An Indian-origin woman serving in the US Army has criticised protests in India supporting Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei after his death in US-Israel strikes. In an Instagram video, Shilpa Chaudhary questioned how demonstrations in India would help protesters and warned they could damage the country’s global reputation. She said she opposed radicalism and urged people to think about how their actions are perceived internationally. Chaudhary also claimed many Iranians were celebrating Khamenei’s death, arguing that such reactions reflect public dissatisfaction with his rule. Her comments come amid rising tensions in the Middle East following the killing of Khamenei and subsequent Iranian retaliation against US and Israeli targets across the region.

The United States has asked India to buy stored Russian oil to help stabilise global energy markets as the Middle East war disrupts supplies. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the move would shift crude into Indian refineries and reduce pressure on other global refineries, easing rising prices. Oil markets have been rattled by the conflict involving US and Israeli strikes on Iran and threats to the Strait of Hormuz, a vital energy corridor. With Gulf supplies under threat and limited short-term options, Washington sees India as a crucial partner due to its large refining capacity and continued purchases of discounted Russian oil after sanctions on Moscow.

Shashi Tharoor said India is unlikely to join the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran militarily but cannot remain indifferent to its consequences. Speaking about the crisis, he stressed that New Delhi’s priority should be pushing for diplomacy and de-escalation to end the war quickly. Tharoor noted that the conflict directly affects India because around nine to ten million Indians live and work in Gulf countries, with many already facing travel disruptions and economic uncertainty. He also addressed the US decision to grant India a temporary waiver allowing purchases of Russian oil, saying it offers practical relief to Indian refiners from sanctions. According to Tharoor, India is carefully balancing diplomacy while safeguarding national interests.

Iran has urged India to question the United States over attacks on Iranian vessels in the Indian Ocean. Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said Tehran is a “responsible power” and has not blocked the strategic Strait of Hormuz despite the ongoing conflict. His remarks came after the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena was sunk by a US submarine near the coast of Sri Lanka. Khatibzadeh described the attacks on Iran as being “based on a lie” and stressed that diplomacy remains the only viable path to resolving the escalating US-Iran conflict in the region.

India has allowed the Iranian naval vessel IRIS Lavan to dock at the southern port city of Kochi after Tehran requested urgent assistance due to technical issues. The ship, which had participated in India’s International Fleet Review, arrived with 183 crew members who are currently being housed at Indian naval facilities. The development comes days after the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena was torpedoed and sunk by a US submarine near the coast of Sri Lanka, killing dozens of sailors and escalating tensions between Iran and the United States. Officials said India’s decision reflects a humanitarian and pragmatic approach while balancing its strategic partnership with the US and longstanding ties with Iran. (PC: HT)

Mandana Karimi has announced she is leaving India, citing a lack of support and ongoing security concerns. In an Instagram video, the former Bigg Boss contestant said she cannot return to Iran because she has been banned from the country for the past decade. Her comments came after backlash over an interview discussing Iran and the death of Ali Khamenei. Karimi said she has been living under strict security measures and has kept her location private due to safety fears. She added that her recent social media posts aim to amplify Iranian voices rather than seek publicity, while reiterating that returning to Iran remains impossible for her.

Indonesia will ban social media and several online platforms for users under 16 starting 28 March, aiming to protect children from online risks such as pornography, cyberbullying, scams and addiction. Communications Minister Meutya Hafid said accounts belonging to minors on “high-risk” platforms including YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live and Roblox will be deactivated. The move positions Indonesia as the first non-Western country to delay children’s access to digital spaces by age. Supporters say the rule will help parents manage children’s screen time, while critics warn strict age verification could threaten privacy and limit young people’s access to information and expression. The policy follows similar restrictions introduced. (PC: BBC)

Amid an energy squeeze triggered by the Iran war, India has directed refiners to maximise LPG production and sell it only to state-run companies—Indian Oil Corporation, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited—for domestic use. A government order also asked refiners to avoid using propane and butane, key LPG components, for petrochemical production. The move comes after supply disruptions caused by Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and a drone attack that shut Ras Laffan LNG Terminal. With India importing nearly 85% of its energy needs, the government has also secured crude supplies by purchasing Russian Urals oil after receiving a temporary waiver from the United States Department of the Treasury. (PC: AFP)

A report by The Washington Post says Russia has been providing intelligence to Iran to help target American military assets across the Gulf during the ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel. Iranian strikes have damaged or targeted facilities linked to communications and radar systems at US military sites in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Officials say Moscow shared information on US warships and aircraft positions, helping Tehran plan precise attacks after its own tracking capabilities weakened. Iranian strikes have also hit embassies and energy infrastructure, including the major Al Udeid Air Base. (PC: India Today)

The United States plans to deploy naval escorts to secure shipping through the Strait of Hormuz as tensions escalate during the US-Israel conflict with Iran. Speaking on Fox News, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the United States Navy will escort vessels through the strategic waterway once conditions allow. The move aims to restore disrupted maritime traffic and safeguard global energy shipments passing through the strait. Earlier, Donald Trump confirmed the plan, saying US naval forces would begin escorting oil tankers “as soon as possible.” The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, and continued hostilities have significantly disrupted shipping and oil flows through the region. (PC: Reuters)