US-Iran War New Updates: Iran Allows Some Ships To Pass Through Strait Of Hormuz, Says Report

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Italy is set to release 9.966 million oil barrels of oil as part of a it comprehensive release of startegic oil reserves as a part of a joint effort with the Internationa Energy Agency (IEA).

The reserves will be release in the next few days and make up 13.5% of Italy's reserves as per reports.

Kuwait has intercepted four of five ballistic missiles, with the remaining one falling outside a "threat area" as well as destroying five of seven drones, with two of them similarly falling outside the "threat area" in the past 24 hours as per Al Jazeera.

Iran has allowed some shipping vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, news agency AFP cited Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi as saying. 

The Norwegian Maritime Authority has restricted Norwegian-flagged ships from entering the Strait of Hormuz until further notice.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei made his first post on 'X' on Thursday, with the 'X' handle @Rahbarenghelab_, which means 'leader of the revolution' in Persian. He only follows his slain father Ali Khamenei's account.

US President Donald Trump stated that Iran was welcome to participate in the upcoming FIFA World Cup which will take place in US, Canada and Mexico but said that it "would not be appropriate" for "their own life and safety."

Flight operations by Indian carriers to/from Riyadh, Saudi Arabi have resumed from March 12, 2026 according to a statement from the Centre. On the first day of resumption, three services are being operated to Mumbai by Air India and IndiGo, and one service to Calicut by Air India Express.

Indian carriers have scheduled 57 inbound flights on 12 March 2026 from various cities in the West Asia, including Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Fujairah, Jeddah, Muscat, Ras Al Khaimah, Riyadh and Sharjah, subject to operational feasibility and prevailing conditions.

Israel has launched air strikes against the towns of Majdal Selem and Adshit in southern Lebanon according to Al Jazeera.

Militant group Hezbollah claimed that it has targeted the Israeli steelement of Zar'it with missiles as a part of a "warning" it has issued to settlers.

Nepal will commence raitoning cooking gas over fears of fuel shortage arising from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, according to Al Jazeera

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said that Iran needs to improve its relationship with its neighbours. This statement comes after countries such as UAE, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, Oman, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Kuwait faced missile strikes from the country with the focus on targeting US bases.

Khamenei said that Iran would only attack bases.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said that Iran would not give up on avenging the attack on its school children and that the "blood of children would be accounted for."

Iran had conducted a mass funeral ceremony for the 165 schoolgirls and staff killed in a strike by US and Israel forces.

US's Trump administration reiterated its goals with regards to its war against Iran focusing on preventing Iran from having nuclear weapons, destroying its missile arsenal and Navy and ending the "threat posed by terror proxies."

From the start, the Trump admin made the objectives of Operation Epic Fury unmistakably clear:

• Destroy the Iranian regime’s missile arsenal
• Eliminate its Navy
• Ensure Iran can NEVER obtain a nuclear weapon
• End the threat posed by its terrorist proxies pic.twitter.com/FBWBZkVYfM

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 12, 2026

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei made his first statement since he occupied the role after his father Ali Khamenei was slain in attacks by Israel and US forces. Khamenei said that the Strait of Hormuz will continue to be closed in order to put pressure on Iran's enemies.

US President Donald Trump said in a post on his social media platform Truth Social that stopping Iran is "more important" to him than high oil prices and the US will profit from the price rise.  "The United States is the largest oil producer in the world, by far, so when oil prices go up, we make a lot of money," Trump said in his post.

Iran said that it has begun a new wave of missiles launches on Israel as per Bloomberg.

Israel Defence Forces have issued an evacuation threat to suburbs in southern Beirut via a post on 'X', telling them to leave and not come back until further notice. The country's military has dropped bombs in suburbs in Beirut while fighting the militant organisation Hezbollah as per reports.

The death toll in Lebanon from Israel's attacks on the country have increased to 687. Israel Defence Forces said that they have been targeting the militant organisation Hezbollah, backed by Iran.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal  said that India is in constant touch with the Gulf Cooperation Council and is helping with commercial flight options. The Indian embassy in Tehran will also help Indian to leave Iran with alternative options, he said.

Aseem R Mahajan, Additional Secretary (Gulf) of the Ministry of External Affairs  said that almost 130,000 passengers have returned to India from the Middle East Region. He said that egular flying operations are taking place from the UAE.

Air India and IndiGo are also starting operation from Saudi Arabia today, he said.

