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Democrats’ chances of regaining control of Congress in the upcoming US midterm elections have surged in prediction markets, raising questions about whether escalating geopolitical tensions with Iran are reshaping the political landscape. Data circulating on social media and political betting platforms shows Democrats now holding roughly an 85% probability of winning the House of Representatives, while their odds of capturing the Senate have climbed to about 47%, the highest level in recent months.<h2>What are the chances of Democrats winning the US Midterm elections?</h2>The shift in market expectations comes as tensions surrounding the ongoing Iran conflict dominate political debate in Washington and global headlines. Analysts say geopolitical crises often influence domestic political sentiment, particularly when national security and foreign policy take center stage. Prediction markets aggregate the views of traders who buy and sell contracts tied to real-world outcomes, effectively pricing in collective expectations about future events. These markets have increasingly been watched by political analysts as a complementary indicator alongside traditional polling and forecasting models.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-oil-is-not-well-g7-countries-japan-weigh-strategic-reserve-release-as-price-hovers-around-100-1773061681105">'Oil' is not well: G7 countries, Japan weigh strategic reserve release as price hovers around $100</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">BREAKING: The odds of the Democrats winning the Senate in midterm elections surge to a new high of 47%. Democrats also have a record 85% chance of winning the House of Representatives. Odds have surged since the Iran war began. <a href="https://t.co/D5pJ5ZVCta">pic.twitter.com/D5pJ5ZVCta</a>&mdash; The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) <a href="https://twitter.com/KobeissiLetter/status/2031003462918435249?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

While the reasons behind the shift remain debated, some observers argue that wartime dynamics, public scrutiny of foreign policy decisions, and potential economic spillovers can all influence voter attitudes ahead of major elections.Still, election forecasts remain fluid. Polling data, economic conditions, and developments in the Iran conflict could significantly alter the outlook before voters head to the polls.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/iran-denies-attacks-on-turkiye-cyprus-azerbaijan-focused-on-retaliation-not-talks-1773066568673/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/iran-denies-attacks-on-turkiye-cyprus-azerbaijan-focused-on-retaliation-not-talks-1773066568673/embed</a>&nbsp;For now, however, betting markets suggest growing expectations that Democrats could make significant gains in Congress as the midterm cycle approaches.&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.

Is the Iran war boosting Democrats’ midterm chances? Here's what the prediction markets suggest

Democrats’ chances of regaining control of Congress in the upcoming US midterm elections have surged in prediction markets, raising questions about whether escalating geopolitical tensions with Iran are reshaping the political landscape. Data circulating on social media and political betting platforms shows Democrats now holding roughly an 85% probability of winning the House of Representatives, while their odds of capturing the Senate have climbed to about 47%, the highest level in recent months. What are the chances of Democrats winning the US Midterm elections? The shift in market expectations comes as tensions surrounding the ongoing Iran conflict dominate political debate in Washington and global headlines. Analysts say geopolitical crises often influence domestic political sentiment, particularly when national security and foreign policy take center stage. Prediction markets aggregate the views of traders who buy and sell contracts tied to real-world outcomes, effectively pricing in collective expectations about future events. These markets have increasingly been watched by political analysts as a complementary indicator alongside traditional polling and forecasting models. Also Read: 'Oil' is not well: G7 countries, Japan weigh strategic reserve release as price hovers around $100

Prediction markets show Democrats’ odds rising to 85% for the House and 47% for the Senate as the Iran war reshapes political sentiment ahead of 2026 midterm elections

American President Donald Trump has warned Australia against sending the Iranian football players back home amid growing fears over their safety during the ongoing Women’s Asian Cup in Gold Coast, Queensland. As many as five members of Iran’s women’s team have fled the team hotel in Australia, currently placed in a safe house under the protection of the Australian Federal Police (AFP). Stranded in Australia after their failed campaign, the Iranian women footballers are at the centre of growing calls for their exit from the country to be blocked for the fear of execution or prison in Iran, with their country at war against the US and Israel.&nbsp;Meanwhile, before their tournament opener against South Korea, the Iranian players stood silent during the country’s national anthem, and even though they never explained the reasons behind it, the Iranian government has officially labelled them ‘wartime traitors’.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-timeline-to-end-iran-war-trump-signals-decision-will-be-only-after-mutual-decision-with-netanyahu-1773048531481">No timeline to end Iran war? Trump signals decision will be only after ‘mutual’ decision with Netanyahu</a> &nbsp;A CNN report claims that the players were forced to sing their national anthem ahead of their second group game on Thursday, before repeating it ahead of their final match against the Philippines on Sunday, which they lost by 0-2. The Iranian players not only sang the anthem but also gave a military salute. &nbsp;Following their final league game, the supporters surrounded the team bus, while shouting at the police, 'Save our Girls', before being pulled away. &nbsp;Moreover, the Iranian football players' plight has reached the son of Iran’s ousted shah, Reza Pahlavi, who, on his social media handle X, urged the Australian government to ensure the safety of the five soccer players, including their captain Zahra Ghanbari, warning the Australian authorities that these women will face dire consequences if and when they return to Iran. &nbsp;“As a result of their brave act of civil disobedience in refusing to sing the current regime’s national anthem, they face dire consequences should they return to Iran,” Pahlavi posted on X. “I call on the Australian government to ensure their safety and give them any and all needed support.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">اعضای تیم ملی فوتبال زنان ایران پس از اقدام شجاعانه‌شان در خودداری از خواندن سرود رژیم، با فشارهای شدید و تهدیدهای مداوم از سوی جمهوری اسلامی روبه‌رو هستند و در صورت بازگشت به ایران ممکن است با پیامدهای بسیار جدی مواجه شوند. من از دولت استرالیا می‌خواهم امنیت آنان را تضمین کند و… <a href="https://t.co/YZzVOX6CIO">https://t.co/YZzVOX6CIO</a>&mdash; Reza Pahlavi (@PahlaviReza) <a href="https://twitter.com/PahlaviReza/status/2030722540155404772?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h3>Trump urges Australian government to grant Iranian players asylum</h3>In the latest update on this matter, American President Donald Trump has joined calls to urge the Australian Prime Minister and the related authorities against sending the Iranian team back to their country, where they will face dire consequences upon reaching. Taking to his Truth Social account, Trump wrote,&nbsp; &nbsp;"Australia is making a terrible humanitarian mistake by allowing the Iran National Woman’s Soccer team to be forced back to Iran, where they will most likely be killed. Don’t do it, Mr. Prime Minister, give ASYLUM. The U.S. will take them if you won’t..." Trump wrote.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Australia is making a terrible humanitarian mistake by allowing the Iran National Woman’s Soccer team to be forced back to Iran, where they will most likely be killed. Don’t do it, Mr. Prime Minister, give ASYLUM. The U.S. will take them if you won’t. Thank you for your attention…&mdash; Commentary: Trump Truth Social Posts On X (@TrumpTruthOnX) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrumpTruthOnX/status/2031013005413245176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Donald Trump warns Australia against deporting 5 Iranian footballers currently in police protection. From anthem protests to "wartime traitor" labels, see why Zahra Ghanbari and her teammates are seeking urgent asylum amid the Iran-US war.

American President Donald Trump has warned Australia against sending the Iranian football players back home amid growing fears over their safety during the ongoing Women’s Asian Cup in Gold Coast, Queensland. As many as five members of Iran’s women’s team have fled the team hotel in Australia, currently placed in a safe house under the protection of the Australian Federal Police (AFP). Stranded in Australia after their failed campaign, the Iranian women footballers are at the centre of growing calls for their exit from the country to be blocked for the fear of execution or prison in Iran, with their country at war against the US and Israel. Meanwhile, before their tournament opener against South Korea, the Iranian players stood silent during the country’s national anthem, and even though they never explained the reasons behind it, the Iranian government has officially labelled them ‘wartime traitors’. Also read | No timeline to end Iran war? Trump signals decision will be only after ‘mutual’ decision with Netanyahu A CNN report claims that the players were forced to sing their national anthem ahead of their second group game on Thursday, before repeating it ahead of their final match against the Philippines on Sunday, which they lost by 0-2. The Iranian players not only sang the anthem but also gave a military salute. Following their final league game, the supporters surrounded the team bus, while shouting at the police, 'Save our Girls', before being pulled away. Moreover, the Iranian football players' plight has reached the son of Iran’s ousted shah, Reza Pahlavi, who, on his social media handle X, urged the Australian government to ensure the safety of the five soccer players, including their captain Zahra Ghanbari, warning the Australian authorities that these women will face dire consequences if and when they return to Iran. “As a result of their brave act of civil disobedience in refusing to sing the current regime’s national anthem, they face dire consequences should they return to Iran,” Pahlavi posted on X. “I call on the Australian government to ensure their safety and give them any and all needed support.”

Donald Trump warns Australia against deporting 5 Iranian footballers currently in police protection. From anthem protests to "wartime traitor" labels, see why Zahra Ghanbari and her teammates are seeking urgent asylum amid the Iran-US war.

Trump warns Australia against sending Iranian women footballers back home amid safety concerns

The Iranian Crown Jewels, also known as the Imperial Jewels of Persia, are one of the largest and most valuable collections of jewellery in the world. It is also the largest state-owned collection of royal jewellery in the world, featuring more than 50,000 gemstones collected by monarchs since the 16th century. The collection is housed in the Central Bank of Iran in Tehran, which also includes the 182-carat Darya-e Noor diamond, the Gem-studded Globe, and the Kiani and Pahlavi crowns. The collection spans over 2,500 years of Iranian monarchy, with major additions from the Safavid, Qajar, and Pahlavi dynasties. It is widely considered the most valuable and historically significant jewellery collection in the world. It is so immense that it has been used as a legal reserve to back the Iranian national currency (the Rial) since 1937.<h3>Key highlights of the collection</h3>Darya-ye Noor (Sea of Light): The crown jewel of the collection, it is the world's largest known pink diamond, weighing approximately 182 carats. The Jewelled Globe: A 34-kg solid gold sphere encrusted with over 51,000 gems. Emeralds represent the oceans, while rubies and diamonds mark the landmasses. The Pahlavi Crown: Used for the coronations of Reza Shah and Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, it contains 3,380 diamonds, 369 pearls, and a 100-carat emerald at its apex. The Peacock Throne (Sun Throne): An enormous, jewel-encrusted platform-style throne commissioned in the early 19th century, containing over 26,000 gems. Samarian Spinel: The world's largest spinel, weighing 500 carats.<h3>How much are Iran’s Crown Jewels worth?</h3>If the value of Iran’s Crown Jewels is talked then there is no officially declared amount, but if an inestimable value, with unofficial estimates, is considered, then it is worth between $20 billion and $50 billion. However, several experts fail to capture their true worth.&nbsp;The interesting part of Jewels is that it also backs a currency that gives something solid to lean on. As we know, today, no other nation uses its royal treasures in quite this way. Britain's crown jewels shine in the Tower of London, and Russia's imperial regalia lies behind glass cases, but Iran's collection plays a significant role for its country, as it is treated as money. &nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/historian-says-this-470-year-old-book-was-owned-by-galileo-his-habit-of-praying-was-a-dead-giveaway-1772703188041">Historian says this 470-year-old book was owned by Galileo. His habit of praying was a dead giveaway</a>

The collection of Iranian Crown Jewels spans over 2,500 years of Iranian monarchy, with major additions from the Safavid, Qajar, and Pahlavi dynasties. It is widely considered the most valuable and historically significant jewellery collection in the world. 

The Iranian Crown Jewels, also known as the Imperial Jewels of Persia, are one of the largest and most valuable collections of jewellery in the world. It is also the largest state-owned collection of royal jewellery in the world, featuring more than 50,000 gemstones collected by monarchs since the 16th century. The collection is housed in the Central Bank of Iran in Tehran, which also includes the 182-carat Darya-e Noor diamond, the Gem-studded Globe, and the Kiani and Pahlavi crowns. The collection spans over 2,500 years of Iranian monarchy, with major additions from the Safavid, Qajar, and Pahlavi dynasties. It is widely considered the most valuable and historically significant jewellery collection in the world. It is so immense that it has been used as a legal reserve to back the Iranian national currency (the Rial) since 1937. Key highlights of the collection Darya-ye Noor (Sea of Light): The crown jewel of the collection, it is the world's largest known pink diamond, weighing approximately 182 carats. The Jewelled Globe: A 34-kg solid gold sphere encrusted with over 51,000 gems. Emeralds represent the oceans, while rubies and diamonds mark the landmasses. The Pahlavi Crown: Used for the coronations of Reza Shah and Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, it contains 3,380 diamonds, 369 pearls, and a 100-carat emerald at its apex. The Peacock Throne (Sun Throne): An enormous, jewel-encrusted platform-style throne commissioned in the early 19th century, containing over 26,000 gems. Samarian Spinel: The world's largest spinel, weighing 500 carats. How much are Iran’s Crown Jewels worth? If the value of Iran’s Crown Jewels is talked then there is no officially declared amount, but if an inestimable value, with unofficial estimates, is considered, then it is worth between $20 billion and $50 billion. However, several experts fail to capture their true worth. The interesting part of Jewels is that it also backs a currency that gives something solid to lean on. As we know, today, no other nation uses its royal treasures in quite this way. Britain's crown jewels shine in the Tower of London, and Russia's imperial regalia lies behind glass cases, but Iran's collection plays a significant role for its country, as it is treated as money. Also read: Historian says this 470-year-old book was owned by Galileo. His habit of praying was a dead giveaway

The collection of Iranian Crown Jewels spans over 2,500 years of Iranian monarchy, with major additions from the Safavid, Qajar, and Pahlavi dynasties. It is widely considered the most valuable and historically significant jewellery collection in the world.&nbsp;

