International Relations
Bilateral ties, multilateral forums, treaties and India's foreign policy
US has allowed 30-day sale of Iran oil at sea to curb prices. Can India benefit?
The US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued a 30-day General License (GL) authorizing transactions necessary for the sale, de...
Desperate measures: Why Trump suspended sanctions on Iranian oil at sea
The Trump administration issued a 30-day general licence waiving sanctions on Iranian crude oil already in transit at sea — approximately 140 million barrels...
Israel attacks Tehran, Beirut as U.S. sends Marines to West Asia
Israel carried out fresh airstrikes on Tehran and Beirut on March 21, 2026, marking the 21st consecutive day of the US-Israel military campaign against Iran ...
Ukraine launches more than 280 drones at Russia: Moscow
Ukraine launched over 280 drones at Russian territory overnight, one of the largest single drone barrages since the war began in February 2022. Russia's Defe...
Pentagon to adopt Palantir AI as core U.S. military system, memo says
A March 9, 2026 memorandum from US Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg formally designated Palantir Technologies' Maven Smart System (MSS) as an official...
Iran ready to let Japanese vessels transit Strait of Hormuz, say reports
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced that Tehran is prepared to allow Japan-related vessels to transit the Strait of Hormuz, with bilateral disc...
Iran-Israel war LIVE: Refiners in India, elsewhere in Asia, look to buy Iranian oil after U.S. waives sanctions
Indian refiners — including state-owned IOCL, BPCL, and HPCL — are actively seeking non-Middle East crude supply as the Iran-Israel-US war enters its third w...
If you still need to fly amid global travel chaos, here’s what to know
Ongoing missile and drone strikes across West Asia have led to the closure of major regional airspace, severely disrupting global aviation routes in early 20...
Kerala CM blames successive Congress, BJP governments at Centre for India’s cooking gas crisis
Kerala's Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan publicly blamed consecutive Congress and BJP-led central governments for India's ongoing cooking gas (LPG) crisis, t...
Modi-Netanyahu rapport, Hindu-Jew ties, food & culture—former BJP MP brings back ‘Namaste Shalom’
A magazine focused on India-Israel relations titled "Namaste Shalom" has been relaunched by former BJP Rajya Sabha MP Tarun Vijay, originally a 2018 publicat...
Refiners in India, elsewhere in Asia look to buy Iranian oil after U.S. waives sanctions
Indian refining companies confirmed they will purchase Iranian crude oil following the US Treasury's 30-day sanctions waiver, with three major Indian refinin...
South Korea coordinates with Iran to normalise shipping route through Strait of Hormuz
South Korea entered active diplomatic consultations with Iran and other relevant nations to secure normalisation of shipping lanes through the Strait of Horm...
Saudi Arabia condemns Israeli 'aggression' against Syria
Israel launched airstrikes on Syrian army camps in the southern Sweida province on March 20, 2026, targeting military infrastructure including headquarters a...
US eases sanctions on sale of Iranian oil in transit, as Iran conflict upends global energy markets
The US Treasury, led by Secretary Scott Bessent, issued a 30-day sanctions waiver on March 20, 2026, authorising the purchase of Iranian crude oil currently ...
Trump says US considering ‘winding down’ Iran ops, as US moves to ease global energy disruptions
US President Donald Trump stated on March 20, 2026 — Day 21 of the Iran war — that he was considering "winding down" military operations, citing proximity to...
The week in charts: Iran war impact, US Fed decision, HDFC Bank crisis
The US Federal Reserve's Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) voted 11-1 on March 18, 2026, to hold the benchmark federal funds rate steady at 3.5%–3.75%, ma...
Iran fired missiles at joint U.S.-U.K. base in Indian Ocean: report
Iran fired two ballistic missiles at the joint US-UK Naval Support Facility at Diego Garcia in the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), marking the first k...
How Trump's stated reasons, goals and timeline for Iran war have shifted
Throughout the 21 days of the US-Israel war on Iran (beginning February 28, 2026), the Trump administration's stated objectives, justifications, and expected...
Buying property in South Mumbai? Middle East conflict could make it costlier — here's how
The ongoing conflict involving US-Israel-Iran has triggered a cascade of cost increases in India's real estate sector, driven primarily by spiking oil prices...
India-China border trade via Lipulekh Pass to resume after six years
Border trade between India and China via Lipulekh Pass in Pithoragarh district, Uttarakhand, is set to resume in 2026 after a six-year suspension. Trade was ...