Russia’s ‌state nuclear corporation Rosatom said that it will stay in Iran ⁠despite the ⁠conflict in the Middle East and is committed to its agreement to build two more units at ⁠the Bushehr nuclear plant, as per its head Alexei Likhachev.

About 450 Rosatom employees remain at the site, Likhachev said, after 150 returned to Russia via Armenia this week.

A bilateral ⁠agreement between Russia and Iran allows ⁠for the construction of up to eight nuclear units, four of them at Bushehr 

The Australian Government has directed the departure of non-essential Australian officials posted to Israel and the UAE as per an 'X' post from Foreign Affairs minister Penny Wong, due to the deteriorating security situation. Essential Australian officials will remain in-country to support Australians who need it.

The Israeli Defence Forces claimed that they have struck two out of three of Iran's ballistic missile launchers.

Qatar’s Ministry of Defence has said the country’s military has intercepted a new missile attack aimed at the Gulf nation.
The latest attack followed an “elevated” security threat alert sent out by Qatari officials earlier today.

The United Nations High Comminsioner reported that 3.2 million people have been displaced from their homes since the US-Iran-Israel war began in Feb. 28.

India's Minister of Petrol Hardeep Sing Puri said that LPG (liquified petroleum gas) production has increased by 28% and that domestic supply is fully protected. Supply shortages of commodities like  liquified petroleum gas (LPG) due to the Strait of Hormuz's supply disruptions has lead to an ongoing LPG shortage in India.

India's Minister of Petrol Hardeep Sing Puri said that the country's crude supply situation is secure. Puri stated that crude volumes are higher than what India would have got through Strait of Hormuz. He further said that crude obtained from non-crude sources are at 70% now, from 55% earlier.

Qatar has sent out an elevated threat report and asked residents to stay indoors, warning them of a missile attack through mobile alerts as per Bloomberg.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal identified 9,000 Indian nationals in Iran.

"These 9,000 Indian nationals comprise students, seafarers, business people, professionals and some pilgrims...Several Indian nationals, mostly students, left the country and reached home," he said.

He further reported that the centre is assisting those Indian nationals who wish to travel to Azerbaijan and Armenia and from there to take commercial flights to return home. They further said that they are assisting them with visa and land border crossings.

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar and the Finance Minister of Iran have had three conversations in the last few days according to Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. The last one discussed issues pertaining to safety of shipping and India’s energy security.

The Israel Defence Forces have a struck a site in Iran which it claims is developing nuclear war capabilities according to Bloomberg.

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar has requested Iran for safe passage of ships according  to Randhir Jaiswal, the EAM spokesperson as cited by Bloomberg.
 

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that the ministry is helping Indian nationals travel to Azerbaijan and Armenia, from where they can catch commercial flights back home. Assistance includes visa support and facilitating land border crossings. The government is working to ensure their safe return.

Jaiswal said, "We have had about 9,000 Indian nationals who were there or who are there in Iran. These 9,000 Indian nationals comprise students, seafarers, business people, professionals and some pilgrims...Several Indian nationals, mostly students, left the country and reached home. We have shifted several Indian nationals, including students and pilgrims, who were based in Tehran to other safer locations and cities in the country. We are also assisting Indian nationals who wish to travel to Azerbaijan and Armenia and from there to take commercial flights to return home."

"We are assisting them with visas. We are also assisting them with land border crossings. We've had several Indian nationals who have approached us and we have helped them to cross over into Azerbaijan and Armenia and from there to take commercial flights back home. I would take this opportunity to advise all Indian nationals who desire to leave Iran via land borders. They should adhere to the advisory that our embassy has issued..." Jaiswal added.

India is in discussions with Iran to secure safe passage for around 20 oil tankers as several Indian vessels remain stranded near the Strait of Hormuz amid escalating regional tensions.

Government officials said multiple Indian ships are currently stuck near the key shipping route, which has seen major disruptions due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia.

Source: Bloomberg

The International Energy Agency said global oil supply could plunge by around 8 million barrels per day in March, highlighting the scale of disruption currently hitting the energy market.

The agency also cut its global oil demand growth forecast to 640,000 barrels per day, lowering its outlook for demand expansion.

In its latest assessment, the IEA said the ongoing war is creating the largest oil supply disruption in history, significantly affecting global crude flows and market stability.

Source: Bloomberg.

