US-Israel-Iran war | US military says it has destroyed over 100 Iranian Navy vessels
&imwidth=600&imheight=450&format=webp&quality=medium "US-Israel-Iran war | US military says it has destroyed over 100 Iranian Navy vessels")
Trump says US 'getting close' to deal with Iran as regional hostilities escalate
Day 17: Donald Trump signals a potential breakthrough, stating Washington is "getting close to a deal" with Tehran while regional strikes continue. Get the latest updates on the developing situation
Seventeen days on, and there is no end in sight to the West Asian war. What began as Israel and the US' joint military strike in Iran on February 28 has spread across the region far and beyond. Following the attack which killed Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei, Tehran conducted airstrikes on American bases in West Asia.
Ali Khamenei's son Mojtaba Khamenei has been chosen to lead the country. While Trump has said that the new leader of Iran won't last long without his approval, Israel has threatened that he is the “target.” The three sides are bombing relentlessly with Israel having expanded its offensive to target Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The ripple effect: Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Lebanon have also been targets of drones and missiles. The Strait of Hormuz has been blocked, and that has led to a situation even back home in India. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, in its briefing, said the LPG situation in the country is “a concern" though no official shortage has been mentioned. New Delhi has used diversified channels to procure crude.
In the latest: Donald Trump said on Sunday ( Mar 15) that the United States was in discussions with Iran as the war enters its third week, but that Tehran was not ready for a deal to end it. "But I don't think they're ready. But they are getting pretty close," Trump said. Iran's foreign minister had denied earlier that any talks with the United States were taking place.
Follow WION for the latest developments on the ongoing West Asia war
Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, on Monday (March 16) said that the Strait of Hormuz is only closed for enemies and those supporting their aggression, and clarified that Iran has not requested a ceasefire while emphasising that any end to the war with the United States and Israel must be definitive, Reuters reported, citing the semi-official Students News Network.
Sri Lanka announced a shorter work week to protect its scarce fuel reserves as it prepares for a prolonged war in the Middle East, officials said on Monday. Commissioner-General of Essential Services Prabath Chandrakeerthi said, "We are also asking the private sector to follow suit and declare every Wednesday a holiday from now on," Chandrakeerthi told reporters after an emergency meeting chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. "We must prepare for the worst, but hope for the best," Dissanayake told senior officials, according to one who attended the meeting.
International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol said Monday more strategic oil stocks could be released if necessary to limit the fallout of from the near complete blockage of supplies through the Strait of Hormuz.
US President Donald Trump said he will hold a "news conference" on Monday as the war he ordered against Iran continues for a third week.
Trump frequently takes questions from reporters so it was not immediately clear if the latest event had a specific topic.
"News Conference today," Trump announced on his Truth Social Platform, adding it would take place just before a meeting at the White House on the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
The sharp decline in WTI crude oil prices to below $95 per barrel, a drop of roughly 8% in 12 hours, marks a significant pivot in energy markets following a period of extreme volatility.
US Central Command reported today that the joint force has successfully neutralised more than 100 vessels, including the entire class of Shahid Soleimani guided-missile catamarans and at least one drone-carrier ship.
Forty-five flights from various countries in the Gulf region, includng the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman and the Qatar are expected to land at various airports in India on Monday, an Indian government official said adding that around 2,20,000 Indians have returned to the country since February 28, when the war first began.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Monday Britain was working with allies to come up with a "viable" plan to reopen the key Strait of Hormuz, but ruled out a NATO mission.
During a press conference in Downing Street, Starmer told reporters he had discussed the situation in the vital oil transport route, effectively closed by Iran during the Middle East war, with US President Donald Trump.
Explosions hit Iranian capital: AFP
Aircraft used for the official transport of senior Islamic Republic officials were destroyed in a new wave of strikes on Tehran’s Mehrabad airport overnight, Iran International has learned.
China’s Foreign Ministry called for an immediate halt to military operations in the Middle East, warning that further regional escalation could hit the global economy.
Fire breaks out in UAE's petroleum industrial zone Fujairah after drone strike. No casualties have been reported so far.
Iranian female soccer players are expected to travel to alternative destinations as they are unable to return to their country immediately, said Asian Football Confederation (AFC) General Secretary Windsor John.
“It is in our interest to keep the Strait of Hormuz open and that’s why we are also discussing what we can do in this regard from the European side,” says EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.
A "drone-related incident" sparked a fuel tank fire near Dubai airport on Monday and disrupted travel, as Iran maintained its Gulf attacks, though authorities said flights were gradually resuming.
"Flights to and from DXB are gradually resuming to selected destinations, following the temporary suspension implemented as a precautionary measure," Dubai Airports said in a statement on X.
Japan said on Monday it was beginning the release of its strategic oil reserves after the International Energy Agency indicated earlier that the release would begin in Asia and Oceania before other regions. IEA members agreed on March 11 to tap oil stockpiles to cushion the surge in prices caused by the war in the Middle East -- by far the largest-ever response of its kind.
Japan, which depends on the Middle East for 95 percent of its oil imports, said Monday in a notice in its official government gazette that the level of oil reserves in the country "is being lowered".
Twenty Thai crew members of a cargo ship attacked in the crucial Strait of Hormuz arrived in Thailand on Monday, with three of their colleagues still stranded on the vessel in the Gulf.
The Thai-registered Mayuree Naree was hit by two projectiles on Wednesday while transiting through the Gulf waterway, after departing a port in the United Arab Emirates.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had struck the Thai ship, as well as a Liberia-flagged vessel, in the strait because they had ignored "warnings".
The 20 sailors landed at Thailand's main international airport early Monday morning and were immediately escorted away by officials without speaking to gathered media.
The wife of one of the returned crew, who gave her name as Bass, told reporters she was still waiting to see her husband after the ordeal.
United Arab Emirates in a statement said that one person was killed by missile attack on civilian car in Abu Dhabi
Israel army says begun 'limited targeted ground operations' against Hezbollah in south Lebanon
Columns of smoke have been seen over Tehran after Israel launched a new wave of strikes on the Iranian capital
Emirates airlines has announced it will “operate a limited schedule” after 10am (06:00 GMT) today
Reuven Azar, Israel’s ambassador to India, said his country is not seeking a “perpetual war” when asked about the duration of the ongoing conflict. He stressed that Israel’s goal is security and stability, not an endless military confrontation. He also said that the war is intended to remove 'existential threats'
Eleven Indian nationals have been indicted in the United States for their alleged involvement in a fraudulent conspiracy to orchestrate staged armed robberies aimed at helping individuals secure illegitimate immigration status.
Iran's exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi has issued a stirring call to his "compatriots" ahead of the ancient festival of Charshanbeh Suri, accusing the Iranian leadership of attempting to suppress the national ritual. In a statement posted on the social media platform X, Pahlavi asserted that "the anti-Iranian regime of the Islamic Republic is once again attempting to prevent this ancient national ritual."
Trump said the United States and Israel are largely aligned in their military goals in the war with Iran. "I think we have similar objectives, really, but could be a little bit different. The relationship has been very good. The militaries are very well coordinated. Ours is the strongest by far in the world. And they have a real good military,” Trump said when asked whether Israel’s strategy differs from that of the United States.”
