US-Iran War Live News Updates: India Does Not Need To Import Petrol And Diesel, Says Govt

Aseem R Mahajan, Additional Secy (Gulf) MEA:

• There was an attack in Muscat today, 2 Indian nationals have died
• Out of 11 injured, 10 are Indians
• Efforts are underway to get mortal remains 
• Mission team is in Basra to get 15 Indian seafarers back

Aseem R Mahajan, Additional Secy (Gulf) MEA:

• Since 28th Feb, 1.5 lakh Indian nationals have returned to India 
• 2900 Indians have come via Qatar Airways 
• Yesterday Air India and IndiGo restarted flights to India

Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secy, Ministry of Shipping on port ops: 

• Port ops across India are stable.
• All major and non Major ports are following issued SOP.
• They've been directed to coordinate with Shippers and Exporters.
• LPG carrier vessels have been given priority berthing.

Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secy, Ministry of Shipping says:

• 24 Indian vessels on the West of Strait of Hormuz are present at the moment 

• 4 vessels are on the Eastern side

• 1 vessel from East has moved and is on the way 

• 'Jaiprakash' oil tanker has been moved and is on the way

Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary (Marketing & Oil Refinery) at the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said that India now has a crude oil refining capacity of 218 million tonnes. She said that the country is fully self‑sufficient in petrol and diesel production and does not require imports to meet domestic fuel demand.

Residents in the northern Israeli village of Zarzir heard loud explosions as they ran into a shelter early Friday morning and emerged to find much of the area in ruins.

Authorities say nearly 60 people were injured in the missile strike on the Arab-Israeli village near the Lebanese border.

Hezbollah said early Friday that it fired several rockets toward northern Israel and Israeli troops in southern Lebanon.

Residents said missiles from Hezbollah destroyed houses and left people scrambling to help relatives between the rubble.

(Source: AP)

World shares retreated on Friday while oil prices again popped above $100 per barrel as anxiety remained over the Iran war and its impact on supplies of crude oil and gas.

• U.S. futures slipped, with the futures for the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average down 0.3%.
• In early European trading, Britain's FTSE 100 fell 0.7% to 10,235.29. Germany's DAX lost 1% to 23,345.90, while France's CAC 40 dropped 1.2% to 7,887.18.
• In Asian trading, Tokyo's Nikkei 225 index slipped 1.2% to 53,819.61. Technology-related stocks saw some of the bigger losses, with SoftBank Group falling 4.5%.
• South Korea's Kospi fell 1.7% to 5,487.24.
• Hong Kong's Hang Seng lost 1% to 25,465.60, while the Shanghai Composite index was down 0.8% at 4,095.45.
• Australia's S&P/ASX 200 edged 0.1% lower to 8,617.10.
• Taiwan's Taiex was trading 0.5% lower, and India's Sensex dropped 1.8%.

(Source: AP)

A large explosion struck Iran's capital, Tehran, on Friday at a square filled with demonstrators, Iranian state television reported.

The explosion hit Ferdowsi Square, just down Enghelab Street from Tehran University, the epicenter of ongoing Quds, or Jerusalem, Day demonstrations.

The cause of the blast was not immediately known. Israel had warned it could strike in the area just before the blast.

Intense airstrikes began landing around Tehran just before rallies were to begin for the annual Quds Day event in support of Palestinians. Despite the attacks, thousands of people took to the streets chanting "death to Israel" and "death to America."

(Source: AP)

Israel’s military announced start of new 'extensive wave' of strikes on Iran’s capital Tehran as Israel issued forced evacuation orders amid new attacks in Beirut, Lebanon, reported Al Jazeera.
 

External Affairs Minister of India S Jaishankar spoke with Iranian FM Araghchi on strengthening bilateral relations and BRICS cooperation, amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

Had another conversation with Iranian FM @araghchi yesterday night.

Discussed bilateral matters as also BRICS related issues.

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) March 13, 2026

On Friday, French President Emmanuel Macron said a French soldier was killed in an attack targeting Irbil in Iraq's northern Kurdish region. France earlier said six soldiers had been hurt in a drone strike in Irbil, where French troops are deployed as part of a multinational counterterrorism mission supporting Iraqi forces in their fight against Islamic State militants.

The Academy Awards (Oscars) organisers have said that the security arrangements for the ceremony have increased after the news of an FBI alert surfaced ahead of this year's ceremony this Monday.
 

The bodies of 84 Iranian sailors killed in the torpedo attack on the warship IRIS Dena off Sri Lanka's coast are scheduled to be repatriated to Iran today on a special flight departing from Mattala International Airport, says Sri Lankan Defence Ministry

Iran's Foreign Minister, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, held a phone conversation with India's Foreign Minister, S Jaishankar, discussing regional and international developments.