The International Energy Agency has rung alarm bells over the oil supply shortage caused by the Strait of Hormuz closure, calling it the biggest-ever oil market disruption. 

The IEA has also cut its 2026 global oil demand growth forecast to 640,000 barrels per day, down from an earlier estimate of 850,000 barrels per day, according to its March monthly oil market report.

The agency also warned that the ongoing West Asia conflict is creating the largest supply disruption in history, significantly impacting global energy markets.

Source: Informist

Gas Shortage forces BMC schools to serve bananas instead of cooked Mid-Day Meals.

Due to a severe LPG shortage in Mumbai, the Mid-Day Meal scheme for 5.40 lakh municipal school students has hit a crisis, forcing schools to distribute bananas instead of cooked meals. 

In order to save fuel consumption, the governor of Tehran has said public transport will be provided free of charge in the city during the war, reports Al Jazeera.

Government officials are set to hold a key presser at 5:30 pm, roughly an hour after Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri addresses the Lok Sabha. 

Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas of India Hardeep Singh Puri will speak in the Lok Sabha at 4:30 p.m. on the crude situation. 

The Kuwait International Airport was hit by several drones, country's civil aviation authorities said, reported Al Jazeera adding that the attack only resulted in 'material damage.'

Israeli air attacks have taken place on the towns of Rashaf and Yater in southern Lebanon, as well as on the outskirts of Qantara town, reported Al Jazeera.

This comes as the Lebanese Health Ministry reports a rising death toll, with at least 634 people killed and 1,586 wounded since March 2,

Loud explosions were heard in downtown Dubai, with small clouds of smoke rising above a residential neighborhood, as Iran continues its attacks on the Gulf in response to US-Israeli strikes. The UAE's air defense systems intercepted several Iranian missiles and drones, causing the explosions, reports AFP.

An Italian military base in Erbil, Iraq, was hit by a missile. No Italian personnel were injured. The base is part of an international coalition effort against ISIS, training Kurdish security forces.

Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani confirmed the incident, with all personnel safe in bunkers.
 

Liberia-flagged tanker ship 'Shenlong' entered Indian waters near Mumbai Port. It was captained by an Indian and was loaded with crude oil from the Saudi port Ras Tanura. Watch  latest visuals from Mumbai Port

#WATCH | Liberia-flagged tanker ship 'Shenlong' enters Indian waters near Mumbai Port. It was captained by an Indian and was loaded with crude oil from the Saudi port Ras Tanura.

Latest visuals from Mumbai Port pic.twitter.com/4BWABAsZ88

— ANI (@ANI) March 12, 2026

An Italian military base in Iraq's Kurdish region was hit by a missile, with no casualties reported among the personnel.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani condemned the attack, stating that all soldiers are safe and sheltered in a bunker. The base, located in Erbil, is part of an international coalition effort against ISIS, training Kurdish security forces, reported Guardian.

Crude Prices at 1:10 p.m. IST

A quick check of global crude prices at this hour shows that Brent crude has slipped below $100 per barrel (currently $96.30/bbl). The Nymex is trading at $90.08/bbl.

Both are up above 4% in trade.

Former Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed on Wednesday said that building democratic structures and institutions can bring “change" in a country, and “not bombing."

Interacting with PTI on the sidelines of a conclave, Nasheed also said that while the old world order is changing and a new one is emerging, "it doesn't look like the United States is the leader of the free world."
 

1. Persian Gulf was hit with a projectile off the coast of Dubai, sparking a small fire, according to British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre. It said the crew of the vessel were safe.
2. In Bahrain, an early Iranian attack sparked a major fire on Muharraq Island, home to the country's international airport. 
3. Kuwait's Defence Ministry said an Iranian drone smashed into a residential building, wounding two people, the UAE said it had activated air defences twice to protect Dubai from attacks, and firefighters extinguished a blaze at a tower in Dubai Creek Harbour after a drone hit.
4. Saudi Arabia said it had shot down a drone targeting the diplomatic quarter of the capital, Riyadh, and also reported downing drones in kingdom's east, including at least one trying to target its Shaybah oil field in the Empty Quarter desert.
    

Fuel prices in India are likely to remain stable for now, despite the global oil price surge due to tensions in the Middle East and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. The government is focusing on diversifying crude oil imports, with around 70% of supplies now coming from non-Hormuz regions, sources told NDTV. This shift aims to reduce dependence on vulnerable shipping routes.