In a lengthy Truth Social post railing against the media, Trump praised that Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr’s threats to potentially revoke the licenses of local broadcasters over coverage he deemed “fake. “I am so thrilled to see Brendan Carr, the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), looking at the licenses of some of these Corrupt and Highly Unpatriotic ‘News’ Organizations,” Trump said.
“The overall maritime threat environment remains at a critical level due to recent attack patterns, continued navigation interference and persistent operational disruption, to include port facilities, across the region," UK maritime agency warns
Japan is not currently planning to send ships to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said. “We have not yet made any decisions whatsoever regarding the dispatch of naval vessels. We are currently examining what Japan can do independently within our legal framework,” Takaichi said in parliament.
Japan said it was "not considering" maritime security operations. Australia's transport minister said Monday the country won't be sending a navy ship to the Strait of Hormuz
The United Arab Emirates' air defence systems were intercepting Iranian missiles and drones on Monday, the Gulf nation's defence ministry said. "UAE air defences are currently responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran," the UAE Ministry of Defence posted on X.
Beijing said on Monday it has "lodged representations" and urged Washington to "correct its erroneous ways" after the US launched new trade probes last week, with negotiators from both countries meeting in Paris. Washington's trade investigations target 60 economies including China and will look into "failures to take action on forced labor" and whether these burden or restrict US commerce.
Those investigations came a day after a separate set of US probes centred on excess industrial capacity that target 16 trading partners including China, which Beijing's foreign ministry criticised as "political manipulation".
Twenty Thai crew members of a cargo ship that was attacked in the crucial Strait of Hormuz arrived in Thailand on Monday, with three of their colleagues still stranded on the vessel in the Gulf. The Thai-registered Mayuree Naree was hit by two projectiles on Wednesday while transiting through the Gulf waterway, after departing a port in the United Arab Emirates.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had struck the Thai ship, as well as a Liberia-flagged vessel, in the strait because they had ignored "warnings".
French President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday he had told Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian it was "unacceptable" to target French interests, after an Iranian-designed drone killed a French soldier in Iraq's Kurdistan region last week.
"I called on him to put an immediate end to the unacceptable attacks that Iran is carrying out against countries in the region, whether directly or through proxies, as in Lebanon and Iraq," Macron said on X after his call with Pezeshkian.
Iran's foreign minister said on Monday that Israeli strikes on Tehran fuel depots constituted "ecocide" due to the long-term risks to residents' health. "Israel's bombings of fuel depots in Tehran violate international law and constitute ecocide," Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X.
"Residents face long-term damage to their health and well-being. Contamination of soil and groundwater could have generational impacts," the post added.
US President Donald Trump has expressed his desire to see China helping the US in helping to secure the Strait of Hormuz. He also reflected on his upcoming China visit and meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and hinted that it could be delayed. Trump's statement comes as uncertainity surrounded the upcoming visit amid war in West Asia. Trump and Jinping met in South Korea in 2025 and reached a truce in the US-China trade tensions and decided to meet again in March 2026. However, America's pre-emptive attack on Iran alongside Israel on Feb 28 and China's alleged help to Iran in providing satellite technology, has complicated the matters even as the US president has reiterated, time and again, that he has a good relationship with the Chinese president.
A drone-related incident triggered a fire near Dubai International Airport on Monday (Mar 16), according to city authorities, amid raging war in West Asia and Iran's intensified attacks targeting the Gulf nations. The Dubai Media Office confirmed that there had been no reports of injuries. It posted on X, "A drone incident in the vicinity of Dubai International Airport (DXB) affected one of the fuel tanks. Dubai Civil Defence teams are currently working to bring the fire under control." On Wednesday, the city media office said two falling drones wounded four people near the airport.
US President Donald Trump on Sunday (Mar 15) warned that North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) could face a “very bad” future if US allies fail to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz. His message is seen as a blunt call to European nations to support Washington’s efforts amid the ongoing conflict with Iran. He also reminded the NATO nations of America's help in Ukraine-Russia war. The US president also expressed disappointment over the UK’s initial refusal to allow the use of its bases by the US.
Oil prices hovered around $100 a barrel Monday and stocks fluctuated as the Iran war moved into a third week with both sides showing no sign of backing down and diplomats trying to ensure safe passage for tankers through the crucial Strait of Hormuz.
Crude shot up in the opening minutes after the US president said at the weekend that forces struck military targets on Kharg Island, a scrubby stretch of land in the Gulf that handles almost all of Iran's oil exports.
He also warned attacks could expand to energy infrastructure if the Islamic republic interferes with transit through Hormuz, which has been effectively closed since the US-Israel operations began on February 28.
Saudi Arabia has intercepted more than 60 drones since midnight, according to a tally of defence ministry figures released on Monday.
The Saudi defence ministry posted a series of statements on X describing the interception of a total of 61 drones in the east of the country in the early hours of Monday morning.
Seventeen days on, and there is no end in sight to the West Asian war. What began as Israel and the US' joint military strike in Iran on February 28 has spread across the region far and beyond. Following the attack which killed Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei, Tehran conducted airstrikes on American bases in West Asia.
Ali Khamenei's son Mojtaba Khamenei has been chosen to lead the country. While Trump has said that the new leader of Iran won't last long without his approval, Israel has threatened that he is the “target.” The three sides are bombing relentlessly with Israel having expanded its offensive to target Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The ripple effect: Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Lebanon have also been targets of drones and missiles. The Strait of Hormuz has been blocked, and that has led to a situation even back home in India. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, in its briefing, said the LPG situation in the country is “a concern" though no official shortage has been mentioned. New Delhi has used diversified channels to procure crude.
In the latest: Donald Trump said on Sunday ( Mar 15) that the United States was in discussions with Iran as the war enters its third week, but that Tehran was not ready for a deal to end it. "But I don't think they're ready. But they are getting pretty close," Trump said. Iran's foreign minister had denied earlier that any talks with the United States were taking place.
Follow WION for the latest developments on the ongoing West Asia war
Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, on Monday (March 16) said that the Strait of Hormuz is only closed for enemies and those supporting their aggression, and clarified that Iran has not requested a ceasefire while emphasising that any end to the war with the United States and Israel must be definitive, Reuters reported, citing the semi-official Students News Network.
Sri Lanka announced a shorter work week to protect its scarce fuel reserves as it prepares for a prolonged war in the Middle East, officials said on Monday. Commissioner-General of Essential Services Prabath Chandrakeerthi said, "We are also asking the private sector to follow suit and declare every Wednesday a holiday from now on," Chandrakeerthi told reporters after an emergency meeting chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. "We must prepare for the worst, but hope for the best," Dissanayake told senior officials, according to one who attended the meeting.
International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol said Monday more strategic oil stocks could be released if necessary to limit the fallout of from the near complete blockage of supplies through the Strait of Hormuz.
US President Donald Trump said he will hold a "news conference" on Monday as the war he ordered against Iran continues for a third week.
Trump frequently takes questions from reporters so it was not immediately clear if the latest event had a specific topic.
"News Conference today," Trump announced on his Truth Social Platform, adding it would take place just before a meeting at the White House on the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
The sharp decline in WTI crude oil prices to below $95 per barrel, a drop of roughly 8% in 12 hours, marks a significant pivot in energy markets following a period of extreme volatility.
US Central Command reported today that the joint force has successfully neutralised more than 100 vessels, including the entire class of Shahid Soleimani guided-missile catamarans and at least one drone-carrier ship.
