Breaking News Live: Iran Considering Blocking Hormuz Strait, Air India To Give Additional Payment To Victims

Iran is considering blocking off the Strait of Hormuz as tensions with Israel continue to escalate.

The country's lawmaker Esmaeil Kowsari said it is considering the step, hours after Israel's defense force announced it had eliminated nine nuclear scientists in military action against the country.

The news was reported by Iranian news agency Tehran Times.

The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, stands as one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints.

Over the years, Iran has repeatedly targeted merchant ships traversing the choke point, and has even threatened to block the Strait in the past.

Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates are heavily reliant on the Strait for nearly all their oil and gas exports.

To know more about how the move could affect India, read the report below.

Air India has said it will be providing an interim payment of Rs 25 lakh or approximately 21,000 pounds each to the families of those who lost their lives and the survivor of the Ahmedabad plane crash.

This will be in addition to the Rs 1 crore or 85,000 pounds support Tata Sons announced for victims' families earlier this week. This takes the total compensations to victims of the tragedy to Rs 1.25 crore.

"Our teams on the ground are doing everything possible to extend care and support during this incredibly difficult time," the airline said in a statement on X.

Earlier on Saturday, Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad announced that DNA profiling of nine bodies had been completed and one had been handed over to family members.

India's Ministry of External Affairs has issued a statement on the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's stance on the rising tensions between Iran and Israel.

"India’s own position on the matter had been articulated by us on June 13, 2025, and remains the same. We urge that channels of dialogue and diplomacy be utilised to work towards de-escalation and it is essential that the international community undertake endeavours in that direction," the ministry said.

The External Affairs Minister has discussed the matter with his Iranian counterpart, urging avoidance of any escalatory steps and an early return to diplomacy, it said.

The overall position of India as stated above was communicated to other SCO members. Keeping that in mind, India did not participate in the discussions on the SCO statement, it said.

In a statement on Saturday, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization expressed concerns over the escalating tensions and condemned Israel's military strikes on Iran.

"Such aggressive actions against civilian targets, including energy and transport infrastructure, which have resulted in civilian casualties, are a gross violation of international law and the United Nations Charter," the body said.

The SCO went on to say its member states firmly advocate for the resolution of the situation surrounding Iran’s nuclear program exclusively through peaceful, political, and diplomatic means.

Ahmedabad's Civil Hospital has completed DNA profiling of nine victims of the tragic Air India plane crash that occurred on Thursday afternoon.

Civil Hospital confirmed that DNA of nine bodies was successfully matched with family members.

The first body has been handed over to relatives.

As per protocol, mortal remains are being released only after complete DNA verification and legal paperwork.

The Israel Defense Force has announced that it eliminated nine senior scientists and experts responsible for advancing the Iranian regime’s nuclear weapons program.

"All of the eliminated scientists and experts, eliminated based on intelligence, were key factors in the development of Iranian nuclear weapons," the IDF said in a statement on social media platform X.