How much are Iran’s Crown Jewels worth? Inside the priceless royal treasure

Technology defines the modern world. At no other time in human history is technology changing as fast as it is changing now. With the rise of AI, quantum computing, robotics, semi-conductors and data centres, humanity is poised for its next great leap. These technologies will decide the global pecking order. And no nation that intends to be a serious player on the global stage can afford to neglect the advancements that are happening all around us.&nbsp;But these technologies have also thrown up some fascinating challenges. Is the AI revolution bringing with it a tsunami of job losses? Once AI takes over, what type of jobs will be left for humans to do? Is our society changing on a fundamental level, creating a chasm between people who can harness the power of AI, and those who will lose big because they lost the AI race? How is India's IT sector going to be impacted? What are the ethics of using AI to fight wars? Will the richer and more advanced nations seek to monopolise the cutting-edge AI, robotics and quantum computing. From the personal to the political, these new emerging technologies are changing the geopolitics and are forging a new world order.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/defence-pulse-defence-deterrence-future-warfare-and-strategic-imperatives-1772798608685">Defence Pulse: Defence &amp; deterrence, future warfare and strategic imperatives</a>&nbsp;In the session of Wion World Pulse: Global Summit, called ‘Building consensus on emerging technologies: Can the World aim for a consensus on tech geopolitics?’ we raise these prickly issues with the esteemed guests on the panel:&nbsp;(i) Abhishek Singh, CEO , India AI Mission, a ₹10,300 crore Govt of India initiative, with the mandate to build India's AI computing infrastructure, datasets, foundation models and talent pipeline. Mr Abhishek Singh has said India's mission is to democratise and strengthen the country's AI ecosystem, to ensure that technological progress remains safe, ethical and aligned with India's socio-economic fabric.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-world-pulse-voices-shaping-the-global-dialogue-what-people-say-about-ai-1772907267308">WION World Pulse: Voices Shaping The Global Dialogue | What People Say About AI</a>&nbsp;(ii) Nitin Pai, Co-Founder and Director, Takshashila Foundation. A gold medallist from the National University of Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, his research is focussed on the geopolitics of the Indo-Pacific, defence economics and the politics of radically networked societies.(iii) Venk Krishnan, President, TIE Bangalore &amp; Founder, NuVentures actively supports the startup ecosystem, by empowering emerging companies to scale and succeed. Besides heading the software company Nuware that specializes in software and system development, offering tailored solutions to help businesses navigate the complexities of the digital age.&nbsp;AI is driving change at a pace that few had predicted was possible. Every aspect of our life is on the cusp of being turned on its head. AI, robotics and data learning models are ushering in a revolution that will rewrite how we engage with technology, and the power that individuals, companies and nations will be able to wield by harnessing the power of these new emerging technologies.&nbsp;Humanity stands at a whole new inflection point, where everything from the hospitals that we are born in, to the schools we get out education from, the way governments govern us and to what unfolds on the battlefield will be dictated by AI.&nbsp;&nbsp;Join us for this engaging panel discussion at the WION World Pulse: Global Summit

Is the AI revolution bringing with it a tsunami of job losses? Once AI takes over, what type of jobs will be left for humans to do?

Technology defines the modern world. At no other time in human history is technology changing as fast as it is changing now. With the rise of AI, quantum computing, robotics, semi-conductors and data centres, humanity is poised for its next great leap. These technologies will decide the global pecking order. And no nation that intends to be a serious player on the global stage can afford to neglect the advancements that are happening all around us. But these technologies have also thrown up some fascinating challenges. Is the AI revolution bringing with it a tsunami of job losses? Once AI takes over, what type of jobs will be left for humans to do? Is our society changing on a fundamental level, creating a chasm between people who can harness the power of AI, and those who will lose big because they lost the AI race? How is India's IT sector going to be impacted? What are the ethics of using AI to fight wars? Will the richer and more advanced nations seek to monopolise the cutting-edge AI, robotics and quantum computing. From the personal to the political, these new emerging technologies are changing the geopolitics and are forging a new world order. Also read: Defence Pulse: Defence & deterrence, future warfare and strategic imperatives In the session of Wion World Pulse: Global Summit, called ‘Building consensus on emerging technologies: Can the World aim for a consensus on tech geopolitics?’ we raise these prickly issues with the esteemed guests on the panel: (i) Abhishek Singh, CEO , India AI Mission, a ₹10,300 crore Govt of India initiative, with the mandate to build India's AI computing infrastructure, datasets, foundation models and talent pipeline. Mr Abhishek Singh has said India's mission is to democratise and strengthen the country's AI ecosystem, to ensure that technological progress remains safe, ethical and aligned with India's socio-economic fabric. Also read: WION World Pulse: Voices Shaping The Global Dialogue | What People Say About AI (ii) Nitin Pai, Co-Founder and Director, Takshashila Foundation. A gold medallist from the National University of Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, his research is focussed on the geopolitics of the Indo-Pacific, defence economics and the politics of radically networked societies. (iii) Venk Krishnan, President, TIE Bangalore & Founder, NuVentures actively supports the startup ecosystem, by empowering emerging companies to scale and succeed. Besides heading the software company Nuware that specializes in software and system development, offering tailored solutions to help businesses navigate the complexities of the digital age. AI is driving change at a pace that few had predicted was possible. Every aspect of our life is on the cusp of being turned on its head. AI, robotics and data learning models are ushering in a revolution that will rewrite how we engage with technology, and the power that individuals, companies and nations will be able to wield by harnessing the power of these new emerging technologies. Humanity stands at a whole new inflection point, where everything from the hospitals that we are born in, to the schools we get out education from, the way governments govern us and to what unfolds on the battlefield will be dictated by AI. Join us for this engaging panel discussion at the WION World Pulse: Global Summit

Is the AI revolution bringing with it a tsunami of job losses? Once AI takes over, what type of jobs will be left for humans to do?

Tech Pulse: Can the world aim for a consensus on technological geopolitics?

After several drones and missiles streak across the Middle East sky amid the ongoing war between Iran and the US-Israel, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries remain silent. The six-nation bloc is also quite despite sustaining direct hits on civilian infrastructure, ranging from Dubai’s luxury districts to Saudi oil refineries.&nbsp;For this silent, the world is still wondering for the answer that why some of the most well-funded militaries in the region aren't joining the fray. The answer lies in a complex mix of economic survival, historical lessons, and a desperate attempt to protect their "Post-Oil" futures.&nbsp;Abdullah Baabood, an Oman-based political analyst and visiting scholar at the University of Cambridge, told The i Paper that these nations are stepping back due to the economic and reputational damage that has defined themselves as safe havens in a troubled region. &nbsp;“Iran is trying to hit each country where it hurts most,” he said. “So for Dubai, it’s hotels and tourism, in Qatar, they attacked [LNG facility] Ras Laffan.”&nbsp;Baabood also indicated that the pain has remained in the tolerable range for Gulf countries. The vast majority of incoming drones and missiles were also shot down by the Air defences. He said the priority for the Gulf is “to avoid being dragged into this war at all costs”.&nbsp;A Middle East analyst at the US Baker Institute, Kristian Ulrichsen, said that the leaders in the region are worried about all those things that could further escalate tension from an increasingly aggressive Iran. “An Iranian regime fighting for survival, feeling it has nothing left to lose, could target desalination facilities in the Gulf that people rely on for water, or go all out in attacking energy infrastructure,” he told The i Paper.&nbsp;“There is a feeling that if Donald Trump were to decide he’s had enough and declare victory, and the Gulf states were involved, they would be left alone to face any backlash,” Ulrichsen added.<h3>Gulf region had a lot to lose if further drawn into conflict</h3>Andreas Krieg, a Gulf security expert at the War Studies Department of King’s College London, said countries in the region stand to lose significantly if they become more deeply involved in the ongoing conflict. “Iran’s retaliation options against Gulf targets are broad, scalable and politically painful,” he said. “If a Gulf state crosses the line into overt participation in a US-Israeli campaign, it makes itself a standing target not just during the war but afterwards as well.”&nbsp;He noted that the main priority for governments within the Gulf Cooperation Council is to limit the duration of the war and prevent it from spreading geographically, particularly to avoid their cities, airports and oil facilities turning into frontline targets. Krieg also raised doubts about whether Gulf states could offer more than limited support to the military campaign led by the United States and Israel, which has already carried out thousands of airstrikes on sites across Iran.&nbsp;He also said that Arab governments could face significant political consequences if they were seen as joining a US-Israeli war against a Muslim-majority country. In Bahrain, authorities have recently increased security deployments as the Sunni-led government monitors the largely Shia population amid public expressions of support for people in Iran.<h3>What is GCC?</h3>The GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries are a political and economic union of six Arab nations bordering the Persian Gulf: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain. Established in 1981, this alliance aims to promote regional cooperation, security, and economic integration, with a strong focus on shared cultural and Islamic values.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-launches-wide-scale-strikes-across-iran-as-thousands-in-tehran-pledge-allegiance-to-new-supreme-leader-1773061128382">Israel launches ‘wide-scale’ strikes across Iran as thousands in Tehran pledge allegiance to new supreme leader</a>

A Middle East analyst at the US Baker Institute, Kristian Ulrichsen, said that the leaders in the region are worried about all those things that could further escalate tension from an increasingly aggressive Iran. 

After several drones and missiles streak across the Middle East sky amid the ongoing war between Iran and the US-Israel, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries remain silent. The six-nation bloc is also quite despite sustaining direct hits on civilian infrastructure, ranging from Dubai’s luxury districts to Saudi oil refineries. For this silent, the world is still wondering for the answer that why some of the most well-funded militaries in the region aren't joining the fray. The answer lies in a complex mix of economic survival, historical lessons, and a desperate attempt to protect their "Post-Oil" futures. Abdullah Baabood, an Oman-based political analyst and visiting scholar at the University of Cambridge, told The i Paper that these nations are stepping back due to the economic and reputational damage that has defined themselves as safe havens in a troubled region. “Iran is trying to hit each country where it hurts most,” he said. “So for Dubai, it’s hotels and tourism, in Qatar, they attacked [LNG facility] Ras Laffan.” Baabood also indicated that the pain has remained in the tolerable range for Gulf countries. The vast majority of incoming drones and missiles were also shot down by the Air defences. He said the priority for the Gulf is “to avoid being dragged into this war at all costs”. A Middle East analyst at the US Baker Institute, Kristian Ulrichsen, said that the leaders in the region are worried about all those things that could further escalate tension from an increasingly aggressive Iran. “An Iranian regime fighting for survival, feeling it has nothing left to lose, could target desalination facilities in the Gulf that people rely on for water, or go all out in attacking energy infrastructure,” he told The i Paper. “There is a feeling that if Donald Trump were to decide he’s had enough and declare victory, and the Gulf states were involved, they would be left alone to face any backlash,” Ulrichsen added. Gulf region had a lot to lose if further drawn into conflict Andreas Krieg, a Gulf security expert at the War Studies Department of King’s College London, said countries in the region stand to lose significantly if they become more deeply involved in the ongoing conflict. “Iran’s retaliation options against Gulf targets are broad, scalable and politically painful,” he said. “If a Gulf state crosses the line into overt participation in a US-Israeli campaign, it makes itself a standing target not just during the war but afterwards as well.” He noted that the main priority for governments within the Gulf Cooperation Council is to limit the duration of the war and prevent it from spreading geographically, particularly to avoid their cities, airports and oil facilities turning into frontline targets. Krieg also raised doubts about whether Gulf states could offer more than limited support to the military campaign led by the United States and Israel, which has already carried out thousands of airstrikes on sites across Iran. He also said that Arab governments could face significant political consequences if they were seen as joining a US-Israeli war against a Muslim-majority country. In Bahrain, authorities have recently increased security deployments as the Sunni-led government monitors the largely Shia population amid public expressions of support for people in Iran. What is GCC? The GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries are a political and economic union of six Arab nations bordering the Persian Gulf: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain. Established in 1981, this alliance aims to promote regional cooperation, security, and economic integration, with a strong focus on shared cultural and Islamic values. Also read: Israel launches ‘wide-scale’ strikes across Iran as thousands in Tehran pledge allegiance to new supreme leader

A Middle East analyst at the US Baker Institute, Kristian Ulrichsen, said that the leaders in the region are worried about all those things that could further escalate tension from an increasingly aggressive Iran.&nbsp;

Strategic silence? Why are GCC countries staying out of the Iran war: Key details inside

Indonesia and India have signed a contract for the supply of coastal batteries of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, marking a significant step in deepening defence ties between the two nations and bolstering Jakarta's maritime capabilities. The agreement, confirmed by sources, involves the procurement of coastal variants of the BrahMos system.&nbsp;Sources said that deal is worth $300 million, and was signed in December 2025. The delivery time for 3 batteries is 36 month, and the version has been the same as the one delivered to Philippines. The BrahMos, jointly developed by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation and Russia's NPO Mashinostroyenia, is the world's fastest supersonic cruise missile, capable of speeds up to Mach 3 (three times the speed of sound) with a range capped at 290 km for export versions to comply with international guidelines.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-footage-shows-us-tomahawk-missile-striking-base-near-iran-school-says-report-1773049432597">New footage shows US Tomahawk missile striking base near Iran school: Report</a>&nbsp;Indonesia's interest in sea-launched versions for its warships aligns with its ongoing military modernisation efforts. The pact follows prolonged negotiations that gained momentum during high-level visits, including discussions at the India-Indonesia Defence Ministers' Dialogue in late 2025. This deal positions Indonesia as the second Southeast Asian nation to acquire the BrahMos after the Philippines.&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;In January 2022, Manila signed a $375 million contract for three shore-based anti-ship BrahMos batteries, with deliveries commencing in 2024 and proving successful in enhancing coastal defence. Philippine military leaders have since described the system as a game-changer and expressed interest in additional procurements. The Philippines deal was India's first major BrahMos export, paving the way for broader interest in the region.&nbsp;These agreements are part of India's push to expand its defence industry footprint in the Indo-Pacific, offering an alternative to traditional suppliers amid geopolitical shifts. For Jakarta, diversifying procurement sources reduces reliance on single partners while addressing maritime security needs in a vast archipelago.