Forty-five flights from various countries in the Gulf region, includng the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman and the Qatar are expected to land at various airports in India on Monday, an Indian government official said adding that around 2,20,000 Indians have returned to the country since February 28, when the war first began.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Monday Britain was working with allies to come up with a "viable" plan to reopen the key Strait of Hormuz, but ruled out a NATO mission.
During a press conference in Downing Street, Starmer told reporters he had discussed the situation in the vital oil transport route, effectively closed by Iran during the Middle East war, with US President Donald Trump.
Explosions hit Iranian capital: AFP
Aircraft used for the official transport of senior Islamic Republic officials were destroyed in a new wave of strikes on Tehran’s Mehrabad airport overnight, Iran International has learned.
China’s Foreign Ministry called for an immediate halt to military operations in the Middle East, warning that further regional escalation could hit the global economy.
Fire breaks out in UAE's petroleum industrial zone Fujairah after drone strike. No casualties have been reported so far.
Iranian female soccer players are expected to travel to alternative destinations as they are unable to return to their country immediately, said Asian Football Confederation (AFC) General Secretary Windsor John.
“It is in our interest to keep the Strait of Hormuz open and that’s why we are also discussing what we can do in this regard from the European side,” says EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.
A "drone-related incident" sparked a fuel tank fire near Dubai airport on Monday and disrupted travel, as Iran maintained its Gulf attacks, though authorities said flights were gradually resuming.
"Flights to and from DXB are gradually resuming to selected destinations, following the temporary suspension implemented as a precautionary measure," Dubai Airports said in a statement on X.
Japan said on Monday it was beginning the release of its strategic oil reserves after the International Energy Agency indicated earlier that the release would begin in Asia and Oceania before other regions. IEA members agreed on March 11 to tap oil stockpiles to cushion the surge in prices caused by the war in the Middle East -- by far the largest-ever response of its kind.
Japan, which depends on the Middle East for 95 percent of its oil imports, said Monday in a notice in its official government gazette that the level of oil reserves in the country "is being lowered".
Twenty Thai crew members of a cargo ship attacked in the crucial Strait of Hormuz arrived in Thailand on Monday, with three of their colleagues still stranded on the vessel in the Gulf.
The Thai-registered Mayuree Naree was hit by two projectiles on Wednesday while transiting through the Gulf waterway, after departing a port in the United Arab Emirates.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had struck the Thai ship, as well as a Liberia-flagged vessel, in the strait because they had ignored "warnings".
The 20 sailors landed at Thailand's main international airport early Monday morning and were immediately escorted away by officials without speaking to gathered media.
The wife of one of the returned crew, who gave her name as Bass, told reporters she was still waiting to see her husband after the ordeal.
United Arab Emirates in a statement said that one person was killed by missile attack on civilian car in Abu Dhabi
Israel army says begun 'limited targeted ground operations' against Hezbollah in south Lebanon
Columns of smoke have been seen over Tehran after Israel launched a new wave of strikes on the Iranian capital
Emirates airlines has announced it will “operate a limited schedule” after 10am (06:00 GMT) today
Reuven Azar, Israel’s ambassador to India, said his country is not seeking a “perpetual war” when asked about the duration of the ongoing conflict. He stressed that Israel’s goal is security and stability, not an endless military confrontation. He also said that the war is intended to remove 'existential threats'
Eleven Indian nationals have been indicted in the United States for their alleged involvement in a fraudulent conspiracy to orchestrate staged armed robberies aimed at helping individuals secure illegitimate immigration status.
Iran's exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi has issued a stirring call to his "compatriots" ahead of the ancient festival of Charshanbeh Suri, accusing the Iranian leadership of attempting to suppress the national ritual. In a statement posted on the social media platform X, Pahlavi asserted that "the anti-Iranian regime of the Islamic Republic is once again attempting to prevent this ancient national ritual."
Trump said the United States and Israel are largely aligned in their military goals in the war with Iran. "I think we have similar objectives, really, but could be a little bit different. The relationship has been very good. The militaries are very well coordinated. Ours is the strongest by far in the world. And they have a real good military,” Trump said when asked whether Israel’s strategy differs from that of the United States.”
In a lengthy Truth Social post railing against the media, Trump praised that Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr’s threats to potentially revoke the licenses of local broadcasters over coverage he deemed “fake. “I am so thrilled to see Brendan Carr, the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), looking at the licenses of some of these Corrupt and Highly Unpatriotic ‘News’ Organizations,” Trump said.
“The overall maritime threat environment remains at a critical level due to recent attack patterns, continued navigation interference and persistent operational disruption, to include port facilities, across the region," UK maritime agency warns
Japan is not currently planning to send ships to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said. “We have not yet made any decisions whatsoever regarding the dispatch of naval vessels. We are currently examining what Japan can do independently within our legal framework,” Takaichi said in parliament.
Japan said it was "not considering" maritime security operations. Australia's transport minister said Monday the country won't be sending a navy ship to the Strait of Hormuz
The United Arab Emirates' air defence systems were intercepting Iranian missiles and drones on Monday, the Gulf nation's defence ministry said. "UAE air defences are currently responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran," the UAE Ministry of Defence posted on X.
Beijing said on Monday it has "lodged representations" and urged Washington to "correct its erroneous ways" after the US launched new trade probes last week, with negotiators from both countries meeting in Paris. Washington's trade investigations target 60 economies including China and will look into "failures to take action on forced labor" and whether these burden or restrict US commerce.
Those investigations came a day after a separate set of US probes centred on excess industrial capacity that target 16 trading partners including China, which Beijing's foreign ministry criticised as "political manipulation".
Twenty Thai crew members of a cargo ship that was attacked in the crucial Strait of Hormuz arrived in Thailand on Monday, with three of their colleagues still stranded on the vessel in the Gulf. The Thai-registered Mayuree Naree was hit by two projectiles on Wednesday while transiting through the Gulf waterway, after departing a port in the United Arab Emirates.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had struck the Thai ship, as well as a Liberia-flagged vessel, in the strait because they had ignored "warnings".
French President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday he had told Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian it was "unacceptable" to target French interests, after an Iranian-designed drone killed a French soldier in Iraq's Kurdistan region last week.
"I called on him to put an immediate end to the unacceptable attacks that Iran is carrying out against countries in the region, whether directly or through proxies, as in Lebanon and Iraq," Macron said on X after his call with Pezeshkian.
Iran's foreign minister said on Monday that Israeli strikes on Tehran fuel depots constituted "ecocide" due to the long-term risks to residents' health. "Israel's bombings of fuel depots in Tehran violate international law and constitute ecocide," Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X.
"Residents face long-term damage to their health and well-being. Contamination of soil and groundwater could have generational impacts," the post added.
US President Donald Trump has expressed his desire to see China helping the US in helping to secure the Strait of Hormuz. He also reflected on his upcoming China visit and meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and hinted that it could be delayed. Trump's statement comes as uncertainity surrounded the upcoming visit amid war in West Asia. Trump and Jinping met in South Korea in 2025 and reached a truce in the US-China trade tensions and decided to meet again in March 2026. However, America's pre-emptive attack on Iran alongside Israel on Feb 28 and China's alleged help to Iran in providing satellite technology, has complicated the matters even as the US president has reiterated, time and again, that he has a good relationship with the Chinese president.
