March 4). In a statement issued by Ahmad al-Hamidawi, the secretary-general of the armed faction, mourned the loss of a "great commander", Ali Hussein al-Freiji.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-gaza-war-israel-shuts-all-gaza-crossings-food-supplies-in-gaza-running-out-1772699397902/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-gaza-war-israel-shuts-all-gaza-crossings-food-supplies-in-gaza-running-out-1772699397902/embed</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;According to the statement, he has been a member of the group for over 20 years. The information was shared by two sources from the Iraqi faction to the news agency AFP. The strike reportedly hit the vehicle near the group's main base in southern Iraq, killing two fighters. One of the sources described the attack as a "Zionist-US strike" and included the killing of the commander; the death toll rose to three.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-new-window-of-opportunity-iran-and-the-us-agree-on-guiding-principles-for-a-nuclear-deal-1771345192089">'New window of opportunity': Iran and US agree on 'guiding principles' for a nuclear deal</a>&nbsp;After a second round of nuclear negotiations between the US and Iran in Geneva, not a breakthrough but an understanding had been reached. While US President Donald Trump demanded zero enrichment of uranium, the slain Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei said, “nuclear energy was their undeniable right.” As Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, “a new window of opportunity has opened, under which we had the second round of the negotiations with the United States earlier today here in Geneva.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-woke-up-to-explosion-sounds-indian-expat-in-dubai-notes-people-are-calm-away-from-fear-mongering-1772442572603">'Woke up to explosion sounds': Indian expat in Dubai notes people are calm, away from fearmongering</a>&nbsp;And days after the talks, the US and Israel began airstrikes on Iran, which killed Ali Khamenei, after which Tehran attacked US bases across the Middle East. And just four days into the conflict, Washington lost military equipment worth over $2 billion.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Iraq’s Kataeb Hezbollah confirms the death of senior commander Ali Hussein al-Freiji in a drone strike near Jurf al-Nasr. The group attributes the attack to "Zionist-US" forces amid rising regional tensions.

Amid the ongoing US and Israeli joint military operation against Iran, the Iraqi group Kataeb Hezbollah confirms the death of their commander. The Tehran-backed group said one of their commanders died in a strike near Jurf al-Nasr, in southern Iraq, on Wednesday (March 4). In a statement issued by Ahmad al-Hamidawi, the secretary-general of the armed faction, mourned the loss of a "great commander", Ali Hussein al-Freiji. https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-gaza-war-israel-shuts-all-gaza-crossings-food-supplies-in-gaza-running-out-1772699397902/embed According to the statement, he has been a member of the group for over 20 years. The information was shared by two sources from the Iraqi faction to the news agency AFP. The strike reportedly hit the vehicle near the group's main base in southern Iraq, killing two fighters. One of the sources described the attack as a "Zionist-US strike" and included the killing of the commander; the death toll rose to three. Also read: 'New window of opportunity': Iran and US agree on 'guiding principles' for a nuclear deal After a second round of nuclear negotiations between the US and Iran in Geneva, not a breakthrough but an understanding had been reached. While US President Donald Trump demanded zero enrichment of uranium, the slain Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei said, “nuclear energy was their undeniable right.” As Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, “a new window of opportunity has opened, under which we had the second round of the negotiations with the United States earlier today here in Geneva.” Also read: 'Woke up to explosion sounds': Indian expat in Dubai notes people are calm, away from fearmongering And days after the talks, the US and Israel began airstrikes on Iran, which killed Ali Khamenei, after which Tehran attacked US bases across the Middle East. And just four days into the conflict, Washington lost military equipment worth over $2 billion.

Iraq’s Kataeb Hezbollah confirms the death of senior commander Ali Hussein al-Freiji in a drone strike near Jurf al-Nasr. The group attributes the attack to "Zionist-US" forces amid rising regional tensions.

Commander killed in 'Zionist-US strike', says Iraqi Hezbollah faction

Chinese professor Xueqin Jiang hosts a popular YouTube channel, Predictive History, where he analyses past world events to predict the future geopolitical scene. He said in a 2024 lecture that Trump would return as president and fight a war with Iran. He also said the US would lose.

Chinese professor Xueqin Jiang hosts a popular YouTube channel, Predictive History, where he analyses past world events to predict the future geopolitical scene. He said in a 2024 lecture that Trump would return as president and fight a war with Iran. He also said the US would lose.

