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India rejects claims of payments to Iran for safe passage after two vessels were fired upon in the Strait of Hormuz, calling crypto scam reports fake.

India denies cash, crypto payments to Iran for Hormuz passage

India rejects claims of payments to Iran for safe passage after two vessels were fired upon in the Strait of Hormuz, calling crypto scam reports fake.

India on Wednesday denied making any payments - either in cash or cryptocurrency - to Iran to secure safe passage for its vessels through the Strait of Hormuz amid heightened tensions in the region.
The clarification came after two Indian vessels had to turn back from the Strait of Hormuz after Iranian forces fired upon them as they attempted to cross the crucial waterway on April 18.
Before turning back, the captain of Indian tanker Sanmar Herald, in an audio recording that has surfaced, is heard pleading with Iranian forces to stop firing despite prior clearance to pass the Strait of Hormuz. "This is motor vessel, Sanmar Herald. You gave me clearance to go, my name is second on your list... You are firing now. Let me turn back."
While New Delhi has consistently rejected claims of any financial arrangements with Tehran for ship movement through the critical energy corridors, some reports linked the April 18 incident to a crypto scam.
Reports suggest scammers are offering shipowners fake safe passage through the strait in exchange for crypto. At least one ship fell victim to the scam and was fired at while attempting to pass through the waterway, according to Marisk, a maritime risk services company.
At a news briefing, Mukesh Mangal, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, termed as "fake news" the report of any payment being made for the safe passage of Sanmar Herald.
"News is spreading about a reported payment by the captain of the vessel Sanmar Herald in US dollar to persons claiming to represent the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy to grant passage, and fell victim to cyber criminals. We spoke with the owner of the vessel, and he confirmed that it is fake news and no such incident had happened," he said.
He said his ministry, in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs, assesses the situation before asking Indian vessels, stranded in the Persian Gulf since the start of the Iran war, to cross the Strait of Hormuz.
"This unfortunate incident (of Iranian guards firing on Indian ships) happened on April 18. There was firing on two of our vessels, that's why they had to go back," he said. "As we have been telling in past also, we do not have any new data, any confirmation on any of our vessels has paid money to any of the authorities for this purpose."
He termed as "fake news" reports suggesting that Sanmar Herald paid money to some cybercriminals, and that's why it was fired upon.
"There is no relation (between the firing and the reports)," he said. "This is fake news."
Chennai-based Sanmar Shipping denied any payment.
"It has come to our attention that there have been reports on social media about Sanmar Shipping's very large crude carrier, Sanmar Herald, flying the Indian flag, falling prey to a cryptocurrency scam.
"We would like to clarify that these reports are completely false," it said in a statement.
The shipping line said it is working in close coordination with the relevant agency of the Indian government to ensure the safe passage of Sanmar Herald.
According to shipping monitor TankerTrackers.com, two India-flagged ships, including a supertanker carrying Iraqi crude, were forced to turn back on April 18 after coming under fire.
The disruptions come as scores of commercial vessels and thousands of seafarers remain stranded in the Persian Gulf since the outbreak of the West Asia war on February 28, which has sharply curtailed movement through the Strait of Hormuz.
The Strait of Hormuz handles about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows, making it one of the world's most critical energy arteries. Iran's ability to disrupt traffic through the narrow passage has emerged as a key lever in the conflict.
The halt in transit has driven up energy prices, triggered supply shortages in parts of the world and forced some countries to ration fuel, underscoring the global impact of the standoff.

Uncertainty looms over the Middle East as Iran hesitates to resume US peace negotiations in Pakistan. Mutual accusations of ceasefire violations and the renewed closure of the Strait of Hormuz have triggered a sharp jump in global oil prices.

Iran says 'no decision' yet on joining new round of US peace talks

Uncertainty looms over the Middle East as Iran hesitates to resume US peace negotiations in Pakistan. Mutual accusations of ceasefire violations and the renewed closure of the Strait of Hormuz have triggered a sharp jump in global oil prices.