India and Indonesia signed a defence deal for BrahMos coastal missile batteries, strengthening maritime security and defence ties. Indonesia becomes the second Southeast Asian country after the Philippines to acquire the supersonic system.

Indonesia and India have signed a contract for the supply of coastal batteries of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, marking a significant step in deepening defence ties between the two nations and bolstering Jakarta's maritime capabilities. The agreement, confirmed by sources, involves the procurement of coastal variants of the BrahMos system. Sources said that deal is worth $300 million, and was signed in December 2025. The delivery time for 3 batteries is 36 month, and the version has been the same as the one delivered to Philippines. The BrahMos, jointly developed by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation and Russia's NPO Mashinostroyenia, is the world's fastest supersonic cruise missile, capable of speeds up to Mach 3 (three times the speed of sound) with a range capped at 290 km for export versions to comply with international guidelines. Also read: New footage shows US Tomahawk missile striking base near Iran school: Report Indonesia's interest in sea-launched versions for its warships aligns with its ongoing military modernisation efforts. The pact follows prolonged negotiations that gained momentum during high-level visits, including discussions at the India-Indonesia Defence Ministers' Dialogue in late 2025. This deal positions Indonesia as the second Southeast Asian nation to acquire the BrahMos after the Philippines. Also read: ‘You’re going to work your a** off’: Uber CEO on work-life balance, expects employees to reply emails on weekends In January 2022, Manila signed a $375 million contract for three shore-based anti-ship BrahMos batteries, with deliveries commencing in 2024 and proving successful in enhancing coastal defence. Philippine military leaders have since described the system as a game-changer and expressed interest in additional procurements. The Philippines deal was India's first major BrahMos export, paving the way for broader interest in the region. These agreements are part of India's push to expand its defence industry footprint in the Indo-Pacific, offering an alternative to traditional suppliers amid geopolitical shifts. For Jakarta, diversifying procurement sources reduces reliance on single partners while addressing maritime security needs in a vast archipelago.

India and Indonesia signed a defence deal for BrahMos coastal missile batteries, strengthening maritime security and defence ties. Indonesia becomes the second Southeast Asian country after the Philippines to acquire the supersonic system.

Indonesia seals contract for India's supersonic BrahMos missile

G7 countries will hold an emergency meeting on Monday (March 9) to address soaring oil prices after crude surged 30% to $119.48, crashed 19% to $96.45, and later settled near $103.32, a massive $23 intraday swing, one of the biggest single-day reversals in crude oil market history. The sharp volatility came as the escalating US-Israel conflict with Iran rattled global markets. Finance ministers from major industrialised economies, including UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves, are expected to discuss the economic consequences of the conflict and its impact on energy markets and inflation.&nbsp;Oil prices spiked as traders feared prolonged disruptions to energy shipments through the crucial Strait of Hormuz, a narrow maritime route that normally carries about 20% of the world’s oil supply. Traffic through the strait has slowed dramatically since the conflict intensified more than a week ago. Global benchmark Brent crude briefly climbed close to $120 per barrel during Asian trading on Monday before retreating to around $107. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude followed similar movements and traded near $104 per barrel.&nbsp;According to a report by the Financial Times, the G7 meeting may consider a coordinated release of petroleum reserves through the International Energy Agency (IEA). If implemented, it would mark the first such intervention since 2022, when reserves were released following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The possibility of major supply disruptions has raised fears of higher energy costs for households and businesses worldwide. Persistent energy inflation could also limit the scope for central banks to cut interest rates.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mirror-of-power-will-mojtaba-khamenei-follow-his-father-ali-khamenei-s-path-or-build-a-harder-line-for-iran-1773057882409">Mirror of power: Will Mojtaba Khamenei follow his father Ali Khamenei’s path or build a harder line for Iran?</a>&nbsp;Geopolitical tensions escalated over the weekend. The US and Israel carried out fresh airstrikes across Iran targeting several sites, including oil storage facilities. Meanwhile, Iran reportedly launched attacks on energy infrastructure in nearby Gulf states. Saudi Arabia said it intercepted two waves of drones heading toward a major oilfield overnight.Political developments inside Iran also added to uncertainty after Mojtaba Khamenei was named successor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, signalling that hardline leadership remains firmly in control during the conflict.<h2>How global markets reacted to Israel-Iran war?</h2>Financial markets reacted sharply. European stock markets fell after steep declines across Asia. Germany’s DAX dropped 1.6% while France’s CAC 40 fell 2%. In London, the FTSE 100 slipped 1.3%, although energy companies BP and Shell gained as oil prices surged. Asian markets saw deeper losses earlier in the day. Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 5.2%, while South Korea’s Kospi dropped 6%, triggering a temporary circuit breaker to halt trading and prevent panic selling. Natural gas prices also surged. UK gas for month-ahead delivery jumped nearly 25% to 171p per therm at the start of trading before easing to about 156p. Despite the spike, prices remain far below the 2022 peak of 640p reached after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-iran-war-us-uneasy-after-israel-hits-iranian-fuel-depot-1773052202181/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-iran-war-us-uneasy-after-israel-hits-iranian-fuel-depot-1773052202181/embed</a>&nbsp;Rising geopolitical risks have also pushed up government borrowing costs. The yield on UK two-year government bonds climbed to 4.12% from 3.87%, while the benchmark 10-year yield rose to 4.76%, up from around 4.3% before the conflict began. US President Donald Trump downplayed concerns over rising oil prices. Posting on his Truth Social platform, he said temporary price increases were a small cost for global security and predicted oil prices would fall once Iran’s nuclear threat was eliminated. However, higher fuel costs are already hitting American consumers. Data from the motorists group AAA shows the average price of regular gasoline in the US rose 11% last week to $3.32 per gallon.&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.

'Oil' is not well: G7 countries, Japan weigh strategic reserve release as price hovers around $100

G7 countries will hold an emergency meeting on Monday (March 9) to address soaring oil prices after crude surged 30% to $119.48, crashed 19% to $96.45, and later settled near $103.32, a massive $23 intraday swing, one of the biggest single-day reversals in crude oil market history. The sharp volatility came as the escalating US-Israel conflict with Iran rattled global markets. Finance ministers from major industrialised economies, including UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves, are expected to discuss the economic consequences of the conflict and its impact on energy markets and inflation. Oil prices spiked as traders feared prolonged disruptions to energy shipments through the crucial Strait of Hormuz, a narrow maritime route that normally carries about 20% of the world’s oil supply. Traffic through the strait has slowed dramatically since the conflict intensified more than a week ago. Global benchmark Brent crude briefly climbed close to $120 per barrel during Asian trading on Monday before retreating to around $107. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude followed similar movements and traded near $104 per barrel. According to a report by the Financial Times, the G7 meeting may consider a coordinated release of petroleum reserves through the International Energy Agency (IEA). If implemented, it would mark the first such intervention since 2022, when reserves were released following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The possibility of major supply disruptions has raised fears of higher energy costs for households and businesses worldwide. Persistent energy inflation could also limit the scope for central banks to cut interest rates. Also Read: Mirror of power: Will Mojtaba Khamenei follow his father Ali Khamenei’s path or build a harder line for Iran? Geopolitical tensions escalated over the weekend. The US and Israel carried out fresh airstrikes across Iran targeting several sites, including oil storage facilities. Meanwhile, Iran reportedly launched attacks on energy infrastructure in nearby Gulf states. Saudi Arabia said it intercepted two waves of drones heading toward a major oilfield overnight. Political developments inside Iran also added to uncertainty after Mojtaba Khamenei was named successor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, signalling that hardline leadership remains firmly in control during the conflict. How global markets reacted to Israel-Iran war? Financial markets reacted sharply. European stock markets fell after steep declines across Asia. Germany’s DAX dropped 1.6% while France’s CAC 40 fell 2%. In London, the FTSE 100 slipped 1.3%, although energy companies BP and Shell gained as oil prices surged. Asian markets saw deeper losses earlier in the day. Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 5.2%, while South Korea’s Kospi dropped 6%, triggering a temporary circuit breaker to halt trading and prevent panic selling. Natural gas prices also surged. UK gas for month-ahead delivery jumped nearly 25% to 171p per therm at the start of trading before easing to about 156p. Despite the spike, prices remain far below the 2022 peak of 640p reached after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-iran-war-us-uneasy-after-israel-hits-iranian-fuel-depot-1773052202181/embed Rising geopolitical risks have also pushed up government borrowing costs. The yield on UK two-year government bonds climbed to 4.12% from 3.87%, while the benchmark 10-year yield rose to 4.76%, up from around 4.3% before the conflict began. US President Donald Trump downplayed concerns over rising oil prices. Posting on his Truth Social platform, he said temporary price increases were a small cost for global security and predicted oil prices would fall once Iran’s nuclear threat was eliminated. However, higher fuel costs are already hitting American consumers. Data from the motorists group AAA shows the average price of regular gasoline in the US rose 11% last week to $3.32 per gallon. 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.

G7 countries to hold emergency talks as oil swings wildly amid US-Israel-Iran conflict. Crude surged to $119 before retreating, raising fears of supply disruption

As Iran's Assembly of experts officially appointed Mojtaba Khamenei as the country's third Supreme Leader after his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in a US-Israeli airstrike on 28 February, the Israeli military on Monday (Feb 09) launched a "wide-scale" strikes on Tehran, Isfahan and southern Iran, shortly after one man was killed in Israel following missile launches from Iran.&nbsp;"The IDF has just begun a wide-scale wave of strikes against the infrastructure of the Iranian terror regime across Tehran, Isfahan, and southern Iran," the military said in a statement.&nbsp;Amid the strikes, thousands of people gathered at Tehran's Enghelab Square to pledge allegiance to the Islamic Republic's new leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, AFP reported, citing journalists.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-to-attack-mojtaba-khamenei-ex-ambassador-warns-says-duty-bound-to-eliminate-1773058915216">Israel to attack Mojtaba Khamenei? Ex-ambassador warns, says ‘duty-bound to eliminate...’</a>&nbsp;The crowds that were seen at Tehran's central square saw many carrying Iranian flags and portraits of the new supreme leader and were raising anti-American and anti-Israeli slogans. The Islamic Republic on Sunday night named hardline Mojabata as its new leader amid a US-Israeli campaign to trigger regime change in Iran through military strikes. He is known to have close ties with the elite Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and wielded significant influence in Israeli politics despite never holding any political office. The move comes after a deadly war in West Asia triggered by the launch of a joint military operation by the US-Israeli forces on February 28, targeting top leadership of Iran, including late Supreme Leader Khamenei and multiple sensitive military locations across the Islamic Republic.&nbsp;In retaliation, the Revolutionary Guards struck US bases and other key locations in the Gulf nations, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, and Kuwait.&nbsp;The wave of strikes and counterstrikes turned the West Asia region into a warzone and sparked Brent crude prices to $90-$100 per barrel owing to production interruptions and shipping disruptions caused by the closure of Starit of Hormuz.&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;

The crowds that were seen at Tehran's central square saw many carrying Iranian flags and portraits of the new supreme leader and were raising anti-American and anti-Israeli slogans.

As Iran's Assembly of experts officially appointed Mojtaba Khamenei as the country's third Supreme Leader after his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in a US-Israeli airstrike on 28 February, the Israeli military on Monday (Feb 09) launched a "wide-scale" strikes on Tehran, Isfahan and southern Iran, shortly after one man was killed in Israel following missile launches from Iran. "The IDF has just begun a wide-scale wave of strikes against the infrastructure of the Iranian terror regime across Tehran, Isfahan, and southern Iran," the military said in a statement. Amid the strikes, thousands of people gathered at Tehran's Enghelab Square to pledge allegiance to the Islamic Republic's new leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, AFP reported, citing journalists. Also Read: Israel to attack Mojtaba Khamenei? Ex-ambassador warns, says ‘duty-bound to eliminate...’ The crowds that were seen at Tehran's central square saw many carrying Iranian flags and portraits of the new supreme leader and were raising anti-American and anti-Israeli slogans. The Islamic Republic on Sunday night named hardline Mojabata as its new leader amid a US-Israeli campaign to trigger regime change in Iran through military strikes. He is known to have close ties with the elite Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and wielded significant influence in Israeli politics despite never holding any political office. The move comes after a deadly war in West Asia triggered by the launch of a joint military operation by the US-Israeli forces on February 28, targeting top leadership of Iran, including late Supreme Leader Khamenei and multiple sensitive military locations across the Islamic Republic. In retaliation, the Revolutionary Guards struck US bases and other key locations in the Gulf nations, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, and Kuwait. The wave of strikes and counterstrikes turned the West Asia region into a warzone and sparked Brent crude prices to $90-$100 per barrel owing to production interruptions and shipping disruptions caused by the closure of Starit of Hormuz. (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.)

The crowds that were seen at Tehran's central square saw many carrying Iranian flags and portraits of the new supreme leader and were raising anti-American and anti-Israeli slogans.