China 'Nostradamus' called Trump's win and the Iran war. He knows what's next

Issuing first public response after conflict began in West Asia, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (Mar 5) said that military conflicts cannot resolve issues and expressed hope for resolutions of Ukraine and West Asia war. Addressing a press conference alongside President of Finland, Alexander Stubb, PM Modi added that the world is currently witnessing “period of instability and uncertainty.” It must be noted that Prime Minister Modi has spoken to eight West Asian leaders within a 48-hour window to discuss the escalating regional conflict after Israel and the US jointly launches strikes on Iran.&nbsp;&nbsp;PM Modi said, “Today, the world is going through a period of instability and uncertainty. Conflict persists in many parts of the world, from Ukraine to West Asia.” He quickly focussed on the relationship between India and Finland and said, “In such a global environment, India and Europe, two of the world's major diplomatic powers, are entering a golden era of their relationship. Our growing cooperation is giving new strength to global stability, development, and shared prosperity. At the beginning of 2026, the historic India-European Union Free Trade Agreement was signed. This agreement will further strengthen trade, investment, and technology cooperation between India and Finland. India and Finland are important partners in areas such as digital technology, infrastructure, and sustainability...” He also said that both India and Finland believe in “rule of law, dialogue and diplomacy.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">&quot;Military conflicts cannot resolve issues. We hope for resolutions of Ukraine and West Asia conflicts,&quot; says Indian PM Narendra Modi, during joint presser with Finland President Alexander Stubb, in New Delhi <a href="https://t.co/o8ezCWBRqw">pic.twitter.com/o8ezCWBRqw</a>&mdash; WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/2029470793357509045?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 5, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Indian PM's phone call with West Asian leaders</h2>The Indian PM had telephonic conversation with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, Jordan King Abdullah II, Qatar Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Oman Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, Bahrain King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Kuwait Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He emphasized on the well-being of the nearly 9 million Indians residing in the region and condemned violations of sovereignty and recent strikes against Gulf nations. He called for an “early cessation of hostilities” and highlighted the importance of dialogue.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said military conflicts cannot resolve global crises as he addressed rising tensions from Ukraine to West Asia during a joint press conference with Alexander Stubb. Modi stressed diplomacy 

Issuing first public response after conflict began in West Asia, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (Mar 5) said that military conflicts cannot resolve issues and expressed hope for resolutions of Ukraine and West Asia war. Addressing a press conference alongside President of Finland, Alexander Stubb, PM Modi added that the world is currently witnessing “period of instability and uncertainty.” It must be noted that Prime Minister Modi has spoken to eight West Asian leaders within a 48-hour window to discuss the escalating regional conflict after Israel and the US jointly launches strikes on Iran. PM Modi said, “Today, the world is going through a period of instability and uncertainty. Conflict persists in many parts of the world, from Ukraine to West Asia.” He quickly focussed on the relationship between India and Finland and said, “In such a global environment, India and Europe, two of the world's major diplomatic powers, are entering a golden era of their relationship. Our growing cooperation is giving new strength to global stability, development, and shared prosperity. At the beginning of 2026, the historic India-European Union Free Trade Agreement was signed. This agreement will further strengthen trade, investment, and technology cooperation between India and Finland. India and Finland are important partners in areas such as digital technology, infrastructure, and sustainability...” He also said that both India and Finland believe in “rule of law, dialogue and diplomacy.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said military conflicts cannot resolve global crises as he addressed rising tensions from Ukraine to West Asia during a joint press conference with Alexander Stubb. Modi stressed diplomacy&nbsp;

'Military conflicts cannot...': India PM Modi issues first public response after US-Israel strike on Iran, tensions in West Asia

Amid growing tensions in West Asia over conflict between Israel and Iran that also includes the United States, Chinese Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi in a phone conversations with political leaders from the Gulf region urged restraint and diplomatic engagement. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian in a post on X said Wang spoke with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and backed UAE's demand for safeguarding its national security. He also said that China supports regional countries in seeking to resolve disputes through diplomatic means.&nbsp;" Chinese FM Wang Yi held a phone conversation with the Deputy PM and FM of the UAE, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The spillover of war is not in the interests of any party, and only the people of the region will suffer. China supports the UAE's legitimate demands for safeguarding its national security and supports regional countries in seeking to resolve disputes through diplomatic means," said Lin.&nbsp;"China will not give up hope for peace and will continue to play a constructive role," he added.&nbsp;In a separate X post, Wang also had a conversation with the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud over the phone in which he said China appreciates Saudi Arabia's "restraint and its commitment to resolving differences through peaceful means."&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kurdish-fighters-launch-ground-offensive-in-iran-call-between-iranian-fm-and-iraqi-kurds-leader-trump-backs-kurds-israel-helps-kurdish-forces-1772677428233">FACT CHECK: Did Kurdish fighters really launch ground offensive in Iran?</a>&nbsp;"Chinese FM Wang Yi held a phone conversation with Saudi FM Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud. The spreading and escalating conflict in the Middle East, affecting Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries, is not what China wishes to see. China appreciates Saudi Arabia's restraint and its commitment to resolving differences through peaceful means," said Lin.&nbsp;He further said, "China strongly urges all parties to cease military operations, return to dialogue and negotiations at an early date, and prevent further escalation of tensions."&nbsp;Meanwhile, China's Department of Consular Affairs said it has evacuated over 3000 of its citizens from Iran amid the deteriorating security situation.&nbsp;"As of March 2, Beijing time, over 3,000 Chinese citizens have been evacuated from Iran. Chinese diplomatic missions in Iran's neighboring countries have sent working groups to receive and assist the evacuated Chinese citizens at border ports," read a post from the ministry's consular affairs office on X.&nbsp;(With inputs from ANI)

