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The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has taken a significant turn as foreign ministers from Arab and Muslim countries gathered in Riyadh for urgent discussions. The meeting, which included representatives from 12 countries, aimed to muster a common response to Iran's increasing retaliation against US assets and infrastructure in the region.The talks were held as Iran targeted several energy facilities across Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar in retaliation against Israel's strike on the South Pars gasfield, Iran's biggest source of energy. This escalation comes after a series of Israeli assassinations of top Iranian security officials.The joint statement issued on Thursday confirmed that the countries present at the meeting, including Qatar, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkiye, and the United Arab Emirates, asserted the right of states to defend themselves, citing Article 51 of the United Nations Charter on defensive action.The foreign ministers condemned deliberate Iranian attacks with ballistic missiles and drones that have struck various targets, including residential areas, water desalination plants, oil facilities, airports, and diplomatic positions. They called on Iran to:Halt its attacks.Stop "provocative actions or threats" aimed at its neighbours.Cease supporting, financing, and arming pro-Iran proxy groups based in Arab states.Refrain from actions or threats aimed at blocking the Strait of Hormuz or threatening maritime security in the Bab al-Mandeb strait.The meeting yielded a unified response to Iran's increasingly unpredictable behaviour, but the joint statement was vague about how countries would follow this up. Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud emphasized his country's right to defend itself and hinted that Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states would act if necessary, adding that they have "very significant capacities and capabilities that they could bring to bear should they choose to do so".The Iranian leadership's response to these developments remains unclear, with New Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei having not been seen in public since his appointment. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a statement saying that Iranian forces had responded to the "deceiving and lying enemy" that had targeted energy facilities in the country, and that they had "entered a new phase of warfare" to defend Iran's infrastructure.

Sri Lanka's government has rejected a request from the United States to land two combat aircraft at Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport in southern Sri Lanka from March 4 to 8. The request was made on February 26, just before the US and Israel launched their military offensive against Iran.President Anura Kumara Dissanayake told Sri Lanka's parliament that the US wanted to bring two warplanes armed with eight antiship missiles from a base in Djibouti. The government turned down the request to maintain Sri Lanka's neutrality in the conflict.The decision comes amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, with Iranian missile and drone attacks sending energy prices soaring and fuelling fears of a widening conflict. The US-Israeli war on Iran has sparked widespread concern globally, with many countries refusing to get directly involved while calling for urgent de-escalation.Sri Lanka's president also cited his country's neutrality in denying the US request, saying that had they accepted the US request, they would have had to do the same for Iran, which had also made a request for three naval vessels to make a goodwill visit to Sri Lanka on the same day.In recent weeks, Sri Lanka's navy rescued 32 Iranian crew off IRIS Dena after it was torpedoed by a US submarine off the country's coast, killing at least 84 people. Days later, Sri Lanka evacuated more than 200 crew members from a second Iranian vessel, IRIS Bushehr, after the ship requested assistance from Colombo.

The conflict in Iran is leading to heightened risks of instability across countries in the region. This development has significant implications for global security and stability.The situation is being closely monitored by international observers, with concerns about the potential for escalation and its impact on neighboring countries.

Southern Lebanon is grappling with the consequences of a recent Israeli military operation, as local communities begin to assess the damage and humanitarian impact of the attack. The incident has significantly escalated tensions in an already volatile region, drawing international attention to the fragile security situation along the Lebanon-Israel border. Reports indicate that the Israeli operation targeted specific locations in southern Lebanon, though details regarding the exact nature of the targets and the extent of civilian casualties remain unclear. The aftermath has left local infrastructure damaged and displaced families seeking shelter in safer areas, according to sources familiar with the situation. p>International observers have expressed concern over the potential for further escalation in the region, given the complex web of alliances and competing interests in the Middle East. The United Nations has called for restraint from all parties and urged diplomatic efforts to prevent the situation from spiraling into broader conflict. p>The Lebanese government has condemned the Israeli action as a violation of sovereignty, while Israeli officials have characterized the operation as necessary security measures against threats originating from southern Lebanon. The conflicting narratives highlight the deep divisions that continue to characterize relations between the two neighboring countries. p>Humanitarian organizations are assessing the needs of affected communities, with concerns growing about the long-term impact on civilian populations in the region. The international community is being called upon to provide assistance and support efforts to de-escalate tensions and prevent further bloodshed in an area with a history of violent conflict.

US President Donald Trump has requested a delay in his highly anticipated trip to China, initially scheduled for March 31-April 2, by about a month. The decision comes amid the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran, which has resulted in significant escalation of tensions in the Middle East. “We've requested that we delay it a month or so,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday. “There's no tricks to it either. It's very simple. We've got a war going on. I think it's important that I be here.” The delay underscores how the Iran war has upended Trump's foreign policy agenda and risks magnifying tensions between Washington and Beijing. The war has joined trade and Taiwan as among the spectrum of issues separating the world's two biggest economies. Trump's request has been largely rebuffed so far, with China not directly responding to his request to help unblock the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran says is closed to US and Israeli-linked vessels. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical waterway through which one-fifth of the world's oil usually transits. US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent said earlier on Monday that Trump may need to delay the trip due to coordinating the war effort, not because of China's unresponsiveness to Trump's request or because of any trade disagreements. “The president wants to remain in DC to coordinate the war effort. Traveling abroad at a time like this may not be optimal,” Bessent said. In related trade negotiations, the Chinese showed openness to potential additional purchases of US agricultural goods, including poultry, beef, and non-soya bean row crops, during talks with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Paris.

The conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran has taken a significant turn with strikes on a gas field and energy production facilities. These actions are likely to have a ripple effect on the global economy, raising power, food, and other prices worldwide. As gas supplies dwindle and costs escalate, the impact will be felt across the globe.The effects of this conflict will not be limited to the Gulf region; they will echo far beyond, affecting economies and consumers worldwide. The key question is: who will feel the impact the most, and how far could this shock spread?Expert insights from Justin Dargin, an energy expert at the Middle East Council on Global Affairs, provide valuable context to understanding the potential consequences of this escalation.

President Donald Trump has announced a significant diplomatic pause in the escalating conflict with Iran, instructing the US military to delay any strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five-day period. The announcement comes as Trump claims both nations have reached "major points of agreement" and are seeking a "complete and total resolution" of hostilities in the Middle East.This decision follows a tense 48-hour ultimatum issued by Trump on Saturday, in which he threatened to "obliterate" Iranian power plants if Tehran did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait is a critical global chokepoint, handling approximately one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas; its closure has already triggered a severe global energy crisis and spiked oil prices.Speaking from Florida, Trump stated that Iran is eager to make a deal and that his envoys, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, have been engaged in talks with a "respected" Iranian leader. For a resolution to materialize, Trump asserted that Iran must relinquish its enriched uranium stockpile, and he suggested the strategic Strait of Hormuz would be reopened very soon if an agreement is reached.The prospect of de-escalation provided immediate relief to global financial markets. Wall Street stocks saw early gains on Monday, while oil prices—which had soared since the onset of hostilities—experienced a sharp decline. The easing of tensions is viewed as a potential "off-ramp" for the war, which analysts suggest may be an attempt by Trump to secure a dignified exit from the conflict.While Iran has not officially confirmed the talks, its Foreign Ministry suggested the pause is a tactical maneuver to lower energy prices. However, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that any attack on Iranian power plants would trigger a massive retaliation, including strikes on US bases and economic infrastructure. Analysts believe the likelihood of Iran refusing this offer is remote, as the country seeks to avoid further devastation.

The military campaign launched by the United States and Israel against Iran has entered its 24th day, bringing the region to a precarious juncture. As US President Donald Trump’s 48-hour ultimatum for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz approaches its expiration at 23:44 GMT on Monday, Tehran has issued stern warnings regarding the potential targeting of its electricity grid. In response, Iran has vowed to strike the energy and water systems of its Gulf neighbors, raising fears of a broader regional energy crisis.The conflict is already having tangible repercussions on the global economy. Financial markets are reacting sharply to the escalating tensions, with stocks in China and Hong Kong on track for their worst performance in nearly a year. The uncertainty has fueled stagflation fears, prompting UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to convene an emergency meeting to address the mounting economic fallout.In Iran, the situation remains volatile. The Israeli military has conducted a wide-scale wave of strikes targeting infrastructure across Tehran, resulting in powerful explosions reported in the central, southern, and eastern parts of the capital. Verified footage shows massive columns of fire and smoke rising over Karaj following an air attack. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has retaliated by threatening attacks on power plants in Israel and those supplying electricity to US bases, while also targeting a turbine engine production site in Qom used for drone components.The conflict has also spilled over into Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defence confirmed that two ballistic missiles were launched toward Riyadh, with one intercepted and the other falling in an uninhabited area. The UAE reported debris injuries in the al-Shawamekh area, while Bahrain confirmed attacks on the US Fifth Fleet. In Qatar, seven people were killed in a helicopter crash, and Kuwait has formally protested airspace violations to the International Civil Aviation Organization.The human toll continues to rise. In Israel, alerts were triggered across Jerusalem and central Israel following explosions, with the casualty toll from attacks on Dimona and Arad climbing to at least 180 injured. In Lebanon, authorities report that at least 1,029 people have been killed since March 2, with over 100 of the victims being children. In Iraq, at least 60 people have been killed, primarily among pro-Iran Popular Mobilisation Forces.

The US and Iran have been engaged in secretive backchannel talks, mediated by countries such as Egypt, Pakistan, and Oman, in an effort to prevent further escalation of the conflict in the region. The talks, which were denied by Iran initially, may lead to a resolution, but the path forward remains uncertain.According to reports, US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi have been in communication, with the Egyptian Foreign Ministry tweeting that conversations were underway on Sunday, 24 hours before Donald Trump's deadline to start attacking Iran's energy infrastructure.The talks have been chaotic, with multiple mediators jostling for the title of peacemaker in chief. Pakistan's army chief, Asim Munir, spoke with Trump on Sunday, while Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday.Iran's Foreign Ministry initially denied any talks had taken place, saying: “There is no negotiation whatsoever between Tehran and Washington.” However, the ministry later opened up, with spokesperson Esmail Baghaei saying that messages had been exchanged through friendly countries, indicating America's request for negotiations to end the war.The talks may yield a complete and total resolution in the war, according to Trump, who announced that he was holding off from attacking Iran's energy infrastructure due to the “very good and productive conversations” that had been held with Iran.A 15-point deal has been proposed, including joint control of the strait of Hormuz, no nuclear bombs, and no enrichment of uranium. However, Iran's willingness to agree to abandon its right to enrich uranium remains a major sticking point.If talks fail, Trump warned: “We'll just keep bombing our little hearts out.”