MEA calls attack on Indian-flagged vessel near Oman 'unacceptable' (File Photo)Iran-US War Highlights: India’s Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday called the attack on an Indian-flagged vessel near Omani waters as “unacceptable”. The vessel, reportedly carrying livestock, was sailing from Somalia to the UAE in the early hours of Wednesday. Authorities have not yet disclosed the nature of the attack. However, a British maritime risk management group reported an explosion in the area, suggesting that the incident may have been caused by a drone or missile strike. The attacked vessel was carrying 14 crew members, all of whom were rescued by the Omani Coast Guard. According to a Reuters report, Omani authorities later moved the rescued crew to Diba Port.
In a statement condemning the incident, the MEA thanked Omani authorities for the rescue operation. “The attack on an Indian-flagged ship off the coast of Oman yesterday is unacceptable and we deplore the fact that commercial shipping and civilian mariners continue to be targeted,” the statement said.
Iran calls on BRICS nations to oppose US and Israel actions: Iran has called on BRICS member states to condemn what it described as violations of international law by the United States and Israel, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a statement posted on Telegram, according to The Times of Israel. He also urged the BRICS nations to prevent the politicisation of international institutions. “The West’s false sense of superiority and immunity must be shattered by all of us,” he wrote.
Israel says Netanyahu met UAE Leader, UAE denies secret visit claim: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said he made a secret visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and met President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, during the Israeli-US war with Iran. The UAE has, however, rejected the claims, stating that no such visit by Netanyahu took place and that no Israeli delegation was received in the UAE. “The UAE reaffirms that its relations with Israel are public and conducted within the framework of the well-known and officially declared Abraham Accords, and are not based on non-transparent or unofficial arrangements,” the Emirati foreign ministry later said in response. “Accordingly, any claims regarding unannounced visits or undisclosed arrangements are entirely unfounded unless officially announced by the relevant authorities in the UAE.”
"Iran’s enriched uranium can be entombed, but I’d rather get it," says US President Donald Trump said in an interview aired on Fox News' "Hannity" program.
U.S. President Donald Trump said he would not be much more patient with Iran as he urged Tehran to reach a deal with Washington.
"I am not going to be much more patient," Trump said in an interview aired on Fox News' "Hannity" program. "They should make a deal." (Reuters)
The US House of Representatives narrowly defeated a Democratic-led resolution aiming to stop the Iran war until hostilities are authorized by Congress, but the effort to rein in President Donald Trump's military campaign failed by the closest possible margin.
The House voted 212 to 212 on the war powers resolution, meaning it failed because it needed a majority to pass, despite more Republicans backing the effort. (Reuters)
Lebanese officials hope that the third round of talks with Israel in the US will yield a renewed ceasefire deal.
They see these meetings as a vital opportunity to stop the current violence and establish a more stable environment for further diplomacy.
The delegation aims to use the talks to pave the way for resolving several thorny issues. High on their list is the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon and reaching a clear agreement on border security.
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry has issued a statement on X condemning what it described as “provocative practices” by Israeli authorities at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.
The statement, which did not name any officials, cited two specific incidents: An official storming the mosque under the protection of Israeli police and another official raising the flag of Israel in the mosque’s courtyards.
According to news reports from Jerusalem Day, the officials were far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who entered the compound under police protection, raised the Israeli flag near the Dome of the Rock, and danced with supporters and Knesset member Yitzhak Kroizer, who accompanied him and was photographed prostrating towards the mosque.
Saudi Arabia called on the international community to halt practices it said violate international laws and norms, and to hold Israeli authorities accountable for what it termed “serious violations” against Islamic holy sites and Palestinian civilians.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi said that Iran will "not bow down" and clarified that there are no military issues concerning Iran.
Aragchi said Iran is accustomed to threats and has faced repeated threats for a long time. "Iran is used to the threats," he said.
(Al Jazeera)
Hezbollah announced that it had launched several attacks on Israeli military bases in southern Lebanon. The group claimed it targeted an Israeli military position in Adayasah and the Balat military site.
(Al Jazeera)
Marco Rubio said that the US is not seeking China's help in dealing with Iran. Rubio clarified that although US President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping found a common ground on issues concerning the Strait of Hormuz, it does not mean that Washington is seeking Beijing's assistance.
"The Chinese side said they are not in favour of militarising the Strait of Hormuz and they're not in favour of a tolling system," Rubio said during an interview with NBC News as quoted by Al Jazeera.
A senior US Navy admiral claimed that Iran will not be able to restore its pre-war naval capabilities in the near future. The admiral said that Iran's missile systems, naval assets, drones, and industrial base had been degraded by nearly 90 percent.
(Reuters)
Saudi Arabia is reportedly exploring a Middle Eastern non-aggression pact involving Iran, according to a Reuters report quoting the Financial Times. The proposed initiative is aimed at easing the hostile regions and prevent further escalation of conflict in the region.