A drone-related incident triggered a fire near Dubai International Airport on Monday (Mar 16), according to city authorities, amid raging war in West Asia and Iran's intensified attacks targeting the Gulf nations. The Dubai Media Office confirmed that there had been no reports of injuries. It posted on X, "A drone incident in the vicinity of Dubai International Airport (DXB) affected one of the fuel tanks. Dubai Civil Defence teams are currently working to bring the fire under control." On Wednesday, the city media office said two falling drones wounded four people near the airport.
US President Donald Trump on Sunday (Mar 15) warned that North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) could face a “very bad” future if US allies fail to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz. His message is seen as a blunt call to European nations to support Washington’s efforts amid the ongoing conflict with Iran. He also reminded the NATO nations of America's help in Ukraine-Russia war. The US president also expressed disappointment over the UK’s initial refusal to allow the use of its bases by the US.
Oil prices hovered around $100 a barrel Monday and stocks fluctuated as the Iran war moved into a third week with both sides showing no sign of backing down and diplomats trying to ensure safe passage for tankers through the crucial Strait of Hormuz.
Crude shot up in the opening minutes after the US president said at the weekend that forces struck military targets on Kharg Island, a scrubby stretch of land in the Gulf that handles almost all of Iran's oil exports.
He also warned attacks could expand to energy infrastructure if the Islamic republic interferes with transit through Hormuz, which has been effectively closed since the US-Israel operations began on February 28.
Saudi Arabia has intercepted more than 60 drones since midnight, according to a tally of defence ministry figures released on Monday.
The Saudi defence ministry posted a series of statements on X describing the interception of a total of 61 drones in the east of the country in the early hours of Monday morning.
Seventeen days on, and there is no end in sight to the West Asian war. What began as Israel and the US' joint military strike in Iran on February 28 has spread across the region far and beyond. Following the attack which killed Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei, Tehran conducted airstrikes on American bases in West Asia.
Ali Khamenei's son Mojtaba Khamenei has been chosen to lead the country. While Trump has said that the new leader of Iran won't last long without his approval, Israel has threatened that he is the “target.” The three sides are bombing relentlessly with Israel having expanded its offensive to target Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The ripple effect: Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Lebanon have also been targets of drones and missiles. The Strait of Hormuz has been blocked, and that has led to a situation even back home in India. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, in its briefing, said the LPG situation in the country is “a concern" though no official shortage has been mentioned. New Delhi has used diversified channels to procure crude.
In the latest: Donald Trump said on Sunday ( Mar 15) that the United States was in discussions with Iran as the war enters its third week, but that Tehran was not ready for a deal to end it. "But I don't think they're ready. But they are getting pretty close," Trump said. Iran's foreign minister had denied earlier that any talks with the United States were taking place.
Follow WION for the latest developments on the ongoing West Asia war
Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, on Monday (March 16) said that the Strait of Hormuz is only closed for enemies and those supporting their aggression, and clarified that Iran has not requested a ceasefire while emphasising that any end to the war with the United States and Israel must be definitive, Reuters reported, citing the semi-official Students News Network.
Sri Lanka announced a shorter work week to protect its scarce fuel reserves as it prepares for a prolonged war in the Middle East, officials said on Monday. Commissioner-General of Essential Services Prabath Chandrakeerthi said, "We are also asking the private sector to follow suit and declare every Wednesday a holiday from now on," Chandrakeerthi told reporters after an emergency meeting chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. "We must prepare for the worst, but hope for the best," Dissanayake told senior officials, according to one who attended the meeting.
International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol said Monday more strategic oil stocks could be released if necessary to limit the fallout of from the near complete blockage of supplies through the Strait of Hormuz.
US President Donald Trump said he will hold a "news conference" on Monday as the war he ordered against Iran continues for a third week.
Trump frequently takes questions from reporters so it was not immediately clear if the latest event had a specific topic.
"News Conference today," Trump announced on his Truth Social Platform, adding it would take place just before a meeting at the White House on the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
The sharp decline in WTI crude oil prices to below $95 per barrel, a drop of roughly 8% in 12 hours, marks a significant pivot in energy markets following a period of extreme volatility.
US Central Command reported today that the joint force has successfully neutralised more than 100 vessels, including the entire class of Shahid Soleimani guided-missile catamarans and at least one drone-carrier ship.
Forty-five flights from various countries in the Gulf region, includng the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman and the Qatar are expected to land at various airports in India on Monday, an Indian government official said adding that around 2,20,000 Indians have returned to the country since February 28, when the war first began.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Monday Britain was working with allies to come up with a "viable" plan to reopen the key Strait of Hormuz, but ruled out a NATO mission.
During a press conference in Downing Street, Starmer told reporters he had discussed the situation in the vital oil transport route, effectively closed by Iran during the Middle East war, with US President Donald Trump.
Explosions hit Iranian capital: AFP
Aircraft used for the official transport of senior Islamic Republic officials were destroyed in a new wave of strikes on Tehran’s Mehrabad airport overnight, Iran International has learned.
China’s Foreign Ministry called for an immediate halt to military operations in the Middle East, warning that further regional escalation could hit the global economy.
Fire breaks out in UAE's petroleum industrial zone Fujairah after drone strike. No casualties have been reported so far.
Iranian female soccer players are expected to travel to alternative destinations as they are unable to return to their country immediately, said Asian Football Confederation (AFC) General Secretary Windsor John.
“It is in our interest to keep the Strait of Hormuz open and that’s why we are also discussing what we can do in this regard from the European side,” says EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.
A "drone-related incident" sparked a fuel tank fire near Dubai airport on Monday and disrupted travel, as Iran maintained its Gulf attacks, though authorities said flights were gradually resuming.
"Flights to and from DXB are gradually resuming to selected destinations, following the temporary suspension implemented as a precautionary measure," Dubai Airports said in a statement on X.
Japan said on Monday it was beginning the release of its strategic oil reserves after the International Energy Agency indicated earlier that the release would begin in Asia and Oceania before other regions. IEA members agreed on March 11 to tap oil stockpiles to cushion the surge in prices caused by the war in the Middle East -- by far the largest-ever response of its kind.
Japan, which depends on the Middle East for 95 percent of its oil imports, said Monday in a notice in its official government gazette that the level of oil reserves in the country "is being lowered".
Twenty Thai crew members of a cargo ship attacked in the crucial Strait of Hormuz arrived in Thailand on Monday, with three of their colleagues still stranded on the vessel in the Gulf.
The Thai-registered Mayuree Naree was hit by two projectiles on Wednesday while transiting through the Gulf waterway, after departing a port in the United Arab Emirates.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had struck the Thai ship, as well as a Liberia-flagged vessel, in the strait because they had ignored "warnings".
The 20 sailors landed at Thailand's main international airport early Monday morning and were immediately escorted away by officials without speaking to gathered media.
The wife of one of the returned crew, who gave her name as Bass, told reporters she was still waiting to see her husband after the ordeal.
