Monday marks the tenth day of the US, Israel-Iran conflict, and no indication of de-escalation is visible from either ends.
Mojtaba Khamenei, a son of Iran's late supreme leader, has been named his successor, Iranian state TV announced early on Monday, as the war that began a little over a week ago with his father's killing took a dramatic turn.
The younger Khamenei, who had not been seen or heard from publicly since the war started, had long been considered a contender for the post, even before an Israeli strike killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and despite never being elected or appointed to a government position.
Oil prices surged above $114 per barrel on Monday as the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel intensified, raising concerns that the war could disrupt energy supplies from the Middle East.
Crude rallied sharply in early trading, with US benchmark oil WTI rising to $114.69 a barrel, up 26.07%. The global benchmark Brent Crude climbed to $114.83, gaining 24.02%. The jump marks a sharp move from last week's close. Oil had settled significantly lower on Friday, with the US benchmark ending at $90.90 a barrel and the global benchmark at $92.69, before tensions escalated further across the region.
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Here are the live updates on US, Israel-Iran War.
G7 countries consider joint release of up to 400 million barrels of oil from reserves as prices surge, reports Brics News.
On the spike in energy prices following the conflict that broke out when the US and Israel attacked Iran and Tehran reiterated by attacking US bases in the neighbouring regions as well as Israel, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the government remains committed to ensuring energy security that fully takes into account availability, costs, and risks of energy markets.
"For us, the interest of Indian consumers has and will always be in the overriding priority. Where required, Indian diplomacy has supported the endeavours of our energy enterprises in this volatile situation," he said.
On the conflict situation in West Asia, Minister of External Affairs of India S Jaishankar said," The Indian Embassy has facilitated the relocation of several Indian students in Tehran to places outside. Indian nationals in Iran on business were facilitated to cross over to Armenia to return to India. Our Embassy in Tehran remains fully operational and on high alert. We are committed to supporting the Indian community at this time..."
On the situation in Middle East, Minister of External Affairs of India S Jaishankar says," This ongoing conflict is of particular concern to India. We are a neighbouring region, and have obvious stakes that Middle East remains stable. There are one crore Indians who live and work in the Gulf nations. In Iran, too, there are a few thousand Indians for study or employment. The region is key to our energy security and includes many important suppliers of oil and gas....Serious supply chain disruptions and a climate of instability are serious issues."
"The conflict has continued to intensify, and the security situation in the region has deteriorated significantly. The conflict has spread to other countries with mounting destruction. Normal life and activities in are visibly affected," he said ikn Rajya Sabha.
On Middle East crisis,Minister of External Affairs of India S Jaishankar spoke in Parliament saying Indian government has expressed its 'deep concern'.
"Developments in West Asia deep cause for concern for all of us. We continue to believe dialogue and discussion should be used to resolve all issues," says Jaishankar in Rajya Sabha.
Jaishankar added that the PM is closely monitoring developments in the Middle East.
Bangladesh announces closure of all universities as part of emergency measures to conserve fuel amid a worsening energy crisis linked to the US-Israeli war on Iran.
Escalating tensions in the Middle East appear to have hit Indian markets as well, with equities tumbling sharply in early trade on Monday, as a result of a broad-based selloff across sectors on Dalal Street.
The Pune Municipal Corporation has temporarily closed the city's gas crematoriums following restrictions on the use of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) components such as propane and butane amid the ongoing Middle East conflict.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation said that it is is closely monitoring the evolving situation in the Middle East and as per the current status, Indian carriers are planning 50 flights for March 9, 2026.
Oman Air said that they have committed to supporting its passengers during this challenging time. The airline carrier said that they have operated nearly 80 additional flights over the past week, which helped secure the return of more than 97,000 passengers to their homes.
"Despite the temporary impact on a limited number of our regional destinations due to the closure of some airspaces, the vast majority of our international network—which spans Europe, Southeast Asia, and Africa—is operating according to its usual schedule," the airline wrote.