Iran said it had yet to decide whether to attend a new round of peace negotiations with the United States on Monday, casting uncertainty on a push to stop the Middle East war from resuming.
US President Donald Trump said he was sending negotiators to Pakistan for talks on ending the war that engulfed the region and rattled global markets, while repeating threats to attack Iran's infrastructure if it did not make a deal.
After initial talks in Islamabad ended without a deal earlier this month, both sides have accused the other of breaching a temporary truce that is now in its final days.
"We have no plans for the next round of negotiation, and no decision has been made in this regard," Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Monday.
"The US is carrying out behaviours that do not in any way indicate seriousness in pursuing a diplomatic process," he added, calling an ongoing US blockade of Iranian ports and its recent seizure of a ship "clear violations of the ceasefire".
Trump has similarly accused Tehran of violating the truce -- set to lapse overnight Tuesday -- by firing on ships in the crucial Strait of Hormuz trade route, which Iran has all but shut.
The accusations have thrown into fresh doubt the bid to end the war that began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran the morning of February 28, killing the country's supreme leader Ali Khamenei.
Oil prices jumped sharply on Monday over fears hostilities could resume in the weeks-long war, after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz again following a brief reopening over the weekend.
The pessimism in the markets was mirrored in Tehran, despite the capital reopening its main airports on Monday.
"Let's see what happens by Tuesday. The only thing that the 50 days of war has shown is that no one cares about the Iranian people," said one 30-year-old doctor on condition of anonymity.
Saghar, 39, said there was little hope for Iranians squeezed by the government and the war's impact.
"The economy is horrible. They detain people for nothing," she said, declining to give her family name.
 - Security tight -
In spite of the uncertainty surrounding the talks in Pakistan, security has been visibly stepped up in the capital Islamabad.
Authorities announced road closures and traffic restrictions across the city, as well as in neighbouring Rawalpindi.
The US president said his negotiators, whom he did not name, would arrive in Islamabad on Monday, though as of the evening local time, there had still been no announcement of their departure.
A White House official said Vice President JD Vance would lead the delegation after Trump said he would not, citing security concerns.
He would be joined by Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, the official said.
Trump has been under pressure to find an off-ramp since Tehran moved to choke off the Strait of Hormuz.
But the naval blockade to cut off Iran's oil revenues and the seizure of the cargo ship allegedly trying to evade it have drawn renewed threats from Tehran instead of pressuring them back to the negotiating table.
The ISNA news agency cited a spokesperson for Iran's central command centre as warning that the military "will soon respond and retaliate against this armed piracy", while Tasnim reported Tehran had sent drones in the direction of US military ships.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards for their part warned that any attempt to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without permission "will be considered cooperation with the enemy, and the offending vessel will be targeted".
Chinese President Xi Jinping told Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in a phone call on Monday that "normal traffic" through the vital conduit for oil and gas shipments "should be maintained", state media said.
 - Sticking points -
Iran's foreign ministry said delays in implementing a ceasefire in Lebanon, where Israel has been fighting militant group Hezbollah, were also a violation of the Middle East truce.
A separate ceasefire agreed between Israel and Lebanon took effect on Friday and included Hezbollah, whose rocket fire in support of Iran drew Lebanon into the war.
Israel's military on Monday warned Lebanese civilians against returning to dozens of villages in southern Lebanon, claiming Hezbollah's activities were violating the agreement.
Nonetheless, thousands of displaced residents have begun making their way back to southern Lebanon since the truce began.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said Sunday that the military would use "full force" against any threats in Lebanon, even during the ceasefire.
Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah told AFP on Monday his group would work to break the "Yellow Line" that Israel has established in southern Lebanon, even as he said it wanted "the ceasefire to continue".
Another major issue in the US-Iran negotiations has been Tehran's stockpile of enriched uranium, which Trump said on Friday it had agreed to hand over.
But Iran's foreign ministry has said the stockpile, thought to be buried from US bombing in last June's 12-day war, was "not going to be transferred anywhere".
Baqaei said on Monday that the issue was not discussed with US negotiators.
"It was never raised as an option for us," he said.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warned civilians across the Middle East to avoid areas near US forces amid escalating tensions, even as Donald Trump said talks to end the conflict were progressing.