Chinese Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi had a conversation with the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud over the phone in which he said China appreciates Saudi Arabias restraint.

Amid growing tensions in West Asia over conflict between Israel and Iran that also includes the United States, Chinese Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi in a phone conversations with political leaders from the Gulf region urged restraint and diplomatic engagement. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian in a post on X said Wang spoke with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and backed UAE's demand for safeguarding its national security. He also said that China supports regional countries in seeking to resolve disputes through diplomatic means. " Chinese FM Wang Yi held a phone conversation with the Deputy PM and FM of the UAE, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The spillover of war is not in the interests of any party, and only the people of the region will suffer. China supports the UAE's legitimate demands for safeguarding its national security and supports regional countries in seeking to resolve disputes through diplomatic means," said Lin. "China will not give up hope for peace and will continue to play a constructive role," he added. In a separate X post, Wang also had a conversation with the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud over the phone in which he said China appreciates Saudi Arabia's "restraint and its commitment to resolving differences through peaceful means." ALSO READ: FACT CHECK: Did Kurdish fighters really launch ground offensive in Iran? "Chinese FM Wang Yi held a phone conversation with Saudi FM Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud. The spreading and escalating conflict in the Middle East, affecting Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries, is not what China wishes to see. China appreciates Saudi Arabia's restraint and its commitment to resolving differences through peaceful means," said Lin. He further said, "China strongly urges all parties to cease military operations, return to dialogue and negotiations at an early date, and prevent further escalation of tensions." Meanwhile, China's Department of Consular Affairs said it has evacuated over 3000 of its citizens from Iran amid the deteriorating security situation. "As of March 2, Beijing time, over 3,000 Chinese citizens have been evacuated from Iran. Chinese diplomatic missions in Iran's neighboring countries have sent working groups to receive and assist the evacuated Chinese citizens at border ports," read a post from the ministry's consular affairs office on X. (With inputs from ANI)

Chinese Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi had a conversation with the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud over the phone in which he said China appreciates Saudi Arabia's “restraint”.

US-Israel-Iran war: China speaks to Middle East country leaders, evacuates over 3,000 stranded citizens

A former top US military commander has warned that Washington could lose a critical "race against time" with Iran if American interceptor missile stocks begin to run dry. Speaking to The Times, James Alexander "Sandy" Winnefeld Jr. said that the outcome of the conflict could depend on a simple question: Which side runs out of weapons first? The former vice-chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff warned that the US could run out of interceptor stocks in "a matter of days". What does it mean for the US-Israel joint military operation against Iran? All you need to know.<h2>'A race against time'</h2>Appearing on The Times’s The General &amp; The Journalist podcast, Winnefeld, who happens to be the most senior figure yet to speak out critically about the war warned that the US was engaged in a "race against time".Iran, he said, is relying heavily on cheap drones and missile barrages aimed at US bases and allied targets in the region. The United States, meanwhile, must rely on far more expensive air defence interceptors to shoot them down.The imbalance, he suggested, could become a serious problem. "It’s the sophisticated air defence munitions that I would be worrying about right now — the Patriots, the AMRAAM missiles that are out there," he said."Do we have enough of those in a race against Iran’s inventory of Shahed drones and ballistic missiles? Who runs out first? It’s a race against time."<h2>The cost of shooting down drones</h2>According to the US’s Central Command (Centcom), till Wednesday (Mar 4), Iran had launched more than 500 missiles and 2,000 drones. This includes the Shahed drone, which, according to Winnefeld cost somewhere around $20,000 compared to the interceptors used to destroy them, such as the Patriot missile system, which can cost millions."There is also an economic disparity between shooting down a $20,000 Shahed drone with a $4 million missile," he noted."You start to run out very quickly," he said. "You’ll run out of those Patriots probably before Iran runs out of Shaheds."Notably, before the war, Tehran was believed to possess roughly 4,000 short and long-range missiles along with tens of thousands of Shahed drones.<h2>American stockpile dwindling</h2>Reports suggest that the issue had already been raised inside the Pentagon by top US generals. During a closed-door briefing on Capitol Hill Tuesday, top military officials led by the chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen Dan Caine, told lawmakers that Iran has been deploying large numbers of one-way attack drones in recent days. As per The Guardian, they warned that while US defences can destroy most of them, stopping every single drone may not be possible for the US military.American stockpiles had already been strained in recent years. The US used large numbers of interceptors to defend Israel during last year's 12-day war with Iran and has also supplied significant weapons shipments to Ukraine.<h2>White House pushes back</h2>Despite the concerns, the Trump administration insists that US stockpiles remain strong. Trump wrote on social media earlier this week that American reserves of “medium and upper medium grade” munitions were “virtually unlimited,” dismissing reports of shortages.At a press briefing on Wednesday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt echoed that message.“We have weapon stockpiles in places that many in this world don’t even know about,” she said, adding that the United States has more than enough weapons to sustain a prolonged conflict.&nbsp;Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos. &nbsp;