There will be no immediate plan to hike petrol and diesel prices, and oil marketing companies are absorbing the additional cost burden, the source added. The current gas price is marginal with no big spike, sources told NDTV.
 

Iraqi Ports Company confirmed that all operations at Iraq's oil ports have been halted following attacks on two oil tankers in national waters, though commercial ports remain active, Iraq's state news agency confirmed.

 

• India’s crude oil supply remains secure. India's daily consumption is about 55 lakh barrels and through diversified procurement the volumes secured currently exceed what would normally have arrived through the Strait of Hormuz during this period.
• India now imports crude from around 40 countries. As a result of this diversification, about 70 percent of crude imports are now coming from routes outside the Strait of Hormuz compared with about 55% earlier.
• Two additional crude cargoes are already on the way and will arrive in the coming days, further strengthening the crude oil supply position.
• Refineries across the country are operating at very high capacity utilisation levels, in some cases even above 100% capacity utilisation.

 

(Source: PIB)

US and Israeli strikes on Iran have damaged at least four cultural and historical sites, including palaces and an ancient mosque. UNESCO confirmed that it has verified damage to the lavish Qajar-era Golestan Palace in Tehran as well as the 17th century Chehel Sotoun palace and the Masjed-e Jame, the country's oldest Friday mosque, both in Isfahan.

There also was verified damage at buildings close to the Khorramabad Valley, which includes five prehistoric caves and one rock shelter providing evidence of human occupation dating to 63,000 B.C.

(Source: PTI)

Following high-level talks between Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Iran has agreed to allow India-flagged tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, reported NDTV.

Two Indian tankers, the Pushpak and the Parimal, were reported to be passing safely through the strait, even as vessels from the US, Europe, and Israel continue to face restrictions.

Ian Bremmer of Eurasia Group told NDTV Profit that enriched uranium stocks remain untouched as of now.

• He said Iran’s strikes are affecting the international image of the wealthy Gulf states.
• According to Bremmer, Iran’s strikes have decreased compared to a week ago.
• Bremmer noted that oil prices have fallen due to the release of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR).
• Bremmer explained that the United States is not prepared to redeploy assets for convoy protection.
• Russia is benefiting from the redeployment of military resources elsewhere.
• He said shippers are not ready to send tankers through the Strait of Hormuz under current risks.
• Bremmer stated that the United States cannot tolerate a prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
   

In an interview with NDTV Profit, Ian Bremmer, Founder and president of Eurasia Group said that US President Donald Trump can say he won the war but he is in denial. 

"He is clearly in denial about how war overall is going," Bremmer told NDTV Profit addin that Trump's ability to distort facts that is higher than any other president. 

An Indian national has reportedly been killed in an attack carried out by Iran using a "suicide" boat against a US-owned oil tanker near Iraq.

US-owned and Marshal Island-flagged oil tanker Safesea Vishnu was attacked off Khor Al Zubair port on Wednesday inside Iraq’s territorial waters by an Iranian "suicide" boat, sources told PTI.

An Indian national, whose name is being withheld at the moment, has reportedly been killed in the attack, while the remaining 27 crew and personnel on the oil tanker have been rescued and taken to Basra, the sources said.

Sources close to Safesea, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the company is devastated to learn of the loss of the Indian national in the attack.

(Source: PTI)

Bahrain's Ministry of Interior has arrested four nationals, aged 22-36, for allegedly spying for Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, including photographing key locations. A fifth suspect, 25, is reportedly abroad. The ministry claims they used high-resolution equipment to capture coordinates, which were then sent to Iran via encrypted software.

India co-sponsored a resolution in the UN Security Council that condemned the “egregious” attacks by Iran against Gulf Cooperation Council countries and Jordan and demanded immediate cessation of all attacks by Tehran while denouncing its threats of closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

The 15-nation Security Council, currently under the presidency of the United States, adopted the resolution on Wednesday with 13 votes in favour, none against and abstentions by veto-wielding permanent members China and Russia.

India cosponsored the Bahrain-led resolution along with over 130 nations, including Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Canada, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Yemen and Zambia.

(Source: PTI)

A drone fell on a building near Dubai's Creek Harbor area, causing a fire, but no injuries were reported. The Dubai Media Office confirmed the incident, and evacuation was carried out to ensure everyone's safety. The fire was later brought under control.
 