Israel launches ‘wide-scale’ strikes across Iran as thousands in Tehran pledge allegiance to new supreme leader

Israel may consider targeting Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, if he continues Tehran’s hostile posture toward the Jewish state, as per the former Israeli ambassador to the US, Michael Oren. Speaking on This Week with George Stephanopoulos, Oren suggested that Israel could see itself as “duty-bound” to eliminate any Iranian leader who openly seeks the country’s destruction. “Any leader who comes up and says, ‘I'm going to continue the campaign to destroy this country,’ Israel is duty-bound to try to eliminate them,” Oren said in an interview with host Martha Raddatz.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-footage-shows-us-tomahawk-missile-striking-base-near-iran-school-says-report-1773049432597">New footage shows US Tomahawk missile striking base near Iran school: Report</a>&nbsp;The remarks come as Iran formally named Mojtaba Khamenei as its new Supreme Leader following the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, who was killed on February 28 during the opening phase of the ongoing war involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. The decision was taken by Iran’s powerful Assembly of Experts, which oversees the selection of the country’s highest authority.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-muslims-take-to-streets-iraq-s-top-shia-cleric-sistani-supports-iran-makes-big-appeal-amid-raging-war-with-israel-us-1773031992517">'Muslims take to streets...': Iraq’s top cleric Sistani's appeal amid Iran war</a>&nbsp;Mojtaba Khamenei, a 56-year-old cleric known for his close ties to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, had long been considered a possible successor to his father despite never holding an elected government position. Since the elder Khamenei’s death, the Revolutionary Guard has launched multiple missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and energy infrastructure across the Gulf region, escalating tensions in the Middle East.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-timeline-to-end-iran-war-trump-signals-decision-will-be-only-after-mutual-decision-with-netanyahu-1773048531481">Trump signals Iran war will end only after ‘mutual’ decision with Netanyahu</a>&nbsp;The 56-year-old Mojtaba Khamenei has been a low-profile cleric and has spent most of his career outside the office. But he worked close to Ali Khamenei. He was expected to become Iran's president after the death of Ebrahim Raisi, but Masoud Pezeshkian won the snap election.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Former Israeli ambassador Michael Oren said Israel may target Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, if he continues anti-Israel policies, following his appointment after the death of Ali Khamenei.

Israel may consider targeting Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, if he continues Tehran’s hostile posture toward the Jewish state, as per the former Israeli ambassador to the US, Michael Oren. Speaking on This Week with George Stephanopoulos, Oren suggested that Israel could see itself as “duty-bound” to eliminate any Iranian leader who openly seeks the country’s destruction. “Any leader who comes up and says, ‘I'm going to continue the campaign to destroy this country,’ Israel is duty-bound to try to eliminate them,” Oren said in an interview with host Martha Raddatz. Also read: New footage shows US Tomahawk missile striking base near Iran school: Report The remarks come as Iran formally named Mojtaba Khamenei as its new Supreme Leader following the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, who was killed on February 28 during the opening phase of the ongoing war involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. The decision was taken by Iran’s powerful Assembly of Experts, which oversees the selection of the country’s highest authority. Also read: 'Muslims take to streets...': Iraq’s top cleric Sistani's appeal amid Iran war Mojtaba Khamenei, a 56-year-old cleric known for his close ties to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, had long been considered a possible successor to his father despite never holding an elected government position. Since the elder Khamenei’s death, the Revolutionary Guard has launched multiple missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and energy infrastructure across the Gulf region, escalating tensions in the Middle East. Also read: Trump signals Iran war will end only after ‘mutual’ decision with Netanyahu The 56-year-old Mojtaba Khamenei has been a low-profile cleric and has spent most of his career outside the office. But he worked close to Ali Khamenei. He was expected to become Iran's president after the death of Ebrahim Raisi, but Masoud Pezeshkian won the snap election.

Former Israeli ambassador Michael Oren said Israel may target Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, if he continues anti-Israel policies, following his appointment after the death of Ali Khamenei.

Israel to attack Mojtaba Khamenei? Ex-ambassador warns, says ‘duty-bound to eliminate...’

Iran has entered a new and an uncertain chapter. After the death of Ali Khamenei in an airstrike on February 28, Iran’s clerical leadership has moved to appoint his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, as the country’s next Supreme leader. The sudden leadership change comes at a time of intense regional tension and political uncertainty. Mojtaba Khamenei now becomes the third Supreme leader since the Iranian Revolution, and the first to follow his father in the role. His appointment has immediately sparked debate about the future direction of Iran. Many observers are asking whether he will continue his father’s policies or move the country toward a tougher and more security-focused approach.<h2>What is Mojtaba's ideology?</h2>Most experts believe Mojtaba Khamenei will largely continue the ideological path set by his father. The Islamic Republic was built on principles such as resistance to Western influence, strong religious authority in governance, and maintaining Iran’s strategic power in the region. These foundations are unlikely to change quickly.&nbsp;However, Mojtaba is often described as having particularly close ties to Iran’s security institutions, especially the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The Revolutionary Guard already plays a central role in Iran’s military operations, economic activities, and political influence. If Mojtaba relies more heavily on this institution, the balance of power inside the system could tilt further toward security and military leadership. In practical terms, the structure of the Islamic Republic may remain the same, but security institutions could gain influence in shaping national decisions.<h2>What is Mojtaba's leadership style?</h2>For more than three decades, Ali Khamenei led Iran by balancing different centers of power inside the country. His leadership required managing relationships between religious scholars, political leaders, government institutions, and the Revolutionary Guard. This balancing act helped maintain stability within Iran’s complex political system.Mojtaba Khamenei, however, has a very different public profile.&nbsp;Unlike many senior Iranian leaders, he has largely stayed away from public speeches and official government roles. Much of his influence has developed quietly through networks within religious institutions and political circles. Because of this background, observers believe his leadership style could be: more discreet and behind the scenes, more connected to security and intelligence networks and less focused on public political visibility. If this approach continues, Iran’s leadership could gradually become more security-centered rather than primarily clerical-political.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-timeline-to-end-iran-war-trump-signals-decision-will-be-only-after-mutual-decision-with-netanyahu-1773048531481">No timeline to end Iran war? Trump signals decision will be only after ‘mutual’ decision with Netanyahu</a><h2>War and regional conflict: Leadership in a tense moment</h2>Mojtaba Khamenei takes power during one of the most sensitive periods in Iran’s modern history. The country is already involved in major regional tensions involving the United States, Israel, and several neighbouring states. These conflicts have shaped Iran’s foreign policy for years and will likely remain central to its strategy. Analysts often describe three possible paths under the new leadership.&nbsp;<ul><li>Scenario one: Hardline escalation: One possibility is that Iran strengthens its current strategy of resistance and confrontation. This could include expanding regional influence through allied groups, increasing military responses to threats, and slowing diplomatic engagement with Western governments. In this scenario, the Revolutionary Guard would play an even larger role in shaping Iran’s regional policies.</li><li>Scenario two: Strategic pragmatism: Another possibility is a more calculated and pragmatic approach. Iran could maintain strong political rhetoric against its rivals while quietly pursuing negotiations aimed at stabilizing its economy and easing international pressure. This strategy would allow the leadership to maintain its ideological stance while avoiding further escalation.</li><li>Scenario three: Internal political tensions: Leadership transitions can also bring uncertainty within political systems. Although Mojtaba Khamenei has support among key institutions, different factions within Iran’s political elite may still compete for influence. Economic challenges, foreign policy debates, and political rivalries could shape the early years of his leadership. How these internal dynamics unfold may be just as important as Iran’s external relations.</li></ul>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Conformément à l&#39;Article 108 de la Constitution, les représentants de l&#39;Assemblée des Experts du Leadership ont nommeé et présenté Son Éminence l&#39;Ayatollah Sayed Mojtaba Husseini Khamenei (qu&#39;Allah le protège) comme 3ème Guide suprême de la République Islamique d&#39;Iran. <a href="https://t.co/cuVlixnC8i">pic.twitter.com/cuVlixnC8i</a>&mdash; Ayatollah Khamenei (@fr_Khamenei) <a href="https://twitter.com/fr_Khamenei/status/2030931952669184358?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Dynasty or evolution?</h2>Beyond policy and strategy, Mojtaba Khamenei’s rise raises a deeper symbolic question. The Islamic Republic was created after a revolution that ended the monarchy of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, rejecting hereditary rule and establishing a new political system based on religious leadership. Now, for the first time in the country’s modern history, the position of Supreme Leader has effectively passed from father to son. For critics, this development raises concerns that Iran could be moving toward a form of dynastic leadership. Supporters argue that the appointment still took place through the country’s formal institutions and constitutional process.<h2>A new chapter for Iran</h2>For now, most observers agree that Mojtaba Khamenei is unlikely to dramatically change Iran’s political system in the short term. Instead, his leadership is expected to continue the framework built over the past four decades. Yet the balance within that system may shift. If security institutions gain greater influence under the new Supreme leader, it could reshape how Iran governs itself and how it approaches regional conflicts. As Iran begins this new chapter, the central question remains: Will Mojtaba Khamenei simply reflect his father’s legacy, or will his leadership gradually redefine the future of the Islamic Republic?&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.

Mirror of power: Will Mojtaba Khamenei follow his father Ali Khamenei’s path or build a harder line for Iran?

Iran has entered a new and an uncertain chapter. After the death of Ali Khamenei in an airstrike on February 28, Iran’s clerical leadership has moved to appoint his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, as the country’s next Supreme leader. The sudden leadership change comes at a time of intense regional tension and political uncertainty. Mojtaba Khamenei now becomes the third Supreme leader since the Iranian Revolution, and the first to follow his father in the role. His appointment has immediately sparked debate about the future direction of Iran. Many observers are asking whether he will continue his father’s policies or move the country toward a tougher and more security-focused approach. What is Mojtaba's ideology? Most experts believe Mojtaba Khamenei will largely continue the ideological path set by his father. The Islamic Republic was built on principles such as resistance to Western influence, strong religious authority in governance, and maintaining Iran’s strategic power in the region. These foundations are unlikely to change quickly. However, Mojtaba is often described as having particularly close ties to Iran’s security institutions, especially the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The Revolutionary Guard already plays a central role in Iran’s military operations, economic activities, and political influence. If Mojtaba relies more heavily on this institution, the balance of power inside the system could tilt further toward security and military leadership. In practical terms, the structure of the Islamic Republic may remain the same, but security institutions could gain influence in shaping national decisions. What is Mojtaba's leadership style? For more than three decades, Ali Khamenei led Iran by balancing different centers of power inside the country. His leadership required managing relationships between religious scholars, political leaders, government institutions, and the Revolutionary Guard. This balancing act helped maintain stability within Iran’s complex political system. Mojtaba Khamenei, however, has a very different public profile. Unlike many senior Iranian leaders, he has largely stayed away from public speeches and official government roles. Much of his influence has developed quietly through networks within religious institutions and political circles. Because of this background, observers believe his leadership style could be: more discreet and behind the scenes, more connected to security and intelligence networks and less focused on public political visibility. If this approach continues, Iran’s leadership could gradually become more security-centered rather than primarily clerical-political. Also Read: No timeline to end Iran war? Trump signals decision will be only after ‘mutual’ decision with Netanyahu War and regional conflict: Leadership in a tense moment Mojtaba Khamenei takes power during one of the most sensitive periods in Iran’s modern history. The country is already involved in major regional tensions involving the United States, Israel, and several neighbouring states. These conflicts have shaped Iran’s foreign policy for years and will likely remain central to its strategy. Analysts often describe three possible paths under the new leadership. Scenario one: Hardline escalation: One possibility is that Iran strengthens its current strategy of resistance and confrontation. This could include expanding regional influence through allied groups, increasing military responses to threats, and slowing diplomatic engagement with Western governments. In this scenario, the Revolutionary Guard would play an even larger role in shaping Iran’s regional policies. Scenario two: Strategic pragmatism: Another possibility is a more calculated and pragmatic approach. Iran could maintain strong political rhetoric against its rivals while quietly pursuing negotiations aimed at stabilizing its economy and easing international pressure. This strategy would allow the leadership to maintain its ideological stance while avoiding further escalation. Scenario three: Internal political tensions: Leadership transitions can also bring uncertainty within political systems. Although Mojtaba Khamenei has support among key institutions, different factions within Iran’s political elite may still compete for influence. Economic challenges, foreign policy debates, and political rivalries could shape the early years of his leadership. How these internal dynamics unfold may be just as important as Iran’s external relations.

As Iran faces a leadership transition, the rise of Mojtaba Khamenei raises an important question: Will he mirror his father’s rule or reshape Iran’s future?

Dubai streets have been flooded with dogs, kittens and rabbits as pet owners in the country are reportedly abandoning their animals while rushing to depart amid the escalating Middle East crisis. Veterinarians in the city confirmed receiving continuous requests from owners asking about euthanising their pets, while others have been leaving cats and dogs on the streets. The UAE is home to over two million pets. In Dubai and across the country, cats significantly outnumber dogs, with about 64.98 per cent of pet owners preferring cats. The K9 Friends Dubai, an organisation that helps rehome dogs in the UAE, reported a rise in such incidents. According to a report by The Telegraph, Dubai-based pet boarding service 'The Barking Lot' said it is trying to remain as flexible as possible, but shelters are already overcrowded. Volunteers at rescue centres say the number of abandoned pets has surged, pushing many shelters to their limits and leaving some unable to care for additional animals. Several images and videos of dogs left on the streets, tied to poles with no owners around, have surfaced on social media. Meanwhile, several reports indicated that pets are being left alone in the desert after residents who were prevented from taking them over the UAE border while leavening region via Oman. Other reports mention pets being left stranded in the desert after residents who attempted to leave the region via Oman were prevented from taking them over the UAE border. One resident in Al Ain even found a cat with four kittens left on her doorstep with a note from the owner explaining they were unable to take their pets with them as they fled. "Kitten 4 and mama cat inside the box. I am travelling back to my country because of the situation going on here. I tried to call, but no one picked up my calls, so I got to know your locations. I am so sorry for keeping in front of your gate," a resident found a note with a cat and four kittens left on her doorstep from the owner.<h3>How is the Dubai government solving the problem?</h3>Recently, Dubai Municipality has come up with AI-powered smart devices to track stray animals, which is known as 'Ehsan Stations', the first-of-its-kind initiative. The initiative includes the installation of 12 devices across multiple important locations, which include ten units in public parks and two within facilities operated by Dubai Holding.&nbsp;The stations will use tech to find out stray animals and collect relevant data along with dispense food accordingly. "supports a more organised and sustainable approach to feeding stray animals," Dubai Municipality said.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-footage-shows-us-tomahawk-missile-striking-base-near-iran-school-says-report-1773049432597">New footage shows US Tomahawk missile striking base near Iran school, says report</a>

Volunteers at rescue centres in Dubai stated that the number of abandoned pets has surged, pushing many shelters to their limits and leaving some unable to care for additional animals.