Iran warns civilians as Trump says talks 'going well'

Iran&rsquo;s Revolutionary Guards warned civilians across the Middle East to avoid areas near US forces amid escalating tensions, even as Donald Trump said talks to end the conflict were progressing.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards warned civilians across the Middle East Friday to stay away from areas near US forces, in a mark of defiance after President Donald Trump claimed talks to end the month-long war were "going well".
The Guards' warning came after Trump again extended a deadline for Tehran to open the Strait of Hormuz or face the destruction of its energy assets, pushing it from Friday to April 6.
With war engulfing the region four weeks after the United States and Israel first attacked Iran on February 28, Tehran resident Ensieh said every day she was "losing more hope".
"We're caught between three mad powers, and war is terrifying," the 46-year-old dentist told AFP journalists outside Iran. "I know I'll never be the same person again."
Local media confirmed fresh strikes rained down overnight on Iran's capital -- muffled by the sound of thunderstorms according to an AFP correspondent -- as well as the holy city of Qom further south and Urmia in the northwest.
A month of US and Israeli attacks have damaged at least 120 museums and cultural and historic sites nationwide, a top Tehran official said, including the UNESCO-listed Golestan Palace -- sometimes likened to Versailles.
In announcing a new reprieve over the Hormuz blockade, which threatens lasting damage on the global economy, Trump insisted the Islamic republic wanted to "make a deal".
But the Iranian side, which has made it clear it wants to end fighting on its own terms, indicated no let up in reprisal attacks against Israel and targets across the Gulf.
Accusing US-Israeli forces of resorting to "human shields", Iran's Guards told civilians to "urgently leave locations where American forces are stationed so that no harm comes to you" -- as Iran's military threatened to target hotels housing US soldiers across the region.
 - 'Hostage' -
Markets have been upended by Iranian attacks on trade and energy targets in the Gulf, with Kuwait saying Friday its main commercial port was damaged in a drone attack at dawn.
A top Iranian official threatened to attack Saudi Arabia's Red Sea port of Yanbu, home to the Samref oil refinery, as well as the coastal Fujairah oil complex in the United Arab Emirates, should a ground invasion take place.
"Step onto Iranian soil, and $150 becomes the floor for oil," Vice President Esmael Saghab Esfahani wrote on X. "Destruction of Fujairah and Yanbu are just our entry tickets."
Iran's message on Hormuz was just as defiant, with the Guards saying the strait was "closed" to vessels travelling to and from enemy ports, and that they had turned back three ships seeking to cross.
Oil prices and stocks were mixed after Trump pushed back for a second time his ultimatum, while in the latest sign of the economic fallout the Bank of Spain warned the country faced a "significant slowdown" due to the war.
With America's top diplomat Marco Rubio in France for G7 talks, counterparts pressed him for clarity on American plans for Iran.
UK foreign minister Yvette Cooper called for a "swift" conflict resolution and an end to Iran's block on Hormuz that was holding "the global economy hostage."
Without revealing his source, German top diplomat Johann Wadephul said a "direct meeting" between Washington and Tehran was expected "very soon" in Pakistan, which is acting as a go-between.
Iran has reportedly replied to a 15-point US plan and is awaiting a response, having made its own demands including war reparations and recognition of its sovereignty over Hormuz.
 - 'Heavy price' -
The Tasnim news agency said Tehran also called for an end to US and Israeli attacks on its territory and on aligned regional groups -- a reference to Lebanon's Hezbollah, among others.
But analysts at the Soufan Center warned the United States cannot "make any guarantees on behalf of Israel."
And in spite of the push for diplomacy, America's Israeli ally showed no sign of wavering, with Defence Minister Israel Katz vowing to "intensify and expand" strikes on Iran in response to missile attacks on its soil.
"They will pay a heavy price, an increasingly heavy one, for this war crime," Katz said in a video message.
The escalation threat came despite opposition leader Yair Lapid warning its military was "stretched to the limit and beyond" especially on the front with Lebanon -- drawn into the war after Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel.

The government has formed an informal group of ministers led by Rajnath Singh to examine issues arising from the ongoing West Asia conflict, which has affected global oil and gas prices and economic conditions.

West Asia crisis: Govt sets up informal group of ministers led by Rajnath Singh with Amit Shah as members

The government has formed an informal group of ministers led by Rajnath Singh to examine issues arising from the ongoing West Asia conflict, which has affected global oil and gas prices and economic conditions.

