Abbas Araqchi, the Foreign Minister of Iran, criticised the United States over its military campaign, calling the operation an “Epic Mistake.” He accused Donald Trump of plotting strikes on Iran’s oil and nuclear facilities in an attempt to contain global inflation caused by surging oil prices. Araqchi said Tehran was fully prepared to respond to any escalation and warned Washington against further aggression. The remarks come as the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel continues to intensify, with missile attacks and airstrikes reported across multiple locations in the Middle East.

G7 nations will hold an emergency meeting on Monday to discuss rising oil prices and falling stock markets linked to the US-Israel war with Iran. Finance ministers from major economies will review the impact of the conflict on global energy supply. Oil prices crossed $100 a barrel as fears grew over disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil usually moves through the route, but shipping has slowed since the war began. Brent crude briefly rose close to $120 before easing. Officials may also discuss releasing oil from emergency reserves through the International Energy Agency. Analysts say a longer conflict could keep markets under pressure.

Signs of division are emerging in Iran’s leadership as the war with the US and Israel continues. President Masoud Pezeshkian faced backlash after apologising for Iran’s strikes on Gulf countries. He later withdrew the apology, saying his remarks were “misinterpreted by the enemy that seeks to sow division.” Hardliners, including parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, criticised the apology as weak. At the same time, Mojtaba Khamenei’s appointment as supreme leader has triggered debate within Iran’s establishment. Some clerics opposed the move, arguing that a father-to-son succession contradicts the ideals of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Analysts say the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps played a decisive role in pushing his appointment. (PC: India Today)

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia will continue to support Iran during the ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel. He described Moscow’s backing as “unwavering” and expressed solidarity with Tehran. “I wish to confirm unwavering support for Tehran and solidarity with our Iranian friends,” Putin said. He also congratulated Mojtaba Khamenei after Iran named him the country’s new supreme leader following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Putin said he was confident the new leader would continue his father’s work “with honour.” The Kremlin also repeated Russia’s call to stop hostilities. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian thanked Moscow for its support and solidarity with Iran. (PC: HT)

Turkey said NATO air defences intercepted a second Iranian ballistic missile that entered its airspace in the past week. The Turkish Defence Ministry said the missile was shot down after it crossed into the country’s airspace. Some fragments fell in empty fields in the southeastern province of Gaziantep. Officials said there were no casualties. “We once again emphasise that all necessary measures will be taken decisively and without hesitation against any threat directed at our country's territory and airspace,” the ministry said. It remains unclear where the missile was heading before being intercepted. Turkey has not invoked NATO’s Article 4 for consultations but warned Iran and other parties to avoid actions that threaten regional stability. (PC: X)

Saudi Arabia has started reducing oil production as storage tanks begin to fill due to disruption near the Strait of Hormuz. The conflict in the Middle East has slowed maritime traffic from the Persian Gulf, affecting exports.   A source familiar with the matter said the kingdom is lowering output to avoid overwhelming storage capacity. Other producers such as the UAE, Kuwait and Iraq have also reduced production.   Saudi Arabia produces about 10 million barrels of oil per day and exports around 7 million barrels. Some shipments are being diverted through the Red Sea port of Yanbu.   However, the pipeline route cannot fully replace exports usually sent through Hormuz. Oil prices have already crossed $100 per barrel. (PC: NDTV)

Glasgow Central Station is expected to remain closed on Tuesday after a major fire broke out in a nearby building. The blaze started in a vape shop on Union Street at about 3:45 pm on Sunday. The fire later spread through nearby Victorian buildings. Part of a dome on one building collapsed during the incident. All train services from the station were cancelled on Monday. Trains are not running to the high-level platforms and are not stopping at the low-level platforms. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said nine appliances and three high-reach vehicles remain at the scene. Officials confirmed no injuries have been reported. Authorities advised people to avoid the area. (PC: BBC)

At least six impact sites were reported in central Israel after Iran launched ballistic missiles carrying cluster munitions, Israeli police said. The strikes hit several locations including Yehud, Holon and Bat Yam. Medical officials said one man was killed at a construction site in Yehud. Another man at the same site was critically injured. A third person was seriously wounded at a different location in central Israel. Emergency teams rushed to the affected areas after the missile attack. Police said they are checking multiple impact locations and securing the sites. The attack comes amid ongoing military tensions between Iran and Israel. (PC: X)

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday voiced strong support for Iran during the ongoing conflict with the United States. He said Russia would continue to stand with Tehran. “I wish to confirm unwavering support for Tehran and solidarity with our Iranian friends,” Putin said. He also congratulated Mojtaba Khamenei after he was appointed Iran’s new supreme leader. Putin said he was confident Mojtaba would carry forward his father’s work “with honour” and unite the Iranian people during difficult times. Putin earlier spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and expressed condolences over the killing of former leader Ali Khamenei and others. The Kremlin also called for an immediate end to hostilities. (PC: HT)

The United States expressed surprise after Israel struck about 30 Iranian fuel depots, a move that went beyond what Washington expected, Axios reported. A senior US official said the scale of the strikes was “not a good idea.” Another Israeli official said the message from the US afterward was a blunt “WTF.” Israel had informed the US before the operation. But American officials said they did not expect such a large attack on fuel sites used by civilians and the military. A Trump adviser said the president “didn't like the idea” of burning oil infrastructure. US officials also worry the images of large fires could push global oil prices higher. (PC: X)