Is the US at risk of running out of interceptor missiles in the war with Iran? Former top US commander Sandy Winnefeld has warned it could become a “race against time,” as cheap Iranian drones face costly US interceptors. 

What does it mean for the US? Scroll down to read more.

A former top US military commander has warned that Washington could lose a critical "race against time" with Iran if American interceptor missile stocks begin to run dry. Speaking to The Times, James Alexander "Sandy" Winnefeld Jr. said that the outcome of the conflict could depend on a simple question: Which side runs out of weapons first? The former vice-chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff warned that the US could run out of interceptor stocks in "a matter of days". What does it mean for the US-Israel joint military operation against Iran? All you need to know. 'A race against time' Appearing on The Times’s The General & The Journalist podcast, Winnefeld, who happens to be the most senior figure yet to speak out critically about the war warned that the US was engaged in a "race against time". Iran, he said, is relying heavily on cheap drones and missile barrages aimed at US bases and allied targets in the region. The United States, meanwhile, must rely on far more expensive air defence interceptors to shoot them down. The imbalance, he suggested, could become a serious problem. "It’s the sophisticated air defence munitions that I would be worrying about right now — the Patriots, the AMRAAM missiles that are out there," he said. "Do we have enough of those in a race against Iran’s inventory of Shahed drones and ballistic missiles? Who runs out first? It’s a race against time." The cost of shooting down drones According to the US’s Central Command (Centcom), till Wednesday (Mar 4), Iran had launched more than 500 missiles and 2,000 drones. This includes the Shahed drone, which, according to Winnefeld cost somewhere around $20,000 compared to the interceptors used to destroy them, such as the Patriot missile system, which can cost millions. "There is also an economic disparity between shooting down a $20,000 Shahed drone with a $4 million missile," he noted. "You start to run out very quickly," he said. "You’ll run out of those Patriots probably before Iran runs out of Shaheds." Notably, before the war, Tehran was believed to possess roughly 4,000 short and long-range missiles along with tens of thousands of Shahed drones. American stockpile dwindling Reports suggest that the issue had already been raised inside the Pentagon by top US generals. During a closed-door briefing on Capitol Hill Tuesday, top military officials led by the chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen Dan Caine, told lawmakers that Iran has been deploying large numbers of one-way attack drones in recent days. As per The Guardian, they warned that while US defences can destroy most of them, stopping every single drone may not be possible for the US military. American stockpiles had already been strained in recent years. The US used large numbers of interceptors to defend Israel during last year's 12-day war with Iran and has also supplied significant weapons shipments to Ukraine. White House pushes back Despite the concerns, the Trump administration insists that US stockpiles remain strong. Trump wrote on social media earlier this week that American reserves of “medium and upper medium grade” munitions were “virtually unlimited,” dismissing reports of shortages. At a press briefing on Wednesday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt echoed that message. “We have weapon stockpiles in places that many in this world don’t even know about,” she said, adding that the United States has more than enough weapons to sustain a prolonged conflict. Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

Is the US at risk of running out of interceptor missiles in the war with Iran? Former top US commander Sandy Winnefeld has warned it could become a “race against time,” as cheap Iranian drones face costly US interceptors.&nbsp;What does it mean for the US? Scroll down to read more.

'Race against time': Can US's Patriot, THAAD missiles outlast Iran’s Shahed drone swarms? Top military commander warns...

The US-Iran war is seeing missiles being hit in the air and exploding soon after being launched. The US Space Force is helping locate these missiles after they are launched, after which ground forces are alerted, who then strike them.

The US-Iran war is seeing missiles being hit in the air and exploding soon after being launched. The US Space Force is helping locate these missiles after they are launched, after which ground forces are alerted, who then strike them.

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