US-Israel-Iran War: Trump considering measures to keep soaring oil prices under control, says report

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday announced a slew of measures to offset the impact of the war on Iran, including work from home and a four-day working week. Addressing the nation on the state-run PTV and other private channels, the prime minister said that he was speaking to the nation when the entire region was facing the threat of war.

Energy ministers from the G7 countries are scheduled to meet virtually tomorrow morning to discuss global energy challenges. The meeting will likely focus on rising oil prices, supply security, and strategies to stabilise energy markets amid ongoing geopolitical tensions. 

Pakistan schools shut for 2 weeks, government offices to function 4 days a week amid oil crisis. Read the full story here. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Russia will continue supplying energy resources to countries it considers “reliable partners.”

Amid rising tensions in the Middle East and a sharp increase in global oil prices, US President Donald Trump is reportedly reviewing possible steps to bring fuel costs under control. 

A video circulating on social media appears to show an Iranian naval vessel exploding at sea, reportedly after being hit during a United States military strike. The footage was shared by several defence-tracking accounts online and is said to show the incident near Bandar Lengeh in the Persian Gulf. According to reports, the ship seen in the video is believed to be a Shahid Soleimani-class missile corvette operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN). Read the full story here 

CBSE postpones class 12 board exams scheduled till March 16 in Middle Eastern countries. 

Air India has announced that it will operate extra flights to Europe and the United States in view of the current situation in West Asia. The move aims to help Indian citizens travel safely and ensure connectivity while tensions in the region continue. The airline said these additional services are being planned to accommodate the growing demand from Indian nationals and travelers looking to move out of the Middle East.

The Indian Embassy in Tehran has urged nationals not to approach Iran’s land borders without prior coordination. Travelers must obtain explicit guidance before attempting border crossings, as consular assistance cannot be provided once outside Iran. Emergency helplines and email support are available for guidance.

Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa strongly condemned what he described as “unprecedented attacks” by Iran against Bahrain and other neighbouring Arab states, saying the assaults “cannot be justified under any pretext.” The monarch made the remarks in a televised address during the final ten days of Ramadan, expressing deep regret over the strikes that have targeted Gulf countries as part of the wider regional conflict. 

The UAE’s air defences successfully intercepted 12 out of 15 ballistic missiles and 17 out of 18 UAVs detected on Monday, with the remaining missiles falling into the sea and one UAV landing within the country. Since the start of Iranian attacks, 253 ballistic missiles and 1,440 UAVs have been detected, with most neutralized before causing harm. Eight cruise missiles were also destroyed. The attacks have resulted in 4 deaths and 117 minor injuries among residents and foreign nationals.

Iran’s state‑affiliated Mehr News Agency says a military strike attributed to Israel struck a government building in the central city of Isfahan, injuring three people and leaving two others trapped beneath debris, according to local emergency officials. The report identified the damaged site as the Isfahan governorate office amid a new wave of Israeli attacks on Iranian territory. 

Amid rising tensions in the Indian Ocean following the recent sinking of an Iranian warship by the United States, Iran requested permission from India for three of its ships to dock at Indian ports. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar confirmed that approval was granted the following day. Speaking in Parliament on Monday, he noted that one of the Iranian vessels, IRIS LAVAN, arrived at Kochi on March 4. 

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has announced that its air defence units intercepted and destroyed several incoming unmanned aerial vehicles, including one reportedly over the capital Tehran and additional drones near the towns of Jam and Khormoj in Bushehr province.

The Lebanese parliament has extended its term for two years on Monday due to the US-Israel war with Iran, and Israel steps up its attacks on Lebanon. The country's state news agency said 76 legislators voted in favour, 41 voted against, and four abstained. Hezbollah's 13-member bloc in parliament voted in favour of the extension.

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu on Monday said that around 90,000 people have been able to travel from the Gulf region in the last week itself amid the escalating conflict, emphasising the key roles of various airlines.

An Indian national in Israel was injured after shrapnel from an Iranian missile struck him in the neck, officials said on Monday. The man, who was injured on Sunday, underwent surgery at Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv and is now in stable condition.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said discussions about mediating a ceasefire are currently “irrelevant” as military confrontations continue. Speaking at a press briefing, he stated that Iran did not initiate the conflict and described the situation as a “forced war.” 

Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated Mojtaba Khamenei after his appointment as Iran’s new supreme leader, according to the Kremlin. Putin expressed confidence that Khamenei would continue the legacy of his father, Ali Khamenei, and lead the country with dignity. He also said he believes the new leader will guide the Iranian nation through challenging times while strengthening unity among its people.

China has voiced strong opposition to any attempts to target Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, following warnings from the Israeli military directed at the successor of his late father, Ali Khamenei. Beijing stated that Iran’s leadership transition is an internal matter and emphasised that the country’s sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity must be respected. 

Israel said on Monday that an Iranian missile attack killed a man, raising the country's death toll in the war to 11. This marked the first death from missiles in Israel in a week.

Addressing the Rajya Sabha on Monday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar expressed serious concern over the rapidly deteriorating situation in West Asia. He informed Parliament about large-scale evacuation efforts underway. Indian embassies in the region are operating round the clock, and nearly 67,000 Indian nationals had crossed international borders.

The investigative group Bellingcat says newly released video "appears to contradict" US President Donald Trump's claim that Iran was responsible for an explosion at an Iranian school that killed over 165 people at the start of the war raging in the Mideast. It comes as mounting evidence points to US culpability for the Feb 28 strike, which hit a school adjacent to a Revolutionary Guard base in Minab, Iran, in the country's southern Hormozgan Province.