Dubai streets have been flooded with dogs, kittens and rabbits as pet owners in the country are reportedly abandoning their animals while rushing to depart amid the escalating Middle East crisis. Veterinarians in the city confirmed receiving continuous requests from owners asking about euthanising their pets, while others have been leaving cats and dogs on the streets. The UAE is home to over two million pets. In Dubai and across the country, cats significantly outnumber dogs, with about 64.98 per cent of pet owners preferring cats. The K9 Friends Dubai, an organisation that helps rehome dogs in the UAE, reported a rise in such incidents. According to a report by The Telegraph, Dubai-based pet boarding service 'The Barking Lot' said it is trying to remain as flexible as possible, but shelters are already overcrowded. Volunteers at rescue centres say the number of abandoned pets has surged, pushing many shelters to their limits and leaving some unable to care for additional animals. Several images and videos of dogs left on the streets, tied to poles with no owners around, have surfaced on social media. Meanwhile, several reports indicated that pets are being left alone in the desert after residents who were prevented from taking them over the UAE border while leavening region via Oman. Other reports mention pets being left stranded in the desert after residents who attempted to leave the region via Oman were prevented from taking them over the UAE border. One resident in Al Ain even found a cat with four kittens left on her doorstep with a note from the owner explaining they were unable to take their pets with them as they fled. "Kitten 4 and mama cat inside the box. I am travelling back to my country because of the situation going on here. I tried to call, but no one picked up my calls, so I got to know your locations. I am so sorry for keeping in front of your gate," a resident found a note with a cat and four kittens left on her doorstep from the owner. How is the Dubai government solving the problem? Recently, Dubai Municipality has come up with AI-powered smart devices to track stray animals, which is known as 'Ehsan Stations', the first-of-its-kind initiative. The initiative includes the installation of 12 devices across multiple important locations, which include ten units in public parks and two within facilities operated by Dubai Holding. The stations will use tech to find out stray animals and collect relevant data along with dispense food accordingly. "supports a more organised and sustainable approach to feeding stray animals," Dubai Municipality said. Also read: New footage shows US Tomahawk missile striking base near Iran school, says report

Volunteers at rescue centres in Dubai stated that the number of abandoned pets has surged, pushing many shelters to their limits and leaving some unable to care for additional animals.

Iran war: Dogs tied, kittens left in boxes as residents rush to leave Dubai amid crisis

After the assassination of Ali Khamenei in the ongoing US-Iran war, his second son, Mojtaba Khamenei, has been named as the new supreme leader of the Islamic Republic. A body of 88 clerics charged with choosing the new leader stated on Monday (March 9), saying, "By a decisive vote, the Assembly of Experts appointed Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei as the third Leader of the sacred system of the Islamic Republic of Iran."&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/upsc-controversy-two-women-named-akanksha-singh-get-301st-rank-in-upsc-have-same-roll-no-1772964885922">UPSC controversy: Two women named Akanksha Singh get 301st rank in 2025 exam, have same roll no</a>&nbsp;The 56-year-old Mojtaba Khamenei has been a low-profile cleric and has spent most of his career outside the office. But he worked close to Ali Khamenei. He was expected to become Iran's president after the death of &nbsp;Ebrahim Raisi, but Masoud Pezeshkian won the snap election.&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>Why did US sanction Mojtaba Khamenei in 2019?</h2>The new Supreme Leader of Iran was once sanctioned by the US Treasury Department in 2019. The US had said that Mojtaba had been designated for "representing the Supreme Leader in an official capacity despite never being elected or appointed to a government position aside from work in the office of his father."&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iranian-warship-sunk-in-indian-ocean-after-us-attack-confirms-pete-hegseth-says-us-and-israel-will-have-control-of-iran-skies-1772631336114">Iranian warship sunk in Indian Ocean after US attack, confirms Pete Hegseth, says US and Israel ‘will have control of Iran skies’</a>&nbsp;The department also claimed that Mojataba Khamenei worked closely with the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) and Basij Resistance Force (Basij) to "advance his father's destabilising regional ambitions and oppressive domestic objectives."&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-are-cluster-warhead-missiles-israel-accuses-iran-of-targeting-civilians-on-purpose-using-specific-munition-1772642758209">What are cluster warhead missiles? Israel accuses Iran of targeting civilians on purpose using specific munition</a>

Mojtaba Khamenei, the new supreme leader of Iran, was once on the sanctioned list of the US in 2019 for “representing the Supreme Leader in an official capacity despite never being elected or appointed to a government position”. 

After the assassination of Ali Khamenei in the ongoing US-Iran war, his second son, Mojtaba Khamenei, has been named as the new supreme leader of the Islamic Republic. A body of 88 clerics charged with choosing the new leader stated on Monday (March 9), saying, "By a decisive vote, the Assembly of Experts appointed Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei as the third Leader of the sacred system of the Islamic Republic of Iran." Also read: UPSC controversy: Two women named Akanksha Singh get 301st rank in 2025 exam, have same roll no The 56-year-old Mojtaba Khamenei has been a low-profile cleric and has spent most of his career outside the office. But he worked close to Ali Khamenei. He was expected to become Iran's president after the death of Ebrahim Raisi, but Masoud Pezeshkian won the snap election. Also read: ‘Today, Iran will be hit very hard’: Trump warns, says Pezeshkian apologised because Tehran’s ‘being beaten to HELL’ Why did US sanction Mojtaba Khamenei in 2019? The new Supreme Leader of Iran was once sanctioned by the US Treasury Department in 2019. The US had said that Mojtaba had been designated for "representing the Supreme Leader in an official capacity despite never being elected or appointed to a government position aside from work in the office of his father." Also read: Iranian warship sunk in Indian Ocean after US attack, confirms Pete Hegseth, says US and Israel ‘will have control of Iran skies’ The department also claimed that Mojataba Khamenei worked closely with the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) and Basij Resistance Force (Basij) to "advance his father's destabilising regional ambitions and oppressive domestic objectives." Also read: What are cluster warhead missiles? Israel accuses Iran of targeting civilians on purpose using specific munition

Mojtaba Khamenei, the new supreme leader of Iran, was once on the sanctioned list of the US in 2019 for “representing the Supreme Leader in an official capacity despite never being elected or appointed to a government position”.&nbsp;

When US sanctioned Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s new Ayatollah, in 2019

Two Bangladeshi nationals accused of killing student activist Sharif Osman Hadi in Dhaka were arrested by the West Bengal Police's Special Task Force (STF) in Bongaon on Sunday (March 8) while moving across parts of the Northeast. The accused, identified as Rahul alias Faisal Karim Masud (37) and Alamgir Hossain (34), had sneaked into India from Bangladesh through the Meghalaya border after the December 12 fatal attack on Hadi, according to the STF.&nbsp;"They illegally entered Indian territory through the Meghalaya border and moved through different places in India and finally came to West Bengal’s Bongaon with the intention of crossing back into Bangladesh," the police said in a statement.&nbsp;Osman Hadi's killing set off violent protests across Bangladesh. Extremist mobs vandalised and torched the offices of major newspapers, including The Daily Star and Prothom Alo, accusing them of biased reporting.&nbsp;Hadi, who was the spokesperson for the Inquilab Mancha (Platform for Revolution) and known for his anti-India rhetoric, was a lecturer in the Department of Business Studies at the University of Scholars, a private university in Dhaka.&nbsp;Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-footage-shows-us-tomahawk-missile-striking-base-near-iran-school-says-report-1773049432597"> New footage shows US Tomahawk missile striking base near Iran school, says report</a>&nbsp;The Indian mission in Chittagong came under attack from a mob in the aftermath of his killing. At the same time, consulates in Dhaka and Rajshahi were subjected to stone-pelting and intimidation, leading to a strain in ties between New Delhi and Dhaka.&nbsp;However, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party's (BNP) landslide victory in the recently concluded general polls led to a potential thaw in ties between both nations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Tarique Rahman on his victory, while Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla participated in his swearing-in ceremony.&nbsp;Bangladesh went through a period of turmoil following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a series of violent protests in August 2024, in which Hadi played a significant part. Minorities, particularly Hindus, came under severe attack following Hasina's ouster.

Osman Hadi's killing set off violent protests across Bangladesh. Extremist mobs vandalised and torched the offices of major newspapers, including The Daily Star and Prothom Alo, accusing them of biased reporting.

Two Bangladeshi nationals accused of killing student activist Sharif Osman Hadi in Dhaka were arrested by the West Bengal Police's Special Task Force (STF) in Bongaon on Sunday (March 8) while moving across parts of the Northeast. The accused, identified as Rahul alias Faisal Karim Masud (37) and Alamgir Hossain (34), had sneaked into India from Bangladesh through the Meghalaya border after the December 12 fatal attack on Hadi, according to the STF. "They illegally entered Indian territory through the Meghalaya border and moved through different places in India and finally came to West Bengal’s Bongaon with the intention of crossing back into Bangladesh," the police said in a statement. Osman Hadi's killing set off violent protests across Bangladesh. Extremist mobs vandalised and torched the offices of major newspapers, including The Daily Star and Prothom Alo, accusing them of biased reporting. Hadi, who was the spokesperson for the Inquilab Mancha (Platform for Revolution) and known for his anti-India rhetoric, was a lecturer in the Department of Business Studies at the University of Scholars, a private university in Dhaka. Also Read: New footage shows US Tomahawk missile striking base near Iran school, says report The Indian mission in Chittagong came under attack from a mob in the aftermath of his killing. At the same time, consulates in Dhaka and Rajshahi were subjected to stone-pelting and intimidation, leading to a strain in ties between New Delhi and Dhaka. However, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party's (BNP) landslide victory in the recently concluded general polls led to a potential thaw in ties between both nations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Tarique Rahman on his victory, while Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla participated in his swearing-in ceremony. Bangladesh went through a period of turmoil following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a series of violent protests in August 2024, in which Hadi played a significant part. Minorities, particularly Hindus, came under severe attack following Hasina's ouster.

Osman Hadi's killing set off violent protests across Bangladesh. Extremist mobs vandalised and torched the offices of major newspapers, including The Daily Star and Prothom Alo, accusing them of biased reporting.