1. Araghchi briefed India on the latest situation resulting from U.S. and Israeli 'aggressions' against Iran. He emphasised Iran’s determination to use its legitimate right to self‑defense.
2. Araghchi urged international and regional organisations to condemn the military actions against Iran. He highlighted the role of BRICS and said it should play a constructive part in supporting stability and security.
3. Jaishankar expressed India’s readiness to expand cooperation with Iran—bilaterally and in multilateral forums. He emphasised the need for collective efforts to maintain lasting stability and security in the region.

The Israeli Defense Forces has just begun a wide-scale wave of strikes targeting infrastructure of the Iranian terror regime across Tehran.: IDF Alert at 12:40 p.m.

Oman News Agency (ONA) reports that two drones were shot down in Sohar Governorate, with one crashing in Al Awahi Industrial Area, killing two expatriates and injuring several others. 

In a post on X, ONA wrote, "A security source reported the downing of two drones in the Suhar Governorate, one in the Al Awahi Industrial Area, resulting in the death of two expatriates and some injuries, and the other in an open area with no injuries recorded. The competent authorities continue to handle both incidents and investigate them."

The relevant authorities have people to not circulating photos and rumours and obtain information only from official sources.

Explosions have been reported in Tehran and the nearby city of Karaj. According to Iranian state media, cited by Reuters, multiple blasts were heard along with the sound of fighter jets over Karaj, located west of the capital. The semiofficial Tasnim news agency has also reported explosions in several areas of Tehran.

Two people have been killed in Oman following the downing of a drone in Sohar province, according to a report by the country’s state news agency.

According to Al-Jazeera, the drone crashed in the al-Awahi industrial area, resulting in injuries as well as the deaths of two workers. It was also reported that a second drone was brought down elsewhere in Sohar province.

The US military sought to find and extract the crew of a US military refuelling aircraft that crashed in western Iraq on Thursday.

It was unclear if the crew of the KC-135 aircraft had been harmed in the incident, which US Central Command said involved another aircraft but was not the result of hostile or friendly fire. At least five crew were reportedly onboard.

The Saudi Saudi Defence Ministry said that a drone was shot down while attempting to approach the Diplomatic Quarter in Riyadh, Al Jazeera reported.

Sirens sounded at Turkey's Incirlik Air Base after NATO air defenses intercepted two ballistic missiles heading towards the country. The Turkish National Defense Ministry confirmed that a ballistic missile fired from Iran was neutralised by NATO air and missile defense assets in the Eastern Mediterranean. The debris fell on vacant land in Gaziantep province with no casualties or injuries reported.

In a now-deleted post on Truth Social, US President Donald Trump wrote, "We are totally destroying the terrorist regime of Iran, militarily economically, and otherwise, yet, if you read the Failing New York Times, you would incorrectly think that we are not winning. Iran’s Navy is gone, their Air Force is no longer, missiles, drones and everything else are being decimated, and their leaders have been wiped from the face of the earth. We have unparalleled firepower, unlimited ammunition, and plenty of time - Watch what happens to these deranged scumbags today. They’ve been killing innocent people all over the world for 47 years, and now I, as the 47th President of the United States of America, am killing them. What a great honor it is to do so! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP." [sic]

Dubai authorities said that they are handling a minor incident where shrapnel from a successful air interception fell onto a building facade in central Dubai, specifically on Sheikh Zayed Road. No injuries were reported.

أكدت الجهات المختصة أنه يتم التعامل مع حادث بسيط ناجم عن سقوط شظايا نتيجة اعتراض جوي، على واجهة أحد المباني وسط دبي، دون تسجيل إصابات.

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) March 13, 2026

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy has claimed that its ballistic missiles have hit the US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, allegedly disabling the vessel and compelling it to withdraw from Gulf waters. The United States has rejected the claim, stating that the carrier "continues to support Operation Epic Fury."

The authorities in Dubai have confirmed that a missile or drone was intercepted in the air, but debris fell down and hit a building in central Dubai, causing a minor incident. No one was hurt in the incident.

Panama Canal Administrator Ricaurte Vásquez said Thursday that the conflict in the Middle East and rising fuel costs could ultimately benefit the interoceanic waterway as global shippers adjust routes.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Vásquez said that higher energy, fuel and navigation costs could make the Panama Canal a more attractive option for commercial traffic.

“When costs increase, in general when the price of marine fuel rises, the Panama Canal becomes a more attractive route,” Vásquez said.