Three Israeli civilians were injured in a drone strike launched by Hezbollah against Israel. The attack comes ahead of the third round of talks between Israel and Lebanon in Washington under the Trump administration.
Although the negotiations involve Lebanon and Israel, Hezbollah is not part of the talks. Since the ceasefire came into effect on April 17, this marks the first strike to injure civilians. Of the three injured, two are reportedly in serious condition.
(AP)
Ahead of the peace negotiations, Israel and Lebanese delegations have arrived at the US State Department headquarters in Washington.
The negotiations are scheduled to take place on Thursday and Friday.
(Al Jazeera)
According to Al Jazeera, citing Lebanon's National News Agency, one person was killed and two others were injured in a recent Israeli strike on Zrarieh in southern Lebanon.
Following reports of vessel transit through the Strait of Hormuz, oil prices have declined in recent hours.
Brent crude futures fell by $1.27 to $104.36 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures dropped by $1.18 to $99.84 per barrel.
(Reuters)
At the BRICS meeting on Thursday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi urged member nations to condemn what he called as violations of international law by the US and Israel.
Aragchi also accused the UAE of direct involvement in the military operations carried out against Iran and called his country "a victim of illegal expansionism and warmongering".
During the meeting, he called on all BRICS members to hold violators of international law accountable.
(Reuters)
The British military reported that a ship sailing near the east coast of the UAE had been seized and was being taken toward Iranian waters.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported the incident after the receiving information that a vessel had allegedly been taken by an unauthorised party. According to the report, the ship was anchored around 38 nautical miles northeast of the UAE port of Fujairah, near the Strait of Hormuz.
(Reuters)
An Indian-flagged cargo ship was attacked near the Omani coast on April 13, following which the Ministry of External Affairs released a statement calling the incident "unacceptable".
The ministry confirmed that all crew members on board were safe and thanked Omani authorities for rescuing them.
<Our statement on the attack on an Indian-flagged ship off the coast of Oman ⬇️
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) May 14, 2026
🔗 https://t.co/whly2BJ4TJ pic.twitter.com/PF0wAQ14zY
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said that vessels have been transiting through the Strait of Hormuz since Wednesday evening. According to the IRGC, around 30 vessels have crossed the waterway with Tehran's permission since yesterday.
(Reuters)
Iran is reportedly allowed Chinese vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz under its supervision, according to Fars News Agency. The reported arrangement requires ships to undergo Iranian transit protocols before crossing the waterway.
Xi Jinping and Donald Trump arrived at a state banquet in Beijing. According to CNN reports, Xi opened the event with a welcome speech for the US delegation.
During the speech, Xi said, "The rejuvenation of China and 'Make America Great Again' can go hand in hand." He also said that he held an in-depth exchange of views with the US President.
Xi further stated that China and the US should not be rivals but partners, reportedly saying that "China-US ties are the most important bilateral ties in the world."
(Reuters)
According to a senior Lebanese official, Lebanon will demand for a ceasefire from Israel during face-to-face talks in Washington.
The meeting between Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel will mark the third round of talks since renewed strikes between the two sides. On April 16, Donald Trump announced a ceasefire in the regions.
The ceasefire which is set to expire on Sunday, May 16 was reported to be contain hostilities in the southern Lebanon for the brief period.
(Reuters)
Iranian foreign minister Abbas Aragchi, during the BRICS meeting in New Delhi, accused the UAE of direct involvement in the military operations carried out against Iran.
"I didn't name the UAE in my statement for the sake of unity. But the truth is that the UAE was directly involved in the aggression against my country. When the attacks started, they didn't even issue a condemnation," Aragchi said, according to reports by Mehr News.
(Reuters)
Iran US War LIVE: The Israeli army said that it has launched airstrikes targeting Hezbollah infrastructure sites in several areas of southern Lebanon.
Iran US War LIVE: Iran has called on BRICS member states to condemn what it described as violations of international law by the United States and Israel, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a statement posted on Telegram, according to The Times of Israel. He also urged the BRICS nations to prevent the politicisation of international institutions. “The West’s false sense of superiority and immunity must be shattered by all of us,” he wrote.
Iran US War LIVE: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued evacuation warnings for eight villages in southern Lebanon ahead of launching strikes targeting the Hezbollah group. “In light of the Hezbollah terror organisation’s violations of the ceasefire agreement, the IDF is forced to act against it with force and does not intend to harm you,” warned army spokesman Col. Avichay Adraee, according to the Times of Israel.
Iran US War LIVE: US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping major global conflicts including the Middle East war, the Ukraine conflict and issues on the Korean Peninsula when the two met in Beijing, said the Chinese government. “The two heads of state exchanged views on major international and regional issues, including the situation in the Middle East, the Ukraine crisis and the Korean Peninsula,” according to a Chinese foreign ministry readout.