Two Bangladeshi nationals accused in Sharif Osman Hadi murder arrested in India

Let me give you both the most pessimistic and optimistic views of where the middle classes of countries like the US and India will end up if AI adoption does not go beyond merely asking ChatGPT for answers, or Grok for funny images and videos. Companies at the forefront of artificial intelligence are warning about how jobs across industries could be wiped out by AI. This could potentially lead to a middle-class collapse in these countries if action does not match the situation. How bad can it get? And what is the way out?<h2>A disturbing discussion led by AI leaders on the impending fall of jobs</h2>The starting point for this article is a disturbing series of discussions on a future fall in jobs, ironically led by AI leaders themselves. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei is ‘leading the charge’ in bluntly saying how traditional jobs, including ‘secure’ jobs in the legacy IT sector, are going to be wiped out. In recent interviews and public remarks, Amodei indicated that up to 50 per cent of entry-level work in fields such as law, consulting, and finance could be disrupted or replaced by AI systems within the next one to five years.Reacting to this, Damian Player, CEO of the AI consulting firm Agent Integrator, recently posted on X: “This is f***ing insane! The CEO of Anthropic said what most C-suites only say behind closed doors… this is the head of one of the biggest AI companies alive telling ordinary people to wake up.”<h2>A dystopian scenario if India does not adapt to AI beyond current levels</h2>The situation being described below is only a simulation of the future, taking cues from the ongoing K-shaped growth in the US, underway since the Covid pandemic. K-shaped growth is when certain sections of society and the economy show exponential growth, while other sections race to the bottom, making the resultant image resemble the letter K. In a future scenario where AI eats up jobs, large sections of Indians could be pushed towards poverty. This could happen as early as the next five years in the absence of even foundational-level skills in AI.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/anthropic-vows-court-battle-after-pentagon-flags-ai-firm-as-security-risk-wion-1772880262306/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/anthropic-vows-court-battle-after-pentagon-flags-ai-firm-as-security-risk-wion-1772880262306/embed</a><h2>What is the level of AI adoption in India? Identifying the problem</h2>It is quite possible that a large majority of Indians have never actively used AI tools in a meaningful way. Even among the digitally savvy population, many have little knowledge of AI apart from using the free version of ChatGPT and the like. Contrast this with the current world, where agentic and ‘copilot’ systems such as Anthropic’s Claude integrations and automated workflow tools are slowly entering enterprise environments.Only a small fraction of users subscribe to paid AI platforms that typically cost around ₹2,000 per month or more. An even smaller proportion use coding interfaces, APIs, or automated workflows to interact with AI systems.<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2026/20260309/image-1773050725928.jpg"></figure>An infographic showing the level of AI adoption in the world (Image Courtesy: LinkedIn/ Benjamin T, co-Founder at Aiso)<h2>Why K-shaped growth in the US should be a wake-up call to India</h2>The K-shaped growth pattern is already visible in the US economy. In the current scenario, this is partly a function of AI adoption too. Many Americans are forcing themselves to learn AI use cases in order to remain competitive in the workplace. In terms of AI adoption, analysts often describe four levels of participation, known as AI maturity models: Elite, Augmented, Middle, and Struggling. It is projected that around 30 per cent of American citizens could remain in the Elite and Augmented categories, while 50 per cent could fall into the Middle group, and about 20 per cent may Struggle to keep up.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/-end-of-ias-7-reasons-why-ai-will-make-upsc-exam-useless-in-2-years-1772938793987">'End of IAS': 7 reasons why AI will make UPSC exam useless in 2 years</a><h2>Indians are ‘consumers’ of AI, and that is prelude to potential digital colonisation</h2>There is a clear danger in Indians becoming consumers of international AI companies, essentially paying for subscription packages ranging anywhere from ₹2,000 or upwards to use their AI models. This is because India has yet to build globally competitive AI tools at scale, in spite of several initiatives at the government (India AI mission) and corporate (Infosys, TCS and others incoporating AI in workflows) levels. Even ‘localisation efforts’ are largely being driven by global technology companies such as Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI.&nbsp;In several ways, this echoes patterns seen during colonial economic structures, when the British Raj turned large sections of the Indian population into consumers of value-added goods produced elsewhere.If this trajectory continues, India could risk a form of neo-digital colonisation, where countries ahead of the AI curve — particularly the US and China — dominate the virtual and technological landscape.Indians would, in effect, end up paying US or Chinese companies for AI services, revenue that could ultimately support these countries' domestic technology ecosystems and economic programmes.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/at-92-per-cent-india-s-ai-adoption-rate-highest-in-the-asia-pacific-region-key-figures-1762333628812">India AI Impact Summit: $300 billion worth of AI investments committed in India, say reports</a>&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2026/20260309/image-1773051163876.jpeg"></figure>A three-year price drop of Nifty IT stocks&nbsp;<h2>Indian IT stocks crash, HNIs trickle out: A fever indicating worse possible outcomes in the near future</h2>Not too far away in the future, full-stack AI companies could enter India aggressively, resulting in a dramatic rise in layoffs and a stock market correction led by the decline of traditional IT service firms. And in some ways, the warning signs are already visible when it comes to IT stocks.The Nifty IT index has already shown significant volatility when viewed across recent multi-year patterns. At one point, it fell around 30–34 per cent from its peak within a span of several months (see image above).For some observers, this evokes memories of the early stages of the 2007 downturn that eventually led to the global financial crisis triggered by the US mortgage market collapse.A prolonged slowdown could potentially spill over into banking and other industries.&nbsp;Layoffs, which have already been seen periodically in the global technology sector, could hit traditional IT jobs in India particularly hard.A major downturn could also affect the Indian rupee, which has gradually weakened against the US dollar over the past decade.Another indicator often cited in this context is the growing number of high-net-worth individuals (HNIs) exploring migration. According to various global wealth reports, several thousand millionaires are estimated to leave India annually, often relocating to countries such as the UK, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Australia, and Canada.<h2>So what is the way out? Adopt AI or die</h2>Damian Player’s post that I mentioned earlier, also offers a possible cure for the problem. To paraphrase him, the good news is that the playbook has not changed.There is still a pathway for AI adoption for those who are currently ‘AI-illiterate’. As Player said, pick an industry, learn the workflows. Become the ‘AI person’ these companies need.As Player puts it, you do not need a degree. “You sure as hell don’t need to be a McKinsey consultant. You need Claude, a vertical, and the hunger to learn a business better than anyone else. God speed! I’ll be rooting for ya,” Player wrote.Godspeed is all I can say to those standing at the edge of the AI cliff — and staring downwards.

AI company leaders are warning that generative AI could disrupt entry-level white-collar jobs, deepen inequality and cause economic collapse. If adoption lags, countries like India risk a widening AI divide shaping the future of work and the middle class. Here are the worst and best cases

Let me give you both the most pessimistic and optimistic views of where the middle classes of countries like the US and India will end up if AI adoption does not go beyond merely asking ChatGPT for answers, or Grok for funny images and videos. Companies at the forefront of artificial intelligence are warning about how jobs across industries could be wiped out by AI. This could potentially lead to a middle-class collapse in these countries if action does not match the situation. How bad can it get? And what is the way out? A disturbing discussion led by AI leaders on the impending fall of jobs The starting point for this article is a disturbing series of discussions on a future fall in jobs, ironically led by AI leaders themselves. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei is ‘leading the charge’ in bluntly saying how traditional jobs, including ‘secure’ jobs in the legacy IT sector, are going to be wiped out. In recent interviews and public remarks, Amodei indicated that up to 50 per cent of entry-level work in fields such as law, consulting, and finance could be disrupted or replaced by AI systems within the next one to five years. Reacting to this, Damian Player, CEO of the AI consulting firm Agent Integrator, recently posted on X: “This is f***ing insane! The CEO of Anthropic said what most C-suites only say behind closed doors… this is the head of one of the biggest AI companies alive telling ordinary people to wake up.” A dystopian scenario if India does not adapt to AI beyond current levels The situation being described below is only a simulation of the future, taking cues from the ongoing K-shaped growth in the US, underway since the Covid pandemic. K-shaped growth is when certain sections of society and the economy show exponential growth, while other sections race to the bottom, making the resultant image resemble the letter K. In a future scenario where AI eats up jobs, large sections of Indians could be pushed towards poverty. This could happen as early as the next five years in the absence of even foundational-level skills in AI. https://www.wionews.com/videos/anthropic-vows-court-battle-after-pentagon-flags-ai-firm-as-security-risk-wion-1772880262306/embed What is the level of AI adoption in India? Identifying the problem It is quite possible that a large majority of Indians have never actively used AI tools in a meaningful way. Even among the digitally savvy population, many have little knowledge of AI apart from using the free version of ChatGPT and the like. Contrast this with the current world, where agentic and ‘copilot’ systems such as Anthropic’s Claude integrations and automated workflow tools are slowly entering enterprise environments. Only a small fraction of users subscribe to paid AI platforms that typically cost around ₹2,000 per month or more. An even smaller proportion use coding interfaces, APIs, or automated workflows to interact with AI systems. An infographic showing the level of AI adoption in the world (Image Courtesy: LinkedIn/ Benjamin T, co-Founder at Aiso) Why K-shaped growth in the US should be a wake-up call to India The K-shaped growth pattern is already visible in the US economy. In the current scenario, this is partly a function of AI adoption too. Many Americans are forcing themselves to learn AI use cases in order to remain competitive in the workplace. In terms of AI adoption, analysts often describe four levels of participation, known as AI maturity models: Elite, Augmented, Middle, and Struggling. It is projected that around 30 per cent of American citizens could remain in the Elite and Augmented categories, while 50 per cent could fall into the Middle group, and about 20 per cent may Struggle to keep up. Also read: 'End of IAS': 7 reasons why AI will make UPSC exam useless in 2 years Indians are ‘consumers’ of AI, and that is prelude to potential digital colonisation There is a clear danger in Indians becoming consumers of international AI companies, essentially paying for subscription packages ranging anywhere from ₹2,000 or upwards to use their AI models. This is because India has yet to build globally competitive AI tools at scale, in spite of several initiatives at the government (India AI mission) and corporate (Infosys, TCS and others incoporating AI in workflows) levels. Even ‘localisation efforts’ are largely being driven by global technology companies such as Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI. In several ways, this echoes patterns seen during colonial economic structures, when the British Raj turned large sections of the Indian population into consumers of value-added goods produced elsewhere. If this trajectory continues, India could risk a form of neo-digital colonisation, where countries ahead of the AI curve — particularly the US and China — dominate the virtual and technological landscape. Indians would, in effect, end up paying US or Chinese companies for AI services, revenue that could ultimately support these countries' domestic technology ecosystems and economic programmes. Also read: India AI Impact Summit: $300 billion worth of AI investments committed in India, say reports A three-year price drop of Nifty IT stocks Indian IT stocks crash, HNIs trickle out: A fever indicating worse possible outcomes in the near future Not too far away in the future, full-stack AI companies could enter India aggressively, resulting in a dramatic rise in layoffs and a stock market correction led by the decline of traditional IT service firms. And in some ways, the warning signs are already visible when it comes to IT stocks. The Nifty IT index has already shown significant volatility when viewed across recent multi-year patterns. At one point, it fell around 30–34 per cent from its peak within a span of several months (see image above). For some observers, this evokes memories of the early stages of the 2007 downturn that eventually led to the global financial crisis triggered by the US mortgage market collapse. A prolonged slowdown could potentially spill over into banking and other industries. Layoffs, which have already been seen periodically in the global technology sector, could hit traditional IT jobs in India particularly hard. A major downturn could also affect the Indian rupee, which has gradually weakened against the US dollar over the past decade. Another indicator often cited in this context is the growing number of high-net-worth individuals (HNIs) exploring migration. According to various global wealth reports, several thousand millionaires are estimated to leave India annually, often relocating to countries such as the UK, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Australia, and Canada. So what is the way out? Adopt AI or die Damian Player’s post that I mentioned earlier, also offers a possible cure for the problem. To paraphrase him, the good news is that the playbook has not changed. There is still a pathway for AI adoption for those who are currently ‘AI-illiterate’. As Player said, pick an industry, learn the workflows. Become the ‘AI person’ these companies need. As Player puts it, you do not need a degree. “You sure as hell don’t need to be a McKinsey consultant. You need Claude, a vertical, and the hunger to learn a business better than anyone else. God speed! I’ll be rooting for ya,” Player wrote. Godspeed is all I can say to those standing at the edge of the AI cliff — and staring downwards.

AI company leaders are warning that generative AI could disrupt entry-level white-collar jobs, deepen inequality and cause economic collapse. If adoption lags, countries like India risk a widening AI divide shaping the future of work and the middle class. Here are the worst and best cases

This is f***ing insane!: AI’s dystopian future is K-shaped, and could decimate the middle classes from India to the US

Amid the escalated conflict between Iran and the US, a video has been accessed by the New York Times, which suggests that a US Tomahawk cruise missile struck a naval base near an elementary school in Iran, where over 150 young girls were in the school. A total of 175 people were killed in the strike. The footage was originally released by Iran’s semi-official Mehr News Agency and was verified. It reportedly showed a Tomahawk missile hitting a naval facility in the town of Minab on February 28.&nbsp;The strike occurred near the Shajarah Tayyebeh elementary school. The building was severely damaged. As per the report, the footage was filmed from a construction site opposite the naval base and shows a missile striking a building described as a medical clinic within the IRGC facility. The clip also showed large clouds of dust and smoke near the school.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-timeline-to-end-iran-war-trump-signals-decision-will-be-only-after-mutual-decision-with-netanyahu-1773048531481">No timeline to end Iran war? Trump signals decision will be only after ‘mutual’ decision with Netanyahu</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">The moment when Israeli and American terrorists struck <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Minab?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Minab</a> school<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/minabmassacre?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#minabmassacre</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MINABSCHOOL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MINABSCHOOL</a> <a href="https://t.co/kHJEOukowj">pic.twitter.com/kHJEOukowj</a>&mdash; Mehr News Agency (@MehrnewsCom) <a href="https://twitter.com/MehrnewsCom/status/2030657550861885566?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The newspaper said it verified the footage by comparing visible landmarks, including a dirt path, grassy terrain and debris piles, with satellite imagery captured in the days after the strikes.&nbsp;The report cited weapon experts and said the missiles were identified as a Tomahawk cruise missile, a long-range precision weapon used by the US military. Tomahawk is a long-range missile and is capable of travelling about 1,000 miles and carrying warheads with explosive power equivalent to roughly 300 pounds.<h2>What did Trump say?</h2>The findings in the report contradict the statement by US President Donald Trump, who had said earlier that &nbsp;Iran may have been responsible for the strike that damaged the school. “No. In my opinion and based on what I’ve seen, that was done by Iran,” Trump said, adding that Iranian munitions were “very inaccurate.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

When the US-Iran war started, a missile hit the Shajarah Tayyebeh elementary school, which was near a naval base in Iran. 150 girls were among the 175 people killed in the strike. Now, a report said the strike could be by a US missile.  