The government has set up an &lsquo;informal group of ministers&rsquo; led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to look into the issues arising due to the West Asia conflict, sources said on Friday.
Union ministers Amit Shah, Nirmala Sitharaman and Hardeep Singh Puri are among the members of the informal group of ministers (IGOM), they said.
The "arrangement" comes in view of the issues arising due to the impact of the West Asia conflict, the sources said.
The war in West Asia, which began after the US-Israel combine attacked Iran on February 28, prompting retaliatory strikes by Tehran across the Gulf region, has now stretched into four weeks, with no immediate end in sight.
It has impacted the global economy, including oil and gas prices, which have had repercussions on the lives of citizens across the country.

Reliance Industries rejects reports of purchasing Iranian crude, even as a temporary US sanctions waiver allows limited trade amid ongoing global oil market uncertainty.

Reliance denies buying Iranian oil amid US sanctions waiver

Reliance Industries rejects reports of purchasing Iranian crude, even as a temporary US sanctions waiver allows limited trade amid ongoing global oil market uncertainty.

Reliance Industries on Thursday said it has not bought &zwnj;crude oil of Iranian origin since the US temporarily removed sanctions to ease pressure on prices that followed the US-Israeli war on Iran.
In a statement, Reliance termed reports of it buying Iranian oil as baseless and incorrect. It said it "categorically rejects recent media reports that the company has purchased crude oil of Iranian origin."
The government earlier this week said resuming the buying of Iranian oil will be based on techno-commercial feasibility.
Historically, India was a major buyer of Iranian crude, importing significant volumes of Iranian Light and Heavy grades due to strong refinery compatibility and favourable commercial terms.
Following sanctions tightening in 2018, imports ceased from May 2019, with volumes replaced by Middle Eastern, US and other grades.
At peak, Iranian crude accounted for 11.5 per cent of India's total imports.
Last weekend, the US waived sanctions on the purchase of Iranian oil at sea for 30 days in its latest attempt to ease oil prices that have been driven up by the US-Israeli war on Iran.
An estimated 140 million barrels of Iranian oil are on vessels at sea.
While the waiver allowed countries to purchase those barrels, it is unclear how payments will be made.
Iran remains cut off from SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) - a global messaging network used by banks and financial institutions to securely send and receive information about financial transactions.
Industry sources said the last purchases from Iran were made in Euros using a Turkish bank as a go-between, but that option no longer exists.
Iran was cut off from the SWIFT system in March 2012 following European Union sanctions over its nuclear programme, with the move forcing the disconnection of multiple Iranian banks and severely restricting global financial transactions.
Further disruptions occurred in 2018, after the United States reimposed sanctions, leading to renewed suspension of several Iranian banks from the network, which significantly constrained Tehran's ability to conduct international trade, receive oil payments and access foreign currency reserves.

Two people, including an Indian national, were killed and three injured in Abu Dhabi after missile debris fell following UAE air defence interceptions amid ongoing Iran-linked attacks.

Indian among two killed in UAE by debris of intercepted missiles, reports say

Two people, including an Indian national, were killed and three injured in Abu Dhabi after missile debris fell following UAE air defence interceptions amid ongoing Iran-linked attacks.