A loud explosion was heard in central Dubai, with smoke visible in the area, following sounds of explosions, reports NDTV.

Iran has launched its 44th wave of missile attacks as the war with Israel enters its 14th day. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claims these strikes are targeting Israeli cities as well as US bases in Erbil and Bahrain. 

Iran has launched drone strikes on Northern Israel, reportedly injuring 33 people. The attack involved multiple missiles and drones, with sirens sounding across northern Israel, reports NDTV.

A woman and a child were killed, and 35 others injured, in an Israeli air strike on a residential building in Arak, western Iran, according to Al Jazeera Arabic and the city's deputy governor.

The State of Qatar has strongly condemned the Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon, considering them a blatant violation of international humanitarian law and UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on the international community to fulfill its responsibilities by compelling the Israeli occupation authorities to cease their repeated attacks on Lebanon and to respect international conventions and laws.

The Ministry affirmed the State of Qatar's unwavering stance towards the Republic of Lebanon, its unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and its full support for all efforts that enhance its stability and prosperity.

Iran's UN Envoy, Amir Saeid Iravani, stated that Iran won't close the Strait of Hormuz, despite threats from the country's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, to use it as a pressure tactic. Iravani emphasised Iran's right to preserve peace and security in the waterway, citing the country's commitment to freedom of navigation under international law.

Israeli warplanes pummelled Lebanon, targeting even the busy heart of Beirut, in response to missiles from Iran-backed Hezbollah fighters launched into Israel. One strike hit in a neighbourhood that is close to Lebanon's parliament, United Nations offices and international embassies.

Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee said forces were targeting a “facility affiliated with Hezbollah.”

An Israeli strike also hit in the vicinity of Lebanon's only public university, killing a professor and the director of the science faculty at the campus in Hadath, on the outskirts of Beirut's southern suburbs. There was no immediate comment from Israel.

(Source: AP)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israeli attacks have killed top Iranian nuclear scientists.

Speaking Thursday night at a news conference, Netanyahu denounced Iran's new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, as a 'puppet of the Revolutionary Guards' who cannot appear in public. And he addressed the Iranian people, saying the moment for a 'new path of freedom' was approaching and that Israel stands with them.
 

Donald Trump believes Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is likely alive despite not being seen publicly since taking office. "I think he probably is. I think he is damaged, but I think he's probably alive in some form," Trump said in an interview with Brian Kilmeade. 

Hosseinian told The Associated Press the new supreme leader was wounded in the attack on his family's home, but 'it is not serious.' The hope is he will attend the massive, state-organised Eid prayer next week that his father traditionally led. Hosseinian added that Iran's strikes on Gulf nations have also been strategic.

"Even when we targeted hotels, we had precise information that they were hosting American and Israeli soldiers," he said.

Khamenei called on Gulf Arabs to "shut down" US bases in the region, saying protection promised by Washington was "nothing more than a lie."

He also said Iran has studied "opening other fronts in which the enemy has little experience and would be highly vulnerable" if the war continues. He did not elaborate, but Iran has been linked to previous attacks on US, Israeli and Jewish targets around the world.

Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi says Iran had proposed mechanisms to ensure no nuclear weapons, but the US dismissed it due to a lack of understanding of the technical details. He argues that Americans won't benefit from rising oil prices and tariffs, as these policies only enrich corporations and harm households.

Factual knowledge matters.

Case 1: Iran's proposal to ensure NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS was dismissed because U.S. counterparts didn't grasp the technical details.

Case 2: Americans won't "make money" from surging oil prices and tariffs. They enrich corporations and crush households.

— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) March 12, 2026

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country's attacks were creating conditions for the Iranian population to topple the government.

"It is in your hands," Netanyahu said at a news conference, addressing the Iranian people. "We are creating the optimal conditions for the fall of the regime."

Iran's secretive new supreme leader vowed to keep up attacks on Gulf Arab countries and use the effective closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz as leverage against the United States and Israel.

It was his first public statement since being chosen to succeed his father, who was killed in an Israeli strike.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, who Israel suspects was wounded in the opening salvo of the war, has not appeared in public since then.

In the statement read by a state TV news anchor, he vowed to avenge those killed in the war, including in a strike on a school that killed over 165 people.

The US Treasury Department announced it was taking steps to further ease sanctions on Russian oil as crude prices surge during the Iran war. The agency said that it was granting a license that authorises the delivery and sale of some sanctioned Russia crude oil and petroleum products for the next month.

Trump signalled earlier this week that he would take further action to ease restrictions on sanctioned oil to help make for the loss of oil flowing on the market because of the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The move follows the Trump administration granting temporary permission for India to buy Russian oil.
 

(Source: AP)