يؤكد الطيران العُماني التزامه التام بدعم المسافرين خلال هذه الفترة الاستثنائية؛ حيث سيّر الناقل خلال الأسبوع الماضي ما يقارب من 80 رحلة إضافية، ساهمت في تأمين عودة أكثر من 97,000 مسافر إلى ديارهم.
— Oman Air (@omanair) March 9, 2026
وعلى الرغم من التأثر المؤقت لعدد محدود من وجهاتنا الإقليمية نتيجة إغلاق بعض… pic.twitter.com/oN38BX6qpa
Bahrain activates alarm siren. The government has urged citizens and residents to remain calm, head to the nearest safe location, and follow updates through official channels.
The UAE's air defenses are engaging with incoming missile and drone threats originating from Iran. The Ministry of Defense confirms that the sounds heard in scattered areas across the country are the result of air defense systems intercepting ballistic missiles, as well as fighter jets intercepting drones and loitering munitions.
UAE air defences are currently responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran.
MOD asserts that the sounds heard are the result of the Air Defence Systems intercepting missiles and drones.
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemns Iran's recent attacks on the Kingdom, GCC states, and other countries.
In a post on X, the Ministry wrote, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs renews the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's categorical condemnation of the reprehensible Iranian aggressions against the Kingdom, the Gulf Cooperation Council states, a number of Arab and Islamic countries, and friendly nations, which cannot be accepted or justified under any circumstances. The Kingdom affirms its full right to take all measures that ensure the protection of its security, sovereignty, and the safety of its citizens and residents, and to deter aggression." [sic]
#بيان | تجدد وزارة الخارجية إدانة المملكة العربية السعودية القاطعة للاعتداءات الإيرانية الآثمة ضد المملكة ودول مجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربية وعددٍ من الدول العربية والإسلامية والصديقة، والتي لا يمكن قبولها أو تبريرها بأي حال. وتؤكد المملكة احتفاظها بحقها الكامل في اتخاذ جميع… pic.twitter.com/jC1H4Jh8lP
— وزارة الخارجية 🇸🇦 (@KSAMOFA) March 9, 2026
Iran's military, led by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and the Iranian Army, has launched retaliatory strikes against the US and Israel as part of "Operation True Promise 4". This follows Tehran's claims of unprovoked aggression by a US-Israeli coalition against Iran. The IRGC has reportedly targeted Israeli military infrastructure in Haifa and US personnel locations using solid-fuel missiles and drones.
The operation involves integrated drone and missile strikes, with the IRGC claiming to have used newly developed solid-fuel missile technology. Iran's actions are in response to what it sees as US-Israeli aggression, with reports of strikes on Iranian military fuel depots in Tehran by Israel.
Iran's Assembly of Experts has elected slain Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's second son, Mojtaba Khamenei, as his successor. Known as a low-profile but high-influence cleric, Mojtaba has been shaped by Iran's revolutionary system right from in his early days.
Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi congratulated Iran's new Supreme Leader in a post on X.
"Congratulations on the worthy selection of His Eminence Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei as the third Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, coinciding with the first blessed night of Qadr...," he wrote.
"We pledge that, in defense of the rights of the great Iranian nation, the advancement of national interests and security, and the realisation of the lofty goals of the Islamic Revolution, we shall not falter for a moment," Araghchi added.
پیام تبریک به مناسبت انتخاب شایسته حضرت آیهالله سید مجتبی حسینی خامنهای بهعنوان سومین رهبر معظم انقلاب اسلامی، همزمان با اولین شب پر برکت قدر...