United Arab Emirates in a statement said that one person was killed by missile attack on civilian car in Abu Dhabi
Israel army says begun 'limited targeted ground operations' against Hezbollah in south Lebanon
Columns of smoke have been seen over Tehran after Israel launched a new wave of strikes on the Iranian capital
Emirates airlines has announced it will “operate a limited schedule” after 10am (06:00 GMT) today
Reuven Azar, Israel’s ambassador to India, said his country is not seeking a “perpetual war” when asked about the duration of the ongoing conflict. He stressed that Israel’s goal is security and stability, not an endless military confrontation. He also said that the war is intended to remove 'existential threats'
Eleven Indian nationals have been indicted in the United States for their alleged involvement in a fraudulent conspiracy to orchestrate staged armed robberies aimed at helping individuals secure illegitimate immigration status.
Iran's exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi has issued a stirring call to his "compatriots" ahead of the ancient festival of Charshanbeh Suri, accusing the Iranian leadership of attempting to suppress the national ritual. In a statement posted on the social media platform X, Pahlavi asserted that "the anti-Iranian regime of the Islamic Republic is once again attempting to prevent this ancient national ritual."
Trump said the United States and Israel are largely aligned in their military goals in the war with Iran. "I think we have similar objectives, really, but could be a little bit different. The relationship has been very good. The militaries are very well coordinated. Ours is the strongest by far in the world. And they have a real good military,” Trump said when asked whether Israel’s strategy differs from that of the United States.”
In a lengthy Truth Social post railing against the media, Trump praised that Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr’s threats to potentially revoke the licenses of local broadcasters over coverage he deemed “fake. “I am so thrilled to see Brendan Carr, the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), looking at the licenses of some of these Corrupt and Highly Unpatriotic ‘News’ Organizations,” Trump said.
“The overall maritime threat environment remains at a critical level due to recent attack patterns, continued navigation interference and persistent operational disruption, to include port facilities, across the region," UK maritime agency warns
Japan is not currently planning to send ships to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said. “We have not yet made any decisions whatsoever regarding the dispatch of naval vessels. We are currently examining what Japan can do independently within our legal framework,” Takaichi said in parliament.
Japan said it was "not considering" maritime security operations. Australia's transport minister said Monday the country won't be sending a navy ship to the Strait of Hormuz
The United Arab Emirates' air defence systems were intercepting Iranian missiles and drones on Monday, the Gulf nation's defence ministry said. "UAE air defences are currently responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran," the UAE Ministry of Defence posted on X.
Beijing said on Monday it has "lodged representations" and urged Washington to "correct its erroneous ways" after the US launched new trade probes last week, with negotiators from both countries meeting in Paris. Washington's trade investigations target 60 economies including China and will look into "failures to take action on forced labor" and whether these burden or restrict US commerce.
Those investigations came a day after a separate set of US probes centred on excess industrial capacity that target 16 trading partners including China, which Beijing's foreign ministry criticised as "political manipulation".
Twenty Thai crew members of a cargo ship that was attacked in the crucial Strait of Hormuz arrived in Thailand on Monday, with three of their colleagues still stranded on the vessel in the Gulf. The Thai-registered Mayuree Naree was hit by two projectiles on Wednesday while transiting through the Gulf waterway, after departing a port in the United Arab Emirates.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had struck the Thai ship, as well as a Liberia-flagged vessel, in the strait because they had ignored "warnings".
French President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday he had told Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian it was "unacceptable" to target French interests, after an Iranian-designed drone killed a French soldier in Iraq's Kurdistan region last week.
"I called on him to put an immediate end to the unacceptable attacks that Iran is carrying out against countries in the region, whether directly or through proxies, as in Lebanon and Iraq," Macron said on X after his call with Pezeshkian.
Iran's foreign minister said on Monday that Israeli strikes on Tehran fuel depots constituted "ecocide" due to the long-term risks to residents' health. "Israel's bombings of fuel depots in Tehran violate international law and constitute ecocide," Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X.
"Residents face long-term damage to their health and well-being. Contamination of soil and groundwater could have generational impacts," the post added.
US President Donald Trump has expressed his desire to see China helping the US in helping to secure the Strait of Hormuz. He also reflected on his upcoming China visit and meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and hinted that it could be delayed. Trump's statement comes as uncertainity surrounded the upcoming visit amid war in West Asia. Trump and Jinping met in South Korea in 2025 and reached a truce in the US-China trade tensions and decided to meet again in March 2026. However, America's pre-emptive attack on Iran alongside Israel on Feb 28 and China's alleged help to Iran in providing satellite technology, has complicated the matters even as the US president has reiterated, time and again, that he has a good relationship with the Chinese president.
A drone-related incident triggered a fire near Dubai International Airport on Monday (Mar 16), according to city authorities, amid raging war in West Asia and Iran's intensified attacks targeting the Gulf nations. The Dubai Media Office confirmed that there had been no reports of injuries. It posted on X, "A drone incident in the vicinity of Dubai International Airport (DXB) affected one of the fuel tanks. Dubai Civil Defence teams are currently working to bring the fire under control." On Wednesday, the city media office said two falling drones wounded four people near the airport.
US President Donald Trump on Sunday (Mar 15) warned that North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) could face a “very bad” future if US allies fail to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz. His message is seen as a blunt call to European nations to support Washington’s efforts amid the ongoing conflict with Iran. He also reminded the NATO nations of America's help in Ukraine-Russia war. The US president also expressed disappointment over the UK’s initial refusal to allow the use of its bases by the US.
Oil prices hovered around $100 a barrel Monday and stocks fluctuated as the Iran war moved into a third week with both sides showing no sign of backing down and diplomats trying to ensure safe passage for tankers through the crucial Strait of Hormuz.
Crude shot up in the opening minutes after the US president said at the weekend that forces struck military targets on Kharg Island, a scrubby stretch of land in the Gulf that handles almost all of Iran's oil exports.
He also warned attacks could expand to energy infrastructure if the Islamic republic interferes with transit through Hormuz, which has been effectively closed since the US-Israel operations began on February 28.
Saudi Arabia has intercepted more than 60 drones since midnight, according to a tally of defence ministry figures released on Monday.
The Saudi defence ministry posted a series of statements on X describing the interception of a total of 61 drones in the east of the country in the early hours of Monday morning.
Seventeen days on, and there is no end in sight to the West Asian war. What began as Israel and the US' joint military strike in Iran on February 28 has spread across the region far and beyond. Following the attack which killed Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei, Tehran conducted airstrikes on American bases in West Asia.
Ali Khamenei's son Mojtaba Khamenei has been chosen to lead the country. While Trump has said that the new leader of Iran won't last long without his approval, Israel has threatened that he is the “target.” The three sides are bombing relentlessly with Israel having expanded its offensive to target Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The ripple effect: Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Lebanon have also been targets of drones and missiles. The Strait of Hormuz has been blocked, and that has led to a situation even back home in India. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, in its briefing, said the LPG situation in the country is “a concern" though no official shortage has been mentioned. New Delhi has used diversified channels to procure crude.
In the latest: Donald Trump said on Sunday ( Mar 15) that the United States was in discussions with Iran as the war enters its third week, but that Tehran was not ready for a deal to end it. "But I don't think they're ready. But they are getting pretty close," Trump said. Iran's foreign minister had denied earlier that any talks with the United States were taking place.
Follow WION for the latest developments on the ongoing West Asia war
Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, on Monday (March 16) said that the Strait of Hormuz is only closed for enemies and those supporting their aggression, and clarified that Iran has not requested a ceasefire while emphasising that any end to the war with the United States and Israel must be definitive, Reuters reported, citing the semi-official Students News Network.