Iran US War LIVE: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said he made a secret visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and met President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, during the Israeli-US war with Iran. The UAE has, however, rejected the claims, stating that no such visit by Netanyahu took place and that no Israeli delegation was received in the UAE. The UAE’s official WAM news agency said that the country's relations with Israel “are public and conducted within the framework of the well-known and officially declared Abraham Accords, and are not based on non-transparent or unofficial arrangements.”
Iran US War LIVE: A senior South Korean official has said it is unlikely any party other than Iran carried out the attack on a South Korean cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz, according to Reuters citing Yonhap.
Iran US War LIVE: The United States is expected to convince China to play an active role in persuading Iran to step away from what it was doing in the Gulf region.
“I’m sure Iran didn’t do it deliberately but they did it, it happened,” Rubio said in an interview with Fox News. “And so that’s why these Chinese ships are stuck in there.” He added that Iran’s behaviour is “a huge source of instability. It threatens to destabilize Asia more than any other part of the world because it’s heavily reliant on the straits for energy.”
Iran US War LIVE: Iran's football federation chief Mehdi Taj said, "The national team players in the World Cup will represent the people, the country's fighters, the leader (supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei) and the country."
Iran US War LIVE: Iran issued a warning to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), claiming that Tehran knew of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's alleged visit to Abu Dhabi. “Netanyahu has now publicly revealed what Iran’s security services long ago conveyed to our leadership,”Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi wrote in a post on X.
“Enmity with the Great People of Iran is a foolish gamble,” continues Araghchi. “Collusion with Israel in doing so: unforgivable.”
“Those colluding with Israel to sow division will be held to account.”
Benjamin Netanyahu secretly visited the United Arab Emirates during the war on Iran and met UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, according to Netanyahu’s office.
Netanyahu’s office said the undisclosed visit took place during Operation “Roar of the Lion” and described the meeting with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed as leading to a “historic breakthrough” in relations between Israel and the UAE.
(With inputs from Al Jazeera)
Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi accused Kuwait of unlawfully attacking an Iranian boat and detaining four Iranian citizens in the Persian Gulf.
Araghchi said the incident took place near Bubiyan Island, which he claimed had been used by the United States during attacks on Iran, and described Kuwait’s actions as an attempt to “sow discord”.
(With inputs from Al Jazeera)
Israel says its military operations in southern Lebanon are targeting infrastructure linked to Hezbollah amid ongoing fighting along the border, reported Al Jazeera.
Iran says its armed forces remain at the “highest level of readiness” and warned there is “no room for retreat” in the conflict involving the US and Israel.
Iranian Army spokesperson Brigadier-General Mohammad Akrami Nia said from Mashhad that Iran’s military had prevented its adversaries from achieving their objectives during the war.
He said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps navy controls the western section of the Strait of Hormuz while Iran’s regular naval forces oversee the eastern side.
Akrami Nia also claimed US military equipment had been destroyed at bases across the Middle East and warned that replacement weaponry would not be allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. He added that Iran had demonstrated capabilities “the enemy had not anticipated”.
(With inputs from Al Jazeera)
Israel carried out a series of strikes across Lebanon that killed at least 12 people ahead of a new round of US-mediated talks between the two sides.
(Reuters)
Lebanon’s Health Ministry says at least 2,896 people, including more than 200 children, have been killed in Israeli attacks since fighting resumed on March 2.
(Al Jazeera)
Israeli warplanes carried out multiple strikes in southern Lebanon, targeting a residential building on Kafr Rumman-Al-Maydaneh highway in southern Lebanon and towns of Beit Yahoun in the Bint Jbeil district and Aita al-Jabal town, Al Jazeera reported, citing Lebanese media.
Iran US War News LIVE Updates on Israeli strikes on Lebanon:
— The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) May 13, 2026
- Israel orders evacuation of three more towns in southern Lebanon: Kfar Hatta, Arabsalim and Deir ez-Zahrani
- Israeli warplanes strike multiple areas in southern Lebanon: Beit Yahoun in the Bint Jbeil district, Aita…
NATO is reportedly planning to invite Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE to its summit as the Iran war and regional security concerns dominate discussions, Reuters reported citing Bloomberg News.
(Reuters)
US President Donald Trump has arrived in Beijing for meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Chinese state media reported.
(Reuters)
Around 5,000 Bangladeshi migrant workers in Lebanon have lost their jobs and are facing severe hardship amid ongoing Israeli attacks, according to a Bangladeshi migrant rights group, reported ANI.
Israel has issued new forced displacement warnings for residents of three towns in southern Lebanon ahead of planned military operations.