At least two persons, including an Indian, were killed and three others injured on Thursday when debris of missiles intercepted by the UAE's air defence system fell on a street in Abu Dhabi, local media reported.
The second person killed in the incident is a Pakistani national, while the three injured also include an Indian, Abu Dhabi Media Office reported.
UAE's air defences are responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran at regular intervals, according to the Ministry of Defence of the United Arab Emirates.
&ldquo;Abu Dhabi authorities have responded to an incident involving falling debris in Sweihan street, following the successful interception of a ballistic missile by air defence systems,&rdquo; Abu Dhabi Media Office posted on social media.
&ldquo;The incident has resulted in the deaths of two individuals of Pakistani and Indian nationality, and in injuries ranging from serious to moderate sustained by three individuals of Emirati, Jordanian and Indian nationality,&rdquo; it added.
The total number of deaths has risen to 11 after the latest incident in Abu Dhabi, Gulf News reported.
The UAE air defences systems on 26th March 2026 engaged 15 ballistic missiles and 11 UAVs launched from Iran, the Ministry of Defence said in a social media post on Thursday.
Since the start of the blatant Iranian attacks, UAE air defences have engaged 372 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles and 1,826 UAVs, it added.
&ldquo;The attacks resulted in the martyrdom of 2 members of the armed forces while performing their national duty, in addition to the martyrdom of a Moroccan civilian contracted by the Armed Forces, as well as 8 fatalities of Pakistani, Nepali, Bangladeshi, Palestinian and Indian nationalities,&rdquo; it said.
A total of 169 people were also injured, with injuries ranging from minor to moderate and severe.
The injured included nationals of the UAE, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Pakistan, Iran, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Azerbaijan, Yemen, Uganda, Eritrea, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Comoros, T&uuml;rkiye, Iraq, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Jordan, Palestine, Ghana, Indonesia, Sweden and Tunisia.
The Ministry of Defence said that it remains fully prepared and ready to deal with any threats and will firmly confront anything that aims to undermine the security of the country, in a manner that ensures the protection of its sovereignty, security and stability and safeguards its interests and national capabilities.

Iran’s military warns of completely shutting the strategic Strait of Hormuz if US targets its power plants, affecting global crude oil and LNG shipments.

Iran military says to completely close Strait of Hormuz if US targets power plants

Iran&rsquo;s military warns of completely shutting the strategic Strait of Hormuz if US targets its power plants, affecting global crude oil and LNG shipments.

Iran's military threatened on Sunday to completely shut down the strategic Strait of Hormuz if US President Donald Trump acts on threats to target the country's power plants.
Trump has given Iran 48 hours to reopen the strait which has been effectively closed since the start of the war sparked on February 28 by US-Israeli bombardment of Iran.
The war has since spread across the Middle East, with Iran responding with drone and missile attacks on Israel and US interests in the region.
"If the United States' threats regarding Iran's power plants are carried out... the Strait of Hormuz will be completely closed, and it will not be reopened until our destroyed power plants are rebuilt," the military's operational command Khatam Al-Anbiya said in a statement carried by state TV.
The military said it would also strike Israel's "power plants, energy, and information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure", along with power plants in regional countries hosting US bases and companies with US shareholders.
It added that the measures will be taken "to defend our country and the interests of our nation".
Traffic through the vital strait -- through which 20 percent of the world's crude oil and liquefied natural gas normally passes -- has been brought to a near-standstill since the start of the war.
A relatively small number of vessels have been able to transit it -- around five percent of its pre-war volume, according to analytics firm Kpler.
Iranian forces have attacked multiple vessels, saying they failed to heed "warnings" against transiting the waterway.
In recent days, Iran has allowed some vessels from countries it considers friendly to pass, while warning it would block ships from countries it says have joined the "aggression" against it.
Iran's parliament is mulling imposing tolls on shipping through the strait with Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf saying maritime traffic would "not return to its pre-war status".

Premium petrol in Delhi was increased by Rs 2 per litre, and bulk diesel for industrial users saw hikes up to Rs 22 per litre amid global oil price spikes. Normal petrol and diesel prices remain unchanged.

Premium petrol price up Rs 2, industrial diesel up Rs 22; no change in normal petrol, diesel rates

Premium petrol in Delhi was increased by Rs 2 per litre, and bulk diesel for industrial users saw hikes up to Rs 22 per litre amid global oil price spikes. Normal petrol and diesel prices remain unchanged.

