New Delhi, April 11 (IANS) Iran’s dominance over the Strait of Hormuz remains evident, with surveillance through the chokepoint waters now extending from the tiny Iranian Larak island, while the US security structure over the Gulf has largely disintegrated, with no clear alternative framework yet in place, a report highlighted on Saturday. Writing for India Narrative, noted author and former Minister of State for External Affairs, M J Akbar opined that America’s strongest alliance, NATO, too is …
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Washington, April 10 (IANS) US Vice President J D Vance on Friday set off for Pakistan for talks on Iran, saying Washington is ready to “extend the open hand” if Tehran negotiates in good faith, while warning against attempts to “play” the United States. “We’re looking forward to negotiation. I think it’s going to be positive,” Vance told reporters at Joint Base Andrews before boarding Air Force Two for Islamabad.He reiterated that the US approach would depend on Iran’s willingne…
London, April 10 (IANS) UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper on Friday reiterated Britain’s call for freedom of navigation, making it clear that the Strait of Hormuz must be fully reopened, without restrictions or tolls. “In my Mansion House speech, I made clear: the Strait of Hormuz must be fully reopened, without restrictions or tolls. The blocking of this vital waterway is hitting trade around the world and prices here at home. Freedom of navigation means navigation must be free,” Cooper, also …
Washington, April 8 (IANS) US President Donald Trump has stepped back from the brink of a major military escalation with Iran, announcing a conditional two-week pause in planned attacks tied to reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a development that came as a big relief to people across the world.The decision came 90 minutes before the self-imposed 8 p.m. EST deadline set by Trump for Iran to reach a deal, after backchannel diplomacy involving Pakistan.Trump, in a post on Truth Social on Tuesday (loc…
Tehran, April 8 (IANS) Iran on Wednesday indicated its willingness to halt its military response provided that attacks against it are stopped, while also announcing a temporary opening of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz for a period of two weeks.In a statement, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said the development comes at a time when ceasefire negotiations are currently underway, signalling a possible de-escalation in ongoing tensions.He further stated that a two-week wind…
Islamabad, April 6 (IANS) Pakistan’s chronic dependence on external debt reflects decades of fiscal mismanagement, entrenched elite capture and failure to broaden the tax base or restructure loss-making state-owned corporations, a report said on Monday. According to a report in the ‘Khalsa Vox’, Pakistan has announced to repay $3.5 billion in debt to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by the end of April 2026, projecting the decision as an “act of sovereign pride”.It added that Abu Dhabi had s…
Addis Ababa, April 6 (IANS) The African Union (AU) and its partners have warned that the ongoing Middle East conflict poses a “serious risk” to African economies.In a joint policy brief, the AU, the United Nations (UN) Economic Commission for Africa, the African Development Bank, and the UN Development Program warned that the longer the conflict lasts and the more severe the disruption on shipping routes, energy, and fertilizer supplies, the greater the risk of a significant growth slowdown acro…
New Delhi, April 5 (IANS) The ongoing war in Iran is creating real economic pressures in Bangladesh, affecting fuel, fertiliser, freight, and foreign exchange, a report has said. While the country is geographically distant from the conflict, its highly connected economy is feeling the impact quickly, as per The Daily Star report.The main channel of this disruption is the Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil and LNG normally move.Any interruption in this route affe…
Washington, April 5 (IANS) World leaders are moving to contain the Strait of Hormuz crisis without direct US leadership, as deepening divisions emerge between Washington and its European allies over the Iran war and its global fallout.Countries heavily dependent on Gulf energy supplies are scrambling to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, even as frustration grows over the US approach to the conflict, according to The Hill .The United Kingdom convened more than 40 nations this week to coordinate effort…
Sofia, April 4 (IANS) China is exploiting the security vacuum in the Middle East to position itself as a “strategic alternative”, amid growing doubts in Beijing over the viability of US bases in the region following repeated attacks on American and Israeli interests, a recent report has highlighted. According to a report in Bulgaria-based ‘Modern Diplomacy’, Beijing has adopted an “encirclement of the encirclement” strategy, expanding its military bases and strengthening regional alliances to co…