Sri Lanka announced a shorter work week to protect its scarce fuel reserves as it prepares for a prolonged war in the Middle East, officials said on Monday. Commissioner-General of Essential Services Prabath Chandrakeerthi said, "We are also asking the private sector to follow suit and declare every Wednesday a holiday from now on," Chandrakeerthi told reporters after an emergency meeting chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. "We must prepare for the worst, but hope for the best," Dissanayake told senior officials, according to one who attended the meeting.
International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol said Monday more strategic oil stocks could be released if necessary to limit the fallout of from the near complete blockage of supplies through the Strait of Hormuz.
US President Donald Trump said he will hold a "news conference" on Monday as the war he ordered against Iran continues for a third week.
Trump frequently takes questions from reporters so it was not immediately clear if the latest event had a specific topic.
"News Conference today," Trump announced on his Truth Social Platform, adding it would take place just before a meeting at the White House on the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
The sharp decline in WTI crude oil prices to below $95 per barrel, a drop of roughly 8% in 12 hours, marks a significant pivot in energy markets following a period of extreme volatility.
US Central Command reported today that the joint force has successfully neutralised more than 100 vessels, including the entire class of Shahid Soleimani guided-missile catamarans and at least one drone-carrier ship.
Forty-five flights from various countries in the Gulf region, includng the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman and the Qatar are expected to land at various airports in India on Monday, an Indian government official said adding that around 2,20,000 Indians have returned to the country since February 28, when the war first began.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Monday Britain was working with allies to come up with a "viable" plan to reopen the key Strait of Hormuz, but ruled out a NATO mission.
During a press conference in Downing Street, Starmer told reporters he had discussed the situation in the vital oil transport route, effectively closed by Iran during the Middle East war, with US President Donald Trump.
Explosions hit Iranian capital: AFP
Aircraft used for the official transport of senior Islamic Republic officials were destroyed in a new wave of strikes on Tehran’s Mehrabad airport overnight, Iran International has learned.
China’s Foreign Ministry called for an immediate halt to military operations in the Middle East, warning that further regional escalation could hit the global economy.
Fire breaks out in UAE's petroleum industrial zone Fujairah after drone strike. No casualties have been reported so far.
Iranian female soccer players are expected to travel to alternative destinations as they are unable to return to their country immediately, said Asian Football Confederation (AFC) General Secretary Windsor John.
“It is in our interest to keep the Strait of Hormuz open and that’s why we are also discussing what we can do in this regard from the European side,” says EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.
A "drone-related incident" sparked a fuel tank fire near Dubai airport on Monday and disrupted travel, as Iran maintained its Gulf attacks, though authorities said flights were gradually resuming.
"Flights to and from DXB are gradually resuming to selected destinations, following the temporary suspension implemented as a precautionary measure," Dubai Airports said in a statement on X.
Japan said on Monday it was beginning the release of its strategic oil reserves after the International Energy Agency indicated earlier that the release would begin in Asia and Oceania before other regions. IEA members agreed on March 11 to tap oil stockpiles to cushion the surge in prices caused by the war in the Middle East -- by far the largest-ever response of its kind.
Japan, which depends on the Middle East for 95 percent of its oil imports, said Monday in a notice in its official government gazette that the level of oil reserves in the country "is being lowered".
Twenty Thai crew members of a cargo ship attacked in the crucial Strait of Hormuz arrived in Thailand on Monday, with three of their colleagues still stranded on the vessel in the Gulf.
The Thai-registered Mayuree Naree was hit by two projectiles on Wednesday while transiting through the Gulf waterway, after departing a port in the United Arab Emirates.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had struck the Thai ship, as well as a Liberia-flagged vessel, in the strait because they had ignored "warnings".
The 20 sailors landed at Thailand's main international airport early Monday morning and were immediately escorted away by officials without speaking to gathered media.
The wife of one of the returned crew, who gave her name as Bass, told reporters she was still waiting to see her husband after the ordeal.
United Arab Emirates in a statement said that one person was killed by missile attack on civilian car in Abu Dhabi
Israel army says begun 'limited targeted ground operations' against Hezbollah in south Lebanon
Columns of smoke have been seen over Tehran after Israel launched a new wave of strikes on the Iranian capital
Emirates airlines has announced it will “operate a limited schedule” after 10am (06:00 GMT) today
Reuven Azar, Israel’s ambassador to India, said his country is not seeking a “perpetual war” when asked about the duration of the ongoing conflict. He stressed that Israel’s goal is security and stability, not an endless military confrontation. He also said that the war is intended to remove 'existential threats'
Eleven Indian nationals have been indicted in the United States for their alleged involvement in a fraudulent conspiracy to orchestrate staged armed robberies aimed at helping individuals secure illegitimate immigration status.
Iran's exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi has issued a stirring call to his "compatriots" ahead of the ancient festival of Charshanbeh Suri, accusing the Iranian leadership of attempting to suppress the national ritual. In a statement posted on the social media platform X, Pahlavi asserted that "the anti-Iranian regime of the Islamic Republic is once again attempting to prevent this ancient national ritual."
Trump said the United States and Israel are largely aligned in their military goals in the war with Iran. "I think we have similar objectives, really, but could be a little bit different. The relationship has been very good. The militaries are very well coordinated. Ours is the strongest by far in the world. And they have a real good military,” Trump said when asked whether Israel’s strategy differs from that of the United States.”
In a lengthy Truth Social post railing against the media, Trump praised that Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr’s threats to potentially revoke the licenses of local broadcasters over coverage he deemed “fake. “I am so thrilled to see Brendan Carr, the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), looking at the licenses of some of these Corrupt and Highly Unpatriotic ‘News’ Organizations,” Trump said.
“The overall maritime threat environment remains at a critical level due to recent attack patterns, continued navigation interference and persistent operational disruption, to include port facilities, across the region," UK maritime agency warns
Japan is not currently planning to send ships to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said. “We have not yet made any decisions whatsoever regarding the dispatch of naval vessels. We are currently examining what Japan can do independently within our legal framework,” Takaichi said in parliament.
Japan said it was "not considering" maritime security operations. Australia's transport minister said Monday the country won't be sending a navy ship to the Strait of Hormuz
The United Arab Emirates' air defence systems were intercepting Iranian missiles and drones on Monday, the Gulf nation's defence ministry said. "UAE air defences are currently responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran," the UAE Ministry of Defence posted on X.
Beijing said on Monday it has "lodged representations" and urged Washington to "correct its erroneous ways" after the US launched new trade probes last week, with negotiators from both countries meeting in Paris. Washington's trade investigations target 60 economies including China and will look into "failures to take action on forced labor" and whether these burden or restrict US commerce.
Those investigations came a day after a separate set of US probes centred on excess industrial capacity that target 16 trading partners including China, which Beijing's foreign ministry criticised as "political manipulation".
Twenty Thai crew members of a cargo ship that was attacked in the crucial Strait of Hormuz arrived in Thailand on Monday, with three of their colleagues still stranded on the vessel in the Gulf. The Thai-registered Mayuree Naree was hit by two projectiles on Wednesday while transiting through the Gulf waterway, after departing a port in the United Arab Emirates.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had struck the Thai ship, as well as a Liberia-flagged vessel, in the strait because they had ignored "warnings".