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) March 9, 2026
عهد می بندیم برای دفاع از حقوق ملت بزرگ ایران، پیشبرد منافع و امنیت ملی، و تحقق اهداف عالیه انقلاب اسلامی لحظه ای از پا ننشینیم. pic.twitter.com/SPxAYbYieu
In a post on Truth Social, US President Donald Trump wrote, "Short term oil prices, which will drop rapidly when the destruction of the Iran nuclear threat is over, is a very small price to pay for U.S.A., and World, Safety and Peace. ONLY FOOLS WOULD THINK DIFFERENTLY!President DJT." [sic]
The Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia informed that there has been no Indian fatality in the unfortunate incident at Al Kharj on Sunday evening and that the embassy is in touch with the concerned Saudi authorities regarding this issue.
Counsellor (CW) Shri Y. Sabir visited Al Kharj on Sunday night and met the injured Indian national involved in the incident. He is currently receiving treatment at a government hospital in Al Kharj.
Fresh missile alerts were heard in Tel Aviv on March 9, 2026, amid day 10 of the Israel-Iran conflict, reported NDTV.
#BREAKING | Fresh missile alert sounded in Israel's Tel Aviv
— NDTV (@ndtv) March 9, 2026
NDTV's @AdityaRajKaul reports pic.twitter.com/LetxoJbRLR
Iran's football team lost its last group match at the Women's Asian Cup on Sunday and had to contemplate returning home to a country embroiled in war.
The Iranian women's squad arrived in Australia for the continental championship last month, before the war that began with the US-Israel February 28 strikes on Iran. Teams ousted during the group stage usually leave within days but organisers have not announced details for the departure of the Iran delegation.
Australia's national news agency quoted Iran's head coach Marziyeh Jafari saying the squad "want to come back to Iran as soon as we can".
Bahrain accused Iran of indiscriminately attacking civilian targets and damaging one of its desalination plants, though its electricity and water authority said supplies remained online.
Desalination plants supply water to millions of residents in the region and thousands of stranded travellers, raising new fears of catastrophic risks in parched desert nations.
The strike came after Iran said a US airstrike damaged a desalination plant there. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the strike on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz had cut into the water supply to 30 villages.
French President Emmanuel Macron spoke to Iran's President, Masoud Pezeshkian regarding security of Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris and their return to France, who are currently inside the French embassy. He also emphasised an immediate cessation of Iran's attacks against countries in the region.
"Iran must also ensure freedom of navigation by ending the de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz," wrote Macron in a post on X
با رئیسجمهور ایران، مسعود پزشکیان، صحبت کردم.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) March 8, 2026
به او گفتم که امنیت سیسیل کوهلر و ژاک پاریس و بازگشت آنان به فرانسه، که در حال حاضر در داخل سفارت فرانسه هستند، همچنان برای ما در اولویت مطلق قرار دارد.
همچنین بر ضرورت توقف فوری حملات ایران علیه کشورهای منطقه تأکید کردم.…
Oil prices surged above $106 per barrel on Monday as the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel intensified, raising concerns that the war could disrupt energy supplies from the Middle East.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard issued a statement expressing support. Top Iranian security official Ali Larijani, speaking to state TV, praised the Assembly of Experts for "courageously" convening even as airstrikes continued in Tehran. He said the younger Khamenei had been trained by his father and "can handle this situation".
The selection of Khamenei faces the likelihood of US criticism. "Khamenei's son is unacceptable to me," US President Donald Trump has said. "We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran."
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Trump told ABC News on Sunday he wants a say in who comes to power once the war is over; a new leader "is not going to last long" without his approval.
56-year-old Mojtaba Khamenei now stands at the heart of Iran's theocracy and will have final say over all matters of state. He will serve as commander-in-chief of the military and powerful paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. He also has authority over a stockpile of highly-enriched uranium that could be used to build a nuclear weapon, if he chooses to decree it.
Mojtaba Khamenei, a son of Iran's late supreme leader, has been named his successor. His appointment came after signs of a rift among Iranian officials as the country awaited a decision by the Assembly of Experts, a group of clerics that selects the supreme leader.
State TV read a statement from the assembly, saying he was selected based on "strong" votes and urging the nation to unite behind him. The station broadcast scenes of people celebrating in parts of Tehran.
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