Citizens of Kfar Hatta, Arabsalim and Deir ez-Zahrani are directed to immediately evacuate their homes and move at least 1,000 metres away to open areas. The warning was issued by the military’s Arabic-language spokesperson on X and comes after similar displacement notices were earlier issued for Meiss el-Jabal, Yanouh, Burj Shemali, Hula, Debl and Aabbasiyyeh in southern Lebanon.
(With inputs from Al Jazeera)
French Finance Minister Roland Lescure said France currently has no plans to release additional oil reserves despite IEA's warnings over global energy supplies linked to the US-Israel war on Iran.
(Al Jazeera)
The global oil supply will drop by 3.9 million barrels per day, and global oil demand, by 420,000 bpd across the year 2026, according to The International Energy Agency (IEA) due to the disruptions in West Asia amid Strait of Hormuz tensions.
However, the demand is is far surpassed by the loss in supply expected.
“More than 10 weeks after the war in the Middle East began, mounting supply losses from the Strait of Hormuz are depleting global oil inventories at a record pace,” said the IEA in its latest oil market report, as cited by Al Jazeera.
(With inputs from Al Jazeera)
Iran US War LIVE: Nine small earthquakes hit the Pardis area east of Tehran overnight, according to Mehr news agency, prompting renewed warnings from experts about the risk of a major earthquake affecting the Iranian capital and nearby fault lines.
Iran US War LIVE: The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said that it hit 40 Hezbollah sites and killed operatives who allegedly posed a threat to the Israeli army. The targets hit by the IDF included weapon depots and buildings used by the militant group. "Over the past day, IDF struck more than 40 infrastructures of the terrorist organisation Hezbollah in southern Lebanon," IDF said.
במהלך היממה האחרונה: צה״ל תקף יותר מ-40 תשתיות של ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה בדרום לבנון
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) May 13, 2026
במהלך היממה האחרונה, צה״ל תקף יותר מ-40 תשתיות של ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה במספר מרחבים בדרום לבנון.
בין התשתיות שהותקפו: מחסני אמצעי לחימה ומבנים בשימוש צבאי מהם פעלו מחבלי ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה… pic.twitter.com/fFg3eToqPf
Iran US War LIVE: The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) launched a strike targeting a car on a major highway connecting Beirut to southern Lebanon, according to Lebanese state media reports. The attack took place in the Jiyeh area, located about 20 kilometres (12 miles) south of the capital, said Lebanon’s National News Agency.
Iran US War LIVE: Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said that Hezbollah launched several rockets targeting Israeli troops in southern Lebanon on Wednesday (May 13), triggering warning sirens in the northern Israeli border community of Zarit. The IDF said that the rockets hit close to where the forces are deployed; however, they did not cause any injuries.
Iran US War LIVE: Iran executed a man convicted of spying for Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad after the country’s Supreme Court upheld his death sentence, according to judiciary-linked outlet Mizan. The 32-year-old accused named Ehsan Afrashteh was arrested in 2024 and sentenced to death in 2025.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said that it intercepted an alleged Hezbollah drone over southern Lebanon, targeting troops. No injuries were reported, according to The Times Of Israel.
Iran US War LIVE: The US military is considering renaming the Iran conflict “Operation Sledgehammer” if the current ceasefire collapses and President Donald Trump authorises renewed combat operations, according to an NBC News report citing US officials. The report stated, citing two US officials, that the Pentagon was considering renaming “Operation Epic Fury.”
Iran US War LIVE: Saudi Arabia launched several covert strikes on Iran, late in March, retaliating for the attacks Tehran carried out against the country during the war, news agency Reuters reported on Wednesday (May 13), citing Western and two Iranian officials.
Iran US War LIVE: Trump said that the US's financial struggles were not influencing his negotiations with Iran, highlighting that preventing Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons was his administration's primary objective. “I don’t think about Americans’ financial situations,” he said.
Iran US War LIVE: US President Donald Trump said that he maintains a “great relationship” with Chinese President Xi Jinping and suggested Iran would not dominate upcoming bilateral talks because the situation is “very much under control.” "I have a great relationship with President Xi and I think it's going to remain that way. We have a lot of things to discuss. I wouldn't say Iran would be one of them... because we have Iran very much under control," the US president said.
Iran US War LIVE: President Donald Trump issued a warning stating that the US would “finish the job” if Iran refuses Washington's terms to end the war and address its nuclear program. “They’ll either do the right thing, or we’ll finish the job,” he said on Tuesday (May 13), before departing the White House for his high-stakes visit to China.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsVIDEO | Washington: "More than anything else, we have massive relationship with China. We are the superpowers. We are the strongest nations on earth in terms of military. China is considered second, who knows... I have a great relationship with President Xi and I think it's going… pic.twitter.com/s4grTsav8z
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 13, 2026
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