Amid the escalated conflict between Iran and the US, a video has been accessed by the New York Times, which suggests that a US Tomahawk cruise missile struck a naval base near an elementary school in Iran, where over 150 young girls were in the school. A total of 175 people were killed in the strike. The footage was originally released by Iran’s semi-official Mehr News Agency and was verified. It reportedly showed a Tomahawk missile hitting a naval facility in the town of Minab on February 28. The strike occurred near the Shajarah Tayyebeh elementary school. The building was severely damaged. As per the report, the footage was filmed from a construction site opposite the naval base and shows a missile striking a building described as a medical clinic within the IRGC facility. The clip also showed large clouds of dust and smoke near the school. Also read: No timeline to end Iran war? Trump signals decision will be only after ‘mutual’ decision with Netanyahu

When the US-Iran war started, a missile hit the Shajarah Tayyebeh elementary school, which was near a naval base in Iran. 150 girls were among the 175 people killed in the strike. Now, a report said the strike could be by a US missile. &nbsp;

New footage shows US Tomahawk missile striking base near Iran school, says report

US President Donald Trump has confirmed that the ongoing conflict with Iran will end only after the "mutual" decision with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump claimed that Iran was on the verge of destroying Israel before the current military intervention, according to a report by The Times of Israel. "Iran was going to destroy Israel and everything else around it. We've worked together. We've destroyed a country that wanted to destroy Israel," he asserted. "I think it's mutual, a little bit. We've been talking. I'll make a decision at the right time, but everything's going to be taken into account," he remarked and also indicated that he would keep the ultimate prerogative while considering suggestions from Netanyahu. Addressing the prospect of Israel continuing military operations on its own if the United States were to halt its strikes, Trump dismissed the likelihood of such a situation. According to The Times of Israel, the president declined to speculate on the hypothetical scenario, saying simply, "I don't think it's going to be necessary."<h3>No fixed timeline to stop the war</h3>Although the White House has indicated the conflict could last between four and six weeks, Trump has skipped committing to a fixed timeline. His comments highlighted the close coordination between the two nations after the joint military attack launched on February 28, killing Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. He also avoided a detailed explanation on the appointment of newly supreme leader of Iran, declaring only, "We'll see what happens." The cautious remark follows earlier comments made by the US president to ABC News, where he warned that Iran’s new leadership might not “last long” without support from the White House. Beyond the conflict, Trump also commented on Israeli domestic politics, renewing his call for legal relief for Netanyahu. He criticised Israeli President Isaac Herzog for not granting a pardon to Netanyahu, who is currently facing trial on charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. "Bibi Netanyahu should be given that pardon immediately. I think [Herzog is] doing a terrible thing by not giving it. We want Bibi to be focused on the war, not on a ridiculous pardon," Trump told The Times of Israel. Following the Trump comments, the office of Herzog maintained that Israel "is a sovereign state governed by the rule of law," underscoring that the pardon request is being treated through the Justice Ministry. Despite a rift between the leaders, Trump lauded his current bonding and partnership with Netanyahu, adding, “We've done a great job together, like what we've done with Iran.”&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-missile-strike-shuts-gulf-airspace-grounds-at-least-12-000-flights-strands-over-million-passengers-1773041375002">Iran war in numbers: 92 million passengers affected as flights, airspace disrupted in Gulf region; remittances take a hit</a>

US President Donald Trump's comments highlighted the close coordination between the two nations after the joint military attack launched on February 28, killing Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.

US President Donald Trump has confirmed that the ongoing conflict with Iran will end only after the "mutual" decision with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump claimed that Iran was on the verge of destroying Israel before the current military intervention, according to a report by The Times of Israel. "Iran was going to destroy Israel and everything else around it. We've worked together. We've destroyed a country that wanted to destroy Israel," he asserted. "I think it's mutual, a little bit. We've been talking. I'll make a decision at the right time, but everything's going to be taken into account," he remarked and also indicated that he would keep the ultimate prerogative while considering suggestions from Netanyahu. Addressing the prospect of Israel continuing military operations on its own if the United States were to halt its strikes, Trump dismissed the likelihood of such a situation. According to The Times of Israel, the president declined to speculate on the hypothetical scenario, saying simply, "I don't think it's going to be necessary." No fixed timeline to stop the war Although the White House has indicated the conflict could last between four and six weeks, Trump has skipped committing to a fixed timeline. His comments highlighted the close coordination between the two nations after the joint military attack launched on February 28, killing Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. He also avoided a detailed explanation on the appointment of newly supreme leader of Iran, declaring only, "We'll see what happens." The cautious remark follows earlier comments made by the US president to ABC News, where he warned that Iran’s new leadership might not “last long” without support from the White House. Beyond the conflict, Trump also commented on Israeli domestic politics, renewing his call for legal relief for Netanyahu. He criticised Israeli President Isaac Herzog for not granting a pardon to Netanyahu, who is currently facing trial on charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. "Bibi Netanyahu should be given that pardon immediately. I think [Herzog is] doing a terrible thing by not giving it. We want Bibi to be focused on the war, not on a ridiculous pardon," Trump told The Times of Israel. Following the Trump comments, the office of Herzog maintained that Israel "is a sovereign state governed by the rule of law," underscoring that the pardon request is being treated through the Justice Ministry. Despite a rift between the leaders, Trump lauded his current bonding and partnership with Netanyahu, adding, “We've done a great job together, like what we've done with Iran.” Also read: Iran war in numbers: 92 million passengers affected as flights, airspace disrupted in Gulf region; remittances take a hit

US President Donald Trump's comments highlighted the close coordination between the two nations after the joint military attack launched on February 28, killing Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.

No timeline to end Iran war? Trump signals decision will be only after ‘mutual’ decision with Netanyahu

As Donald Trump lauds his men for the fight in the Middle East, US Central Command (CENTCOM) announces seven soldiers killed in action. But the world is watching the damage caused by the US' Operation Epic Fury, Iran’s airstrikes that have bombarded the region, which is only increasing tensions across the globe. Amid all this, the US president was seen playing golf. And the netizens have noticed the 79-year-old heading to the golf course as the country loses its brave men.&nbsp;&nbsp;People have questions, and many have been voicing them on social media platforms. The war has been a factor in the energy crisis, among other things. US Marine Corps veteran Brian McGinnis, who was seen protesting and disrupting the Senate to put forth his thoughts, said, “After serving, I’ve seen the cost of war up close. Now I focus on standing with real people, listening, learning, and fighting for what matters most: community, justice, and peace. I’ve walked through fire, fought battles, and faced challenges I never expected. But nothing teaches you more about humanity than fighting for real people’s lives!” He has been standing in the front row to fight the US government.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/40-times-and-counting-donald-trump-mentions-he-stopped-india-pakistan-war-yet-again-1756193935347">40 times and counting: Donald Trump mentions 'he stopped India-Pakistan war' yet again</a>&nbsp;<h2>Internet reacts:</h2>&nbsp;As Americans have been bearing the brunt of the war, many have taken to X to share their opinions. An X user named Soubhi Jarrash wrote, "President Trump on the golf course as major global events unfold. A rare look at the "Wartime President" maintaining his routine amid the crisis."&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🚨 OBSERVATION: President Trump on the golf course as major global events unfold. A rare look at the &quot;Wartime President&quot; maintaining his routine amid the crisis. ​<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Trump?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Trump</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GlobalEvents?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GlobalEvents</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BreakingNews?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BreakingNews</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Iran?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Iran</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Israel?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Israel</a> <a href="https://t.co/wkhUI2JU9h">pic.twitter.com/wkhUI2JU9h</a>&mdash; The.SoubhiX (@Soubhi_Jarrah) <a href="https://twitter.com/Soubhi_Jarrah/status/2030739020305580354?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Another wrote, “A seventh U.S. service member has just been killed in the war against Iran, gas has increased a dollar a gallon, stocks are tumbling, terrorists are throwing IEDs in NYC, and unemployment and inflation are going back up… Where’s Trump? Oh, playing golf.”&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-plans-attack-on-iran-pentagon-pizza-index-spikes-reveals-major-activity-1771821364550">US plans attack on Iran? ‘Pentagon Pizza Index’ spikes, revealing major activity</a>&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">A seventh U.S. service member has just been killed in the war against Iran, gas has increased a dollar a gallon, stocks are tumbling, terrorists are throwing IEDs in NYC, and unemployment and inflation are going back up… Where’s Trump? Oh, playing golf.<a href="https://t.co/rlgny4Qn0O">pic.twitter.com/rlgny4Qn0O</a>&mdash; Travis Akers 🇺🇸 (@travisakers) <a href="https://twitter.com/travisakers/status/2030734768988434891?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Ed Krassenstein, another X user wrote, “As Trump continues to deploy US troops to the Middle East to fight a foreign war with Iran, as gas prices shoot through the roof, and as we are seeing horrific job losses, Donald Trump is playing golf with his billionaire friends in the comfort of his own home, while the Epstein files remain hidden.”

Eight American soldiers confirmed dead in Operation Epic Fury as netizens lash out at President Trump for his Florida golf trip. 

As Donald Trump lauds his men for the fight in the Middle East, US Central Command (CENTCOM) announces seven soldiers killed in action. But the world is watching the damage caused by the US' Operation Epic Fury, Iran’s airstrikes that have bombarded the region, which is only increasing tensions across the globe. Amid all this, the US president was seen playing golf. And the netizens have noticed the 79-year-old heading to the golf course as the country loses its brave men. People have questions, and many have been voicing them on social media platforms. The war has been a factor in the energy crisis, among other things. US Marine Corps veteran Brian McGinnis, who was seen protesting and disrupting the Senate to put forth his thoughts, said, “After serving, I’ve seen the cost of war up close. Now I focus on standing with real people, listening, learning, and fighting for what matters most: community, justice, and peace. I’ve walked through fire, fought battles, and faced challenges I never expected. But nothing teaches you more about humanity than fighting for real people’s lives!” He has been standing in the front row to fight the US government. Also read: 40 times and counting: Donald Trump mentions 'he stopped India-Pakistan war' yet again Internet reacts: As Americans have been bearing the brunt of the war, many have taken to X to share their opinions. An X user named Soubhi Jarrash wrote, "President Trump on the golf course as major global events unfold. A rare look at the "Wartime President" maintaining his routine amid the crisis."

Eight American soldiers confirmed dead in Operation Epic Fury as netizens lash out at President Trump for his Florida golf trip.&nbsp;

'Where’s Trump? Oh, playing golf': US loses 8 soldiers in Middle East war, netizens slam Mr President

Amid raging war in West Asia, Iraq’s top Shiite cleric Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, who is one of the topmost leader in the community after Khamenei's death, issued a ‘fatwa’ on Sunday (Mar 8) declaring that it is “collective duty” to support Iran. Ali al-Sistani is considered as the highest Shiite religious authority for millions of followers in Iraq and across the world and is regarded with same honour as Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In the fatwa, al-Sistani urged Muslims to gather in the streets and public squares in support of backing Iran and the Islamic laws. Calling out “division conspiracies”, he opined that there is a need for “broad public presence and popular solidarity in the public squares,” as it is also a collective religious obligation.&nbsp;&nbsp;Sistani's impact is massive in Iraq. In 2014, hundreds of thousands of Iraqi youths responded to his fatwa calling for a fight against the ISIS (Daesh) terrorist group. That call eventually led to the formation of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), which supported the Iraqi army in battling the terror group. The current ruling has been circulated by media and social channels linked to Shia groups. It must be noted that Sistani's remark is significant as he opposes Iran's Wilayat al-Faqih system that was developed by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini under which a single "Supreme Leader" has absolute authority over all state matters. Despite fundamental differences, this remark is seen as a sign of firm solidarity amid external intervention.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/trump-s-first-reaction-after-iran-appoints-mojtaba-khamenei-as-new-supreme-leader-iran-us-israel-war-1773028077192">'I am not...': Trump's first reaction after Iran appoints Mojtaba Khamenei as new Supreme Leader</a>&nbsp;The fatwa came after Sistani was asked about the religious view on people gathering in public places and mosques to respond to what were described as acts of sabotage and attempts to weaken the institutions of the Islamic system. The gatherings were seen as a way to counter despair, prevent damage to public property and moral decline, frustrate enemies, support the values of the Islamic Revolution, and maintain order during a sensitive time.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-iran-war-iran-launches-first-attack-after-new-supreme-leader-s-appointment-1773033286825/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-iran-war-iran-launches-first-attack-after-new-supreme-leader-s-appointment-1773033286825/embed</a>&nbsp;<h2>Iran-Israel-US war</h2>The war with Iran has reached day tenth with both sides relentlessly targeting each other. It all started when on Feb 28 Israel and the United States launched “pre-emptive” attack on Iran, and killing Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in subsequent airstrikes. Iran retaliated with drone attacks on Israel and on Gulf nations that host US bases. While US President Donald Trump has said that the operations in Iran will go on for “four weeks or so”, he has also boasted about US munitions that are enough for “forever” war, Israel has expanded its operations and has launched attack on Hezbollah in Lebanon, while also continuing its strikes on Tehran. Iran has ruled out any negotiations with the US after criticising the attacks that came amid nuclear talks between two sides. The bombings in West Asia is continuing, with US issuing unprecedented advise to all its citizens to leave the region, including Israel. Iranian regime has vowed to avenge the death of Khamenei.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/mojtaba-khamenei-iran-s-next-supreme-leader-pro-nuclear-hardliner-wealth-100-million-infertility-treatment-irgc-trump-sanction-1773012834582">Pro-nuclear hardliner to infertility treatment: What we know about Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran's next Supreme Leader</a>&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.

Iraq’s top Shia cleric Ali al-Sistani issued a fatwa calling support for Iran a “collective duty” amid the US-Israel war on Tehran. Urging public demonstrations, the influential leader’s statement signals Shia solidarity despite his long-standing differences with Iran’s system.