French President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday he had told Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian it was "unacceptable" to target French interests, after an Iranian-designed drone killed a French soldier in Iraq's Kurdistan region last week.
"I called on him to put an immediate end to the unacceptable attacks that Iran is carrying out against countries in the region, whether directly or through proxies, as in Lebanon and Iraq," Macron said on X after his call with Pezeshkian.
Iran's foreign minister said on Monday that Israeli strikes on Tehran fuel depots constituted "ecocide" due to the long-term risks to residents' health. "Israel's bombings of fuel depots in Tehran violate international law and constitute ecocide," Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X.
"Residents face long-term damage to their health and well-being. Contamination of soil and groundwater could have generational impacts," the post added.
US President Donald Trump has expressed his desire to see China helping the US in helping to secure the Strait of Hormuz. He also reflected on his upcoming China visit and meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and hinted that it could be delayed. Trump's statement comes as uncertainity surrounded the upcoming visit amid war in West Asia. Trump and Jinping met in South Korea in 2025 and reached a truce in the US-China trade tensions and decided to meet again in March 2026. However, America's pre-emptive attack on Iran alongside Israel on Feb 28 and China's alleged help to Iran in providing satellite technology, has complicated the matters even as the US president has reiterated, time and again, that he has a good relationship with the Chinese president.
A drone-related incident triggered a fire near Dubai International Airport on Monday (Mar 16), according to city authorities, amid raging war in West Asia and Iran's intensified attacks targeting the Gulf nations. The Dubai Media Office confirmed that there had been no reports of injuries. It posted on X, "A drone incident in the vicinity of Dubai International Airport (DXB) affected one of the fuel tanks. Dubai Civil Defence teams are currently working to bring the fire under control." On Wednesday, the city media office said two falling drones wounded four people near the airport.
US President Donald Trump on Sunday (Mar 15) warned that North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) could face a “very bad” future if US allies fail to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz. His message is seen as a blunt call to European nations to support Washington’s efforts amid the ongoing conflict with Iran. He also reminded the NATO nations of America's help in Ukraine-Russia war. The US president also expressed disappointment over the UK’s initial refusal to allow the use of its bases by the US.
Oil prices hovered around $100 a barrel Monday and stocks fluctuated as the Iran war moved into a third week with both sides showing no sign of backing down and diplomats trying to ensure safe passage for tankers through the crucial Strait of Hormuz.
Crude shot up in the opening minutes after the US president said at the weekend that forces struck military targets on Kharg Island, a scrubby stretch of land in the Gulf that handles almost all of Iran's oil exports.
He also warned attacks could expand to energy infrastructure if the Islamic republic interferes with transit through Hormuz, which has been effectively closed since the US-Israel operations began on February 28.
Saudi Arabia has intercepted more than 60 drones since midnight, according to a tally of defence ministry figures released on Monday.
The Saudi defence ministry posted a series of statements on X describing the interception of a total of 61 drones in the east of the country in the early hours of Monday morning.
Seventeen days on, and there is no end in sight to the West Asian war. What began as Israel and the US' joint military strike in Iran on February 28 has spread across the region far and beyond. Following the attack which killed Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei, Tehran conducted airstrikes on American bases in West Asia.
Ali Khamenei's son Mojtaba Khamenei has been chosen to lead the country. While Trump has said that the new leader of Iran won't last long without his approval, Israel has threatened that he is the “target.” The three sides are bombing relentlessly with Israel having expanded its offensive to target Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The ripple effect: Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Lebanon have also been targets of drones and missiles. The Strait of Hormuz has been blocked, and that has led to a situation even back home in India. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, in its briefing, said the LPG situation in the country is “a concern" though no official shortage has been mentioned. New Delhi has used diversified channels to procure crude.
In the latest: Donald Trump said on Sunday ( Mar 15) that the United States was in discussions with Iran as the war enters its third week, but that Tehran was not ready for a deal to end it. "But I don't think they're ready. But they are getting pretty close," Trump said. Iran's foreign minister had denied earlier that any talks with the United States were taking place.
Follow WION for the latest developments on the ongoing West Asia war
Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, on Monday (March 16) said that the Strait of Hormuz is only closed for enemies and those supporting their aggression, and clarified that Iran has not requested a ceasefire while emphasising that any end to the war with the United States and Israel must be definitive, Reuters reported, citing the semi-official Students News Network.
Sri Lanka announced a shorter work week to protect its scarce fuel reserves as it prepares for a prolonged war in the Middle East, officials said on Monday. Commissioner-General of Essential Services Prabath Chandrakeerthi said, "We are also asking the private sector to follow suit and declare every Wednesday a holiday from now on," Chandrakeerthi told reporters after an emergency meeting chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. "We must prepare for the worst, but hope for the best," Dissanayake told senior officials, according to one who attended the meeting.
International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol said Monday more strategic oil stocks could be released if necessary to limit the fallout of from the near complete blockage of supplies through the Strait of Hormuz.
US President Donald Trump said he will hold a "news conference" on Monday as the war he ordered against Iran continues for a third week.
Trump frequently takes questions from reporters so it was not immediately clear if the latest event had a specific topic.
"News Conference today," Trump announced on his Truth Social Platform, adding it would take place just before a meeting at the White House on the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
The sharp decline in WTI crude oil prices to below $95 per barrel, a drop of roughly 8% in 12 hours, marks a significant pivot in energy markets following a period of extreme volatility.
US Central Command reported today that the joint force has successfully neutralised more than 100 vessels, including the entire class of Shahid Soleimani guided-missile catamarans and at least one drone-carrier ship.
Forty-five flights from various countries in the Gulf region, includng the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman and the Qatar are expected to land at various airports in India on Monday, an Indian government official said adding that around 2,20,000 Indians have returned to the country since February 28, when the war first began.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Monday Britain was working with allies to come up with a "viable" plan to reopen the key Strait of Hormuz, but ruled out a NATO mission.
During a press conference in Downing Street, Starmer told reporters he had discussed the situation in the vital oil transport route, effectively closed by Iran during the Middle East war, with US President Donald Trump.
Explosions hit Iranian capital: AFP
Aircraft used for the official transport of senior Islamic Republic officials were destroyed in a new wave of strikes on Tehran’s Mehrabad airport overnight, Iran International has learned.
China’s Foreign Ministry called for an immediate halt to military operations in the Middle East, warning that further regional escalation could hit the global economy.
Fire breaks out in UAE's petroleum industrial zone Fujairah after drone strike. No casualties have been reported so far.
Iranian female soccer players are expected to travel to alternative destinations as they are unable to return to their country immediately, said Asian Football Confederation (AFC) General Secretary Windsor John.
“It is in our interest to keep the Strait of Hormuz open and that’s why we are also discussing what we can do in this regard from the European side,” says EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.
A "drone-related incident" sparked a fuel tank fire near Dubai airport on Monday and disrupted travel, as Iran maintained its Gulf attacks, though authorities said flights were gradually resuming.
"Flights to and from DXB are gradually resuming to selected destinations, following the temporary suspension implemented as a precautionary measure," Dubai Airports said in a statement on X.
