Starmer to hold meeting on Iran war's economic impact
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will hold an emergency meeting on Monday to discuss the impact of the Iran war on the economy, a British government official said.
Andrew Bailey, the governor of the Bank of England, is expected to attend the so-called COBRA meeting, the official said on Sunday.
Bessent says US has 'plenty' of funds for Iran war
The U.S. government has "plenty of money" to fund the war against Iran, but is requesting supplemental funding from Congress to ensure the military is well supplied in the future, US treasury secretary Scott Bessent said on Sunday.
Bessent, speaking on NBC News' "Meet the Press" programme, also ruled out pushing for any tax increases to fund the war.
The US military's request for $200 billion in additional funding for the Iran war faces stiff opposition in Congress, with Democrats and even some Republicans questioning the need after large defense appropriations last year.
Bessent defended the request without confirming the amount.
President Donald Trump has not yet sent a request for the Senate and House of Representatives to approve the sum and his administration has made clear that the number could change.
"We have plenty of money to fund this war," Bessent said. "This is supplemental. President Trump has built up the military, as he did in his first term, as he is now doing in his second term, and he wants to make sure that the military is well supplied going forward."
Turkey discusses steps to end war with Iran, US, EU, Egypt in calls
Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan discussed steps to end the war between Iran, the United States and Israel with counterparts from Iran and Egypt, as well as US officials and the European Union, a Turkish diplomatic source said on Sunday.
The source said Fidan had held separate calls with Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araqchi, Egyptian foreign minister Badr Abdelatty, European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, and US officials, without elaborating further.
Revolutionary Guards issue threat over possible US strikes on Iran energy facilities
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said that if Donald Trump carries out threats to target Iran’s energy facilities, then energy facilities in countries hosting US bases would be considered “lawful” targets.
Iran will completely shut the strategic Strait of Hormuz if US President Trump executes threats to target Iranian energy facilities, the country's Revolutionary Guards said in a statement on Sunday.
In their Sunday statement Iran's Revolutionary Guards also said companies with US shares will be 'completely destroyed'.
Netanyahu doesn't say whether Israel will strike Iran's energy grid
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was noncommittal when asked about Trump's threats to strike Iran's power plants if the Strait of Hormuz isn't opened, and whether Israel would join.
"I think President Trump knows exactly what he's doing. And whatever we do we do together and as far as possible in confidence," Netanyahu Israeli prime minister said Sunday.
Trump's warning to Iran points to importance of Strait of Hormuz
Pope Leo calls war in Middle East a 'scandal' to humanity
Pope Leo on Sunday said death and suffering caused by the war in the Middle East are a "scandal to the whole human family", renewing his plea for an immediate ceasefire.
As the US-Israeli war on Iran enters its fourth week, the first US pope said that he continues to follow with "dismay" the situation in the Middle East and in other regions torn apart by war and violence.
"We cannot remain silent in the face of the suffering of so many people, the defenceless victims of these conflicts. What hurts them hurts the whole of humanity," Leo said at his weekly Angelus prayer in St. Peter's Square.
"I strongly renew my appeal for us to persevere in prayer, so that hostilities may cease and the way may finally be paved for peace," he added.
Netanyahu calls on world leaders to join US-Israel war on Iran: Report
The Israeli PM has called on world leaders to join the US-Israel war on Iran, speaking from the site of an attack in the southern Israeli city of Arad, Al Jazeera reports.
He claimed some countries were already moving in that direction, as he urged broader international involvement.
Netanyahu accused Iran of targeting civilians and claimed it had the capability to strike long-range targets deep into Europe.
EU's Kallas spoke with Iran's foreign minister on Sunday, official says
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas held a phone call with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi on Sunday, an EU official told Reuters.
Iran warns of 'irreversible damage' to regional infrastructure if power plants attacked, post on X
Critical infrastructure and energy facilities in the Middle East could be "irreversibly destroyed" should Iranian power plants be targeted, Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said in comments posted on X on Sunday.
His comments come after U.S. President Donald Trump warned that Iranian power plants would be targeted if the Strait of Hormuz is not "fully open" within 48 hours.
Qalibaf said regional infrastructure would become "legitimate targets" should Iran's facilities be hit, and that its retaliation would increase the price of oil for a while.
Israeli military instructed to accelerate the demolition of Lebanese homes in 'frontline villages', minister says: Report
Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Sunday that he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had instructed the military to accelerate the demolition of Lebanese homes in "frontline villages" to end threats to Israeli communities.
The military was instructed to immediately destroy all bridges over Lebanon's Litani river which he said were used for "terrorist activity", Katz said in a statement released by his office.