Amid raging war in West Asia, Iraq’s top Shiite cleric Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, who is one of the topmost leader in the community after Khamenei's death, issued a ‘fatwa’ on Sunday (Mar 8) declaring that it is “collective duty” to support Iran. Ali al-Sistani is considered as the highest Shiite religious authority for millions of followers in Iraq and across the world and is regarded with same honour as Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In the fatwa, al-Sistani urged Muslims to gather in the streets and public squares in support of backing Iran and the Islamic laws. Calling out “division conspiracies”, he opined that there is a need for “broad public presence and popular solidarity in the public squares,” as it is also a collective religious obligation. Sistani's impact is massive in Iraq. In 2014, hundreds of thousands of Iraqi youths responded to his fatwa calling for a fight against the ISIS (Daesh) terrorist group. That call eventually led to the formation of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), which supported the Iraqi army in battling the terror group. The current ruling has been circulated by media and social channels linked to Shia groups. It must be noted that Sistani's remark is significant as he opposes Iran's Wilayat al-Faqih system that was developed by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini under which a single "Supreme Leader" has absolute authority over all state matters. Despite fundamental differences, this remark is seen as a sign of firm solidarity amid external intervention. Also Read: 'I am not...': Trump's first reaction after Iran appoints Mojtaba Khamenei as new Supreme Leader The fatwa came after Sistani was asked about the religious view on people gathering in public places and mosques to respond to what were described as acts of sabotage and attempts to weaken the institutions of the Islamic system. The gatherings were seen as a way to counter despair, prevent damage to public property and moral decline, frustrate enemies, support the values of the Islamic Revolution, and maintain order during a sensitive time. https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-iran-war-iran-launches-first-attack-after-new-supreme-leader-s-appointment-1773033286825/embed Iran-Israel-US war The war with Iran has reached day tenth with both sides relentlessly targeting each other. It all started when on Feb 28 Israel and the United States launched “pre-emptive” attack on Iran, and killing Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in subsequent airstrikes. Iran retaliated with drone attacks on Israel and on Gulf nations that host US bases. While US President Donald Trump has said that the operations in Iran will go on for “four weeks or so”, he has also boasted about US munitions that are enough for “forever” war, Israel has expanded its operations and has launched attack on Hezbollah in Lebanon, while also continuing its strikes on Tehran. Iran has ruled out any negotiations with the US after criticising the attacks that came amid nuclear talks between two sides. The bombings in West Asia is continuing, with US issuing unprecedented advise to all its citizens to leave the region, including Israel. Iranian regime has vowed to avenge the death of Khamenei. Also Read: Pro-nuclear hardliner to infertility treatment: What we know about Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran's next Supreme Leader 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.

Iraq’s top Shia cleric Ali al-Sistani issued a fatwa calling support for Iran a “collective duty” amid the US-Israel war on Tehran. Urging public demonstrations, the influential leader’s statement signals Shia solidarity despite his long-standing differences with Iran’s system.

'Muslims take to streets...': Iraq’s top Shia cleric Sistani supports Iran, makes BIG appeal amid raging war with Israel, US

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un praised the “physically weak but strong-willed” women of his country during an International Women’s Day speech in Pyongyang. His daughter Kim Ju Ae attended the event, fuelling speculation she is being positioned as his successor 

‘Physically weak’ but ‘strong willed’: Kim Jong Un delivers his first Women's Day speech — Is he promoting his daughter Ju Ae?

Mojtaba Khamenei, son of slain leader Ali Khamenei, has been named Iran’s new Supreme Leader by the Assembly of Experts. Known for strong IRGC ties, the cleric faces scrutiny over his credentials, sanctions and hardline stance on Iran’s nuclear programme amid ongoing US-Israel tensions.

Pro-nuclear hardliner to infertility treatment: What we know about Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran's next Supreme Leader

US-Iran-Israel war LIVE | Ten days after the United States and Israel launched ‘pre-emptive’ attack on Iran and killed its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in subsequent air strikes on Mar 1, Iran has chosen its new Supreme Leader to lead the country. 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.” Israel and the US say that peaceful transition from “terror regime” is their goal while Iranian leadership ahs clarified that they won't reach out to the Americans for talks. Both sides are relentlessly bombing each other, with Tehran bombing US assets in Gulf countries, and Israel expanding its offensive to target Hezbollah in Lebanon. Trump had said that the operations in Iran will go on for “four weeks or so”, and also boasted about US munitions that are enough for “forever” war. Iran's Revolutionary Guards said that they can go on fighting for six months or so. The attack came amid nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran.Will this war actually bring peace in the West Asian region? What will be the end of it? As major question hovers, international community, including India has batted for dialogue with Indian PM Narendra Modi saying that military conflicts cannot restore peace and solve problems. All updates, analysis and developments on the ongoing situation as Israel-US war on Iran continues:

President Donald Trump is reviewing "all credible options" for controlling oil prices amid the joint US-Israeli operation against Iran, the White House said Monday, insisting that the current spike was “short-term.”

Trump considering ‘all credible options’ to tackle oil price surge: White House

France's Emmanuel Macron said Monday that "profound" changes to Iranian leadership could not occur "through American-Israeli bombings alone", adding that war in the Middle East could continue for "several weeks".

Iran’s regime cannot be changed by bombings alone: Macron

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday again warned Tehran against taking "provocative steps" after NATO defence systems intercepted a second Turkey-bound ballistic missile launched from Iran.

Erdogan warns Iran against 'provocative steps' after second missile intercepted

Donald Trump said he was “not happy” after Khamenei’s son was named Iran’s new leader, the New York Post reported.

Trump ‘not happy’ after Khamenei’s son Mojtaba Hosseini named new leader of Iran

The valuable choice of Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei is a manifestation of the people's will in governance. The resolution of the country's problems can be achieved through his wise leadership and by creating an environment based on trust and public participation. I beseech God for his success in safeguarding the sacred unity and building an advanced and independent Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian wrote on X.

Mojtaba Khamenei’s selection as suprme leader of Iran reflects people’s will: Pezeshkian

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused Iran of taking the world "hostage" through its retaliatory strikes and insisted that the United States was on track with its war objectives.

Rubio: Iran attempting to hold world hostage through strikes

Hezbollah officially pledged its allegiance to Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei, the newly appointed Supreme Leader of Iran.

Hezbollah pledges allegiance to new Iran supreme leader

Iran on Monday accused European countries including France of creating the conditions that led to the United States and Israel attacking the Islamic republic and triggering a war."European countries have unfortunately helped create these conditions," said foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei during a weekly press briefing.

Iran accuses European countries of creating conditions for US, Israeli attacks

The Israeli military has started a “wide-scale wave” of strikes against what it said is Iranian regime infrastructure in the capital city of Tehran, the central city of Esfahan, and southern Iran, it said in a statement just now.

Israel begins 'wide-scale' wave of strikes across Iran

Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated Mojtaba Khamenei on his appointment as Iran’s new leader, the Kremlin said on Monday (March 9). In a message released by the Kremlin, Putin said he was confident Khamenei would continue his father’s work “with honour” and help unite the Iranian people “in the face of severe trials.”

Putin congratulates Mojtaba Khamenei on appointment as Iran’s new leader

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has said that Russia and Iran pose a common threat, urging allies to intensify pressure on Moscow as tensions rise in the Middle East. He claimed that Russia and Iran are “working together” and present a common challenge to Europe, the United States, and Gulf nations.“The war against the Iranian regime and Ukraine’s defence against Russian aggression are two theatres of one war,” said Sybiha in a post on X. “The same deadly buzz of Shaheds’ over Ukraine and the Gulf reminds us that developments in Europe and the Middle East are not isolated from each other,” he added.Sybiha further referred that Iran-made drones have been extensively used against Ukraine. “One thing that unites regimes in Moscow and Tehran is that they only understand the language of strength,” he also said.

Ukraine urges allies to increase pressure on Moscow as Russia, Iran poses ‘same threat’

Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom has announced plans to evacuate a second group of family members and certain personnel working on the construction of Units 2 and 3 at the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran to Russia. According to Russia’s state-run TASS news agency, Rosatom chief Alexey Likhachev told the Strana Rosatom newspaper that arrangements are underway and the group will be transported to “a safe location” in the near future.

Russia announces fresh evacuation of Bushehr nuclear power plant's worker from Iran

The European Commission said the oil and gas supply coordination groups of the European ⁠Union will ⁠meet on Thursday. The move came after the surge in oil prices following the Middle East tension. The groups will track the energy impact of the conflict in the Gulf region and the EU ⁠countries’ latest assessments ⁠of their oil supplies. The bloc’s 27 member states are needed to ⁠hold oil stocks that could cover 90 ⁠days’ worth of ⁠consumption.

EU oil, gas coordination groups set to meet this week

People of Iran have been cut off for 216 consecutive hours from the global internet, according to the cybersecurity watchdog NetBlocks. It also added that connectivity is at just 1 per cent of normal levels. “Some 90 million Iranians are silenced and cut off from the global internet under a state-imposed shutdown,” NetBlocks said in its latest daily update.

Iran continue to face internet blackout for 10th day

Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa said that he is saddened by what his and other Arab countries are facing from "unprecedented attacks that can't be justified under any pretext by Iran," saying the kingdom has always pursued peace and good neighbourly relations.

Bahrain king calls Iranian attacks unjustifiable, vows commitment to peace

"China opposes interference in other countries' internal affairs under any pretext, and Iran's sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity should be respected," foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a press conference.

China says opposes any targeting of new Iran leader

Strike hits Beirut's southern suburbs after Israeli warning: AFPTV reporting

Strike hits Beirut's southern suburbs after Israeli warning

Azerbaijan ⁠said it had reopened its border crossings ⁠with Iran for all cargo traffic, according to ⁠Russia’s state-run TASS news agency.

Azerbaijan reopens Iran border to cargo traffic after drone incident: Report

Abu Dhabi authorities say two people were injured in two separate locations by falling debris following an interception by the country’s air defence system.

Two injured in Abu Dhabi as debris falls after interceptions

Iranian authorities will confiscate the properties and impose penalties of members of the Iranian diaspora who "cooperate" with Israel and the United States

Iran says to confiscate assets of Iranians abroad who 'cooperate' with Israel, US

Turkiye’s Defence Ministry has said that it has deployed six F-16 fighter aircraft and air defence systems to the breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus “in light of recent developments in our region”.

Turkiye deploys F-16s, air defence systems to northern Cyprus

Sirens sounded across Haifa for the second time on the morning of Monday (March 9) as the Israeli army said it was a warning for Iranian missile that were launched towards Israel.

Sirens sound in Haifa warning of Iranian missiles launched towards northern Israel 

As Iran appointed new Supreme Leader, China said that the decision on Iran's supreme leader an “internal matter”

US-Iran-Israel war LIVE | China says decision on Iran's supreme leader an internal matter

Iran ⁠had ⁠sought India’s permission for three of its ⁠ships to dock at ⁠its ports, which was granted on March 1, India’s foreign ‌minister says, adding that the government believed that it was the “right thing ⁠to do”

Allowing Iranian ship to dock was right thing to do: India

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, while briefing the Parliament on West Asia crisis said that PM Narendra Modi has contacted leaders of all relevant countries in West Asia including Israel. “Attempts have been made to contact the top Iranian leadership - which is naturally difficult at the moment. But I have been in contact with Iranian Foreign Minister and spoke to him on Feb 28 and March 5,” Jaishankar said.&nbsp;

India trying to contact with top Iranian leadership: Jaishankar in Parliament

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar briefed the Rajya Sabha said that India is in favour of peace and dialogue and top priority remains the safety of Indians

'India is in favour of peace': Jaishankar in Parliament

"The Prime Minister continues to closely monitor the emerging developments, and relevant ministries are coordinating to ensure effective responses," said EAM Dr S Jaishankar as he makes a statement in the Rajya Sabha on the situation in West Asia.

'The Prime Minister continues to closely monitor the emerging developments': Jaishankar in Parliament

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar briefed the Rajya Sabha on the escalating US-Israeli strikes on Iran and reiterated the government's stance that dialogue and diplomacy are the ways forward for all sides to de-escalate. He said that Indian government issued an advisory as early on Jan 5 and asked its citizens to leave or be cautious of the dveloping situations. The remarks come as Opposition MPs created chaos in the House and chanted slogans.

Jaishankar briefs Rajya Sabha on West Asia crisis amid sloganeering

Saudi Arabia’s Defence Ministry says a drone heading towards the Shaybah oil field was intercepted and destroyed.<figure class="image"><img></figure>

Saudi Arabia says it intercepted drone heading towards oil field

The Qatari Interior Ministry says these people were arrested for “filming, disseminating and publishing misleading information”.

Qatar arrests 313 people for disseminating ‘misleading information’

United States War Secretary Pete Hegseth has outlined Washington's stance on the ongoing tensions in West Asia, emphasising the scale of American military strength and its objectives in the region. Speaking in an interview to CBS 60 Minutes, Hegseth addressed the strategy behind the US military's actions and discussed what he described as the growing challenge posed by Iran.

"US capabilities 'overwhelming' compared to Iran's": US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth

Authorities in the United Arab Emirates reported a missile attack early Monday that its air defence systems were responding to, as Iran continues its retaliatory strikes across the Gulf. "Air defence systems are currently responding to a missile threat," the country's National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority said in a post on X.

US-Iran-Israel war LIVE | UAE says air defences responding to missile attack

The US-Israel war with Iran enters day 10 after strikes that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iran has named Mojtaba Khamenei as the new leader as fighting intensifies. With drone attacks, Hezbollah strikes and rising tensions, global leaders urge dialogue to avoid wider war.

US-Iran-Israel war LIVE | Ten days after the United States and Israel launched ‘pre-emptive’ attack on Iran and killed its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in subsequent air strikes on Mar 1, Iran has chosen its new Supreme Leader to lead the country. 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.” Israel and the US say that peaceful transition from “terror regime” is their goal while Iranian leadership ahs clarified that they won't reach out to the Americans for talks. Both sides are relentlessly bombing each other, with Tehran bombing US assets in Gulf countries, and Israel expanding its offensive to target Hezbollah in Lebanon. Trump had said that the operations in Iran will go on for “four weeks or so”, and also boasted about US munitions that are enough for “forever” war. Iran's Revolutionary Guards said that they can go on fighting for six months or so. The attack came amid nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran. Will this war actually bring peace in the West Asian region? What will be the end of it? As major question hovers, international community, including India has batted for dialogue with Indian PM Narendra Modi saying that military conflicts cannot restore peace and solve problems. All updates, analysis and developments on the ongoing situation as Israel-US war on Iran continues:

The US-Israel war with Iran enters day 10 after strikes that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iran has named Mojtaba Khamenei as the new leader as fighting intensifies. With drone attacks, Hezbollah strikes and rising tensions, global leaders urge dialogue to avoid wider war.

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