Japan said on Monday it was beginning the release of its strategic oil reserves after the International Energy Agency indicated earlier that the release would begin in Asia and Oceania before other regions. IEA members agreed on March 11 to tap oil stockpiles to cushion the surge in prices caused by the war in the Middle East -- by far the largest-ever response of its kind.
Japan, which depends on the Middle East for 95 percent of its oil imports, said Monday in a notice in its official government gazette that the level of oil reserves in the country "is being lowered".
Twenty Thai crew members of a cargo ship attacked in the crucial Strait of Hormuz arrived in Thailand on Monday, with three of their colleagues still stranded on the vessel in the Gulf.
The Thai-registered Mayuree Naree was hit by two projectiles on Wednesday while transiting through the Gulf waterway, after departing a port in the United Arab Emirates.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had struck the Thai ship, as well as a Liberia-flagged vessel, in the strait because they had ignored "warnings".
The 20 sailors landed at Thailand's main international airport early Monday morning and were immediately escorted away by officials without speaking to gathered media.
The wife of one of the returned crew, who gave her name as Bass, told reporters she was still waiting to see her husband after the ordeal.
United Arab Emirates in a statement said that one person was killed by missile attack on civilian car in Abu Dhabi
Israel army says begun 'limited targeted ground operations' against Hezbollah in south Lebanon
Columns of smoke have been seen over Tehran after Israel launched a new wave of strikes on the Iranian capital
Emirates airlines has announced it will “operate a limited schedule” after 10am (06:00 GMT) today
Reuven Azar, Israel’s ambassador to India, said his country is not seeking a “perpetual war” when asked about the duration of the ongoing conflict. He stressed that Israel’s goal is security and stability, not an endless military confrontation. He also said that the war is intended to remove 'existential threats'
Eleven Indian nationals have been indicted in the United States for their alleged involvement in a fraudulent conspiracy to orchestrate staged armed robberies aimed at helping individuals secure illegitimate immigration status.
Iran's exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi has issued a stirring call to his "compatriots" ahead of the ancient festival of Charshanbeh Suri, accusing the Iranian leadership of attempting to suppress the national ritual. In a statement posted on the social media platform X, Pahlavi asserted that "the anti-Iranian regime of the Islamic Republic is once again attempting to prevent this ancient national ritual."
Trump said the United States and Israel are largely aligned in their military goals in the war with Iran. "I think we have similar objectives, really, but could be a little bit different. The relationship has been very good. The militaries are very well coordinated. Ours is the strongest by far in the world. And they have a real good military,” Trump said when asked whether Israel’s strategy differs from that of the United States.”
In a lengthy Truth Social post railing against the media, Trump praised that Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr’s threats to potentially revoke the licenses of local broadcasters over coverage he deemed “fake. “I am so thrilled to see Brendan Carr, the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), looking at the licenses of some of these Corrupt and Highly Unpatriotic ‘News’ Organizations,” Trump said.
“The overall maritime threat environment remains at a critical level due to recent attack patterns, continued navigation interference and persistent operational disruption, to include port facilities, across the region," UK maritime agency warns
Japan is not currently planning to send ships to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said. “We have not yet made any decisions whatsoever regarding the dispatch of naval vessels. We are currently examining what Japan can do independently within our legal framework,” Takaichi said in parliament.
Japan said it was "not considering" maritime security operations. Australia's transport minister said Monday the country won't be sending a navy ship to the Strait of Hormuz
The United Arab Emirates' air defence systems were intercepting Iranian missiles and drones on Monday, the Gulf nation's defence ministry said. "UAE air defences are currently responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran," the UAE Ministry of Defence posted on X.
Beijing said on Monday it has "lodged representations" and urged Washington to "correct its erroneous ways" after the US launched new trade probes last week, with negotiators from both countries meeting in Paris. Washington's trade investigations target 60 economies including China and will look into "failures to take action on forced labor" and whether these burden or restrict US commerce.
Those investigations came a day after a separate set of US probes centred on excess industrial capacity that target 16 trading partners including China, which Beijing's foreign ministry criticised as "political manipulation".
Twenty Thai crew members of a cargo ship that was attacked in the crucial Strait of Hormuz arrived in Thailand on Monday, with three of their colleagues still stranded on the vessel in the Gulf. The Thai-registered Mayuree Naree was hit by two projectiles on Wednesday while transiting through the Gulf waterway, after departing a port in the United Arab Emirates.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had struck the Thai ship, as well as a Liberia-flagged vessel, in the strait because they had ignored "warnings".
French President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday he had told Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian it was "unacceptable" to target French interests, after an Iranian-designed drone killed a French soldier in Iraq's Kurdistan region last week.
"I called on him to put an immediate end to the unacceptable attacks that Iran is carrying out against countries in the region, whether directly or through proxies, as in Lebanon and Iraq," Macron said on X after his call with Pezeshkian.
Iran's foreign minister said on Monday that Israeli strikes on Tehran fuel depots constituted "ecocide" due to the long-term risks to residents' health. "Israel's bombings of fuel depots in Tehran violate international law and constitute ecocide," Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X.
"Residents face long-term damage to their health and well-being. Contamination of soil and groundwater could have generational impacts," the post added.
US President Donald Trump has expressed his desire to see China helping the US in helping to secure the Strait of Hormuz. He also reflected on his upcoming China visit and meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and hinted that it could be delayed. Trump's statement comes as uncertainity surrounded the upcoming visit amid war in West Asia. Trump and Jinping met in South Korea in 2025 and reached a truce in the US-China trade tensions and decided to meet again in March 2026. However, America's pre-emptive attack on Iran alongside Israel on Feb 28 and China's alleged help to Iran in providing satellite technology, has complicated the matters even as the US president has reiterated, time and again, that he has a good relationship with the Chinese president.
A drone-related incident triggered a fire near Dubai International Airport on Monday (Mar 16), according to city authorities, amid raging war in West Asia and Iran's intensified attacks targeting the Gulf nations. The Dubai Media Office confirmed that there had been no reports of injuries. It posted on X, "A drone incident in the vicinity of Dubai International Airport (DXB) affected one of the fuel tanks. Dubai Civil Defence teams are currently working to bring the fire under control." On Wednesday, the city media office said two falling drones wounded four people near the airport.
US President Donald Trump on Sunday (Mar 15) warned that North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) could face a “very bad” future if US allies fail to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz. His message is seen as a blunt call to European nations to support Washington’s efforts amid the ongoing conflict with Iran. He also reminded the NATO nations of America's help in Ukraine-Russia war. The US president also expressed disappointment over the UK’s initial refusal to allow the use of its bases by the US.
Oil prices hovered around $100 a barrel Monday and stocks fluctuated as the Iran war moved into a third week with both sides showing no sign of backing down and diplomats trying to ensure safe passage for tankers through the crucial Strait of Hormuz.
Crude shot up in the opening minutes after the US president said at the weekend that forces struck military targets on Kharg Island, a scrubby stretch of land in the Gulf that handles almost all of Iran's oil exports.
He also warned attacks could expand to energy infrastructure if the Islamic republic interferes with transit through Hormuz, which has been effectively closed since the US-Israel operations began on February 28.
Saudi Arabia has intercepted more than 60 drones since midnight, according to a tally of defence ministry figures released on Monday.
The Saudi defence ministry posted a series of statements on X describing the interception of a total of 61 drones in the east of the country in the early hours of Monday morning.