Britain sees no evidence that Iran is targeting Europe with missiles
British cabinet minister Steve Reed said on Sunday that there was no assessment that backed claims Iran is planning to strike Europe with ballistic missiles, or that it even has the capacity to do so, reports Reuters.
On Saturday, the Israel Defence Forces posted on social media that Iran has missiles "that can reach London, Paris or Berlin".
"There is no assessment to substantiate what's being said," British Housing Secretary Reed told the BBC.
"I'm not aware of any assessment at all that they are even trying to target Europe, let alone that they could if they tried."
In a separate interview with Sky News, Reed said that US President Trump spoke for himself when he threatened to "obliterate" Iran's power plants if Tehran did not fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours.
Asked to define Britain's position on Trump's deadline, Reed said: "The US president is perfectly capable of speaking for himself and defending what it is that he's saying."
"We're not going to be dragged into the war, but we will protect our own interests in the region. We will work with our allies to de-escalate the situation."
West Asia conflict: Modi calls ministerial meeting to review energy situation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a meeting Sunday evening with senior ministers to take stock of petroleum, power, and fertiliser sectors in view of the evolving West Asia situation, sources have said.
The focus of the meeting is to ensure uninterrupted supply, stable logistics and efficient distribution across the country, and the government is taking proactive steps to this end, they said.
Embassy of India in Kuwait issues a notice on continuation of Consular services
The Embassy of India in Kuwait has confirmed that all consular services remain operational as of 22 March 2026, despite ongoing regional tensions.
In a public notice, the embassy said services are continuing across its four Indian Consular Application Centres (ICACs) in Kuwait , Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh, Fahaheel and Jahra.
The embassy has also shared a 24/7 emergency helpline for Indian nationals requiring urgent assistance.
Explosion near cargo ship close to UAE, UK maritime group says
An explosion has been reported overnight in close proximity to a cargo ship, 15 nautical miles north of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, according to United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations.
The master of the bulk carrier reported an explosion "from an unknown projectile" near the vessel, as BBC reports.
All crew are reported to be safe, the UKMTO adds.
Man killed in projectile launch from Lebanon against Israel
Israeli military says projectile launch from Lebanon toward community along northern border has been identified, causing damages and wounds.
A man has died in northern Misgav Am after his vehicle was hit by a projectile fired from Lebanon, the Channel 12 broadcaster has said.
“The man who was trapped inside the vehicle in Misgav Am has been confirmed dead,” it cited Eli Bin, the director of the ambulance service, as saying, reports Al Jazeera.
Photos published on the broadcaster’s Telegram channel shows two vehicles engulfed in flames.
Iran says Hormuz open to all but ‘enemy-linked’ ships amid US threat
The Strait of Hormuz remains open to all shipping except vessels linked to "Iran's enemies", Iran's representative to the UN maritime agency said on Sunday, after US President Donald Trump threatened to target Iranian power plants if the waterway was not "fully open" within 48 hours.
The threat of Iranian attacks during the US-Israeli war on Iran has kept most ships from getting through the narrow strait, the conduit for around a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, threatening a global energy shock.
Ali Mousavi said Tehran was ready to cooperate with the International Maritime Organisation to improve maritime safety and protect seafarers in the Gulf, adding that ships not linked to "Iran's enemies" could pass the strait by coordinating security and safety arrangements with Tehran.
"Diplomacy remains Iran's priority. However, a complete cessation of aggression as well as mutual trust and confidence are more important," Mousavi said, adding that Israeli and US attacks against Iran were at the "root of the current situation in the Strait of Hormuz".
Iran spokesperson says 'aggressors' must stop attacks for Iran to show restraint
Esmaeil Baqaei, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran, has told Sky News that it is pointless to expect restraint from Iran while the country is being constantly bombarded by deadly air strikes, as reported by Al Jazeera.
Baqaei said the “aggressors” who started the attack must stop first before getting any response from Tehran.
Iran’s military earlier said that it will target energy interest of the US and Israel in the region if Trump follows through on his threat to attack Iranian power plants over the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
Explosions reported in central Israel after Iranian missile attack: Report
Explosions have been heard in central Israel following an Iranian missile attack, according to Al Jazeera Arabic.
The blasts were reported shortly after missiles were launched from Iran towards Israeli territory.
There are no immediate reports of casualties or damage.
LPG cargo ship from US arrives at New Mangalore Port
Pyxis Pioneer, a cargo ship carrying LPG from Nederland, Texas in the US arrived at New Mangalore Port in Mangaluru this morning.
UAE faces aerial attacks from Iran
The UAE said it faced aerial attacks from Iran after the nation warned against allowing strikes from disputed islands near the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
The islands of Abu Musa and Greater Tunb, controlled by Iran but claimed by the UAE, have long been a source of dispute between the two countries.