Authorities have fully brought the fire under control, and all residents are safe. No injuries have been reported. pic.twitter.com/0WTqLurwPX

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) March 11, 2026

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared that it will block every drop of oil from passing through the Strait of Hormuz, as the continued closure of the strategic Gulf chokepoint further unsettles global energy markets amid the ongoing US‑Israeli war on Iran.
 

Ninety-one children — nearly one in seven dead — were among the 634 people killed by Israeli fire since fighting broke out last week, Lebanon's Health Ministry said. At least 47 women have been killed and more than 1,500 people wounded. That's up from 570 people the ministry reported killed as of Tuesday.

More than 800,000 people have been displaced, mostly from southern Lebanon and the capital's southern suburbs, according to the Lebanese government, which is strapped for cash and has struggled to secure adequate shelter and aid for evacuees.

Israel's widespread strikes in Lebanon are intensifying, while Iran-backed Hezbollah vows to keep firing missiles and drones into Israel and refuses to disarm.
 

(Source: AP)

Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command, said that as a result of the US strikes, including one on a "large ballistic missile manufacturing facility," Iran's ballistic missile and drone attacks have “dropped drastically.” The targets have included more than 60 ships, he said in a video posted to social media Wednesday.

Cooper also confirmed that the military was using 'advanced AI tools' to “sift through vast amounts of data in seconds." He said these tools are enabling leaders to make smarter decisions faster but stressed that “humans will always make final decisions on what to shoot and what not to shoot and when to shoot."
 

Ambassador Danny Danon said Israel always prefers diplomacy and talks with the Lebanese government will continue, "but now they have to choose to actually confront Hezbollah — they have to stop Hezbollah."

"They have to choose — either they confront Hezbollah or they let us do it," he said. "There is no other option."

Danon was asked by UN reporters ahead of an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council meeting on Lebanon how long its military operation would last.

"As long as there will be a threat against us, we will operate," he replied.

Lebanon's cash-strapped military, backed by the US and other governments, has been deploying in recent months across southern Lebanon where Hezbollah has a strong military presence, but it's unclear if they are able or willing to disarm the Iran-backed militant group.
 

"I think they should," the president told reporters when asked if he'd spoken to oil companies, as he left the White House for a trip to Ohio and Kentucky.

He added of Iran, "We took out just about all of their mines" and that US forces had also destroyed "just about all of their mine ships in one night."

The waterway off Iran's coast is vital for oil and gas but has been effectively closed amid the war.

Iranian forces can target ships using the strait with missiles, drones and mines — and US attempts to limit Iran's mine-laying capabilities is among Washington's efforts to try and make the waterway safer to use.

U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright released the following statement regarding the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR):

"Earlier today, 32 member nations of the International Energy Agency unanimously agreed to President Trump's request to lower energy prices with a coordinated release of 400 million barrels of oil and refined products from their respective reserves.

"As part of this effort, President Trump authorised the Department of Energy to release 172 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, beginning next week. This will take approximately 120 days to deliver based on planned discharge rates," the statement read.

https://t.co/EjYGju8swZ

— U.S. Department of Energy (@ENERGY) March 11, 2026

An Iranian-linked hacking group, Handala has claimed responsibility for a cyberattack on Stryker, a US-based medical device provider, causing disruptions and limiting access to some systems. The Michigan-based company, with 56,000 employees and operations in 61 countries, reported the incident in an SEC filing but didn't specify the timeline for full restoration.

US President Donald Trump claimed victory in the Iran war, stating "we won" during a speech in Kentucky, despite not providing clear evidence to support his claim.  "Let me say we have won. You know, you never like to say too early that you won. We won. We won, in the first hour it was over, but we won," the US president said. He has also referred to the strikes as both a war and a "short excursion."

Two foreign tankers carrying Iraqi fuel oil were attacked within the territorial waters of Iraq within the last hour, causing both to catch fire in the Persian Gulf. A total of 25 crewmembers onboard the vessels have been evacuated so far by authorities in Iraq, according to NDTV.

President Donald Trump says his administration will tap the United States' Strategic Petroleum Reserve to try and reduce gasoline prices that have risen due to the Iran war. During an interview Wednesday with WKRC Local 12 in Cincinnati, Trump was asked about tapping the reserve and said, "Well, we'll do that and then we'll fill it up."

He added, "Right now we'll reduce it a little bit, and that brings the prices down." He didn't specify how many barrels of oil the US would release.

Trump frequently criticised the administration of Joe Biden for tapping the reserve to try and bring down gas prices.