The price of premium or higher-grade petrol on Friday was increased by Rs 2 per litre while the rate of bulk diesel sold to industrial users was hiked by about Rs 22 a litre, reflecting the spike in global oil prices amid conflict in the Middle-East.
However, the prices of normal petrol and diesel remain unchanged.
Premium 95-Octane petrol price in Delhi has been increased from Rs 99.89 per litre to Rs 101.89 per litre, industry sources said.
Alongside, bulk or industrial diesel prices were hiked from Rs 87.67 per litre to Rs 109.59 per litre in Delhi. Commercial diesel is used by establishments such as telecom towers to meet power requirements.
In Mumbai, industrial diesel prices have been increased from Rs 90.39 per litre to Rs 113.11 per litre (up Rs 22.72 per litre); in Kolkata from Rs 92.30 per litre to Rs 114.27 per litre (up Rs 21.97 per litre); and in Chennai from Rs 92.54 per litre to Rs 113.38 per litre (up Rs 20.84 per litre).
International oil prices touched USD 119 per barrel on Thursday on the intensifying Iran war, before pulling back to around USD 108 a barrel.
A litre of normal petrol in Delhi continues to cost Rs 94.77, while the same grade of diesel costs Rs 87.67 a litre.
Normal petrol typically has an octane rating of 91-92 and is suitable for standard engines, offering adequate performance for everyday driving. Premium petrol, on the other hand, has a higher octane rating of 95-98, making it ideal for high-performance or high-compression engines.
At a media briefing, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said there is no increase in prices of normal petrol and diesel.
"Some increase is reported in the premium category, which hardly makes up for 2-4 per cent of the entire petrol (sold in the country)," she said. "There is no increase in price for the common man."
Pricing decisions, she said, are taken by oil companies independently as petrol and diesel pricing was deregulated in 2010 and 2014, respectively.
"It (pricing) is decided by oil marketing companies. Government does not regulate petrol and diesel prices," she added.
The government is closely monitoring global oil markets, but there is no immediate plan to raise retail fuel prices. Oil marketing companies are expected to absorb the current cost pressure for the time being.
"Our priority is to make energy available to all consumers, which we have been doing all through the crisis. Till now we have not increased the prices," she added.
Meanwhile, Indian Oil Corporation in a post on social network X, said, "As global crude prices surge, stability at home matters more than ever."
IndianOil has ensured no increase in regular automotive fuel prices in India, even amid rising international costs. A limited revision applies only to premium petrol XP-95, with minimal impact on overall consumption. Through evolving global conditions, the focus remains clear: consistent supply, responsible pricing, and service you can rely on.
Retail petrol and diesel prices have been frozen since April 2022, with fuel retailers like Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) absorbing losses when crude prices are high and making profits when rates are low.
This meant that when global fuel prices went up in response to elevated crude prices, prices were stable in India. And when softening of crude prices pushed down fuel rates globally, rates in India remained unchanged.
The government wants to continue to shield consumers, and the same policy will continue unless there is a huge spike in crude prices.
India imports 88 per cent of its crude oil needs and roughly half of its natural gas requirement. These mostly come via the Strait of Hormuz.
Following the US and Israeli attacks on Iranian government, military and nuclear facilities, Iran warned shipping away from the strait, and insurers withdrew coverage, effectively halting tanker movements.
Prices had risen to USD 119 per barrel in June 2022 in the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. That year, oil companies had nominal profits, but in FY24, they posted record Rs 81,000 crore profit, helping make up for past dent in margins.
This year, the three companies have posted Rs 23,743 crore profit in the December quarter alone.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake said Sri Lanka denied a US request to station missile-armed aircraft at Mattala airport, reaffirming its neutral stance amid tensions involving Iran and the United States.

Sri Lanka rejects US request to station warplanes, asserts neutrality

Anura Kumara Dissanayake said Sri Lanka denied a US request to station missile-armed aircraft at Mattala airport, reaffirming its neutral stance amid tensions involving Iran and the United States.

Sri Lanka refused permission to the United States to station two of its warplanes at a civilian airport in the island's south in early March, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said on Friday.
Washington wanted to relocate two of its missile-armed aircraft from a base in Djibouti to Sri Lanka's civilian Mattala International Airport, Dissanayake told parliament.
The request, made on February 26, was turned down to maintain Colombo's neutrality and ensure its territory was not used for any military purpose that could help or hinder either side, he said.
The Indian Ocean nation was drawn into the consequences of the war when a US submarine torpedoed an Iranian frigate, IRIS Dena, just off its coast in March.
"They wanted to bring two warplanes armed with eight anti-ship missiles to Mattala International Airport from March 4 to 8, and we said 'no'," Dissanayake said.
He did not say whether the US request was to use Sri Lanka as a base for the aircraft to carry out any offensive action against Iran.
Sri Lankan military sources told AFP that Sri Lanka would not have allowed its airspace to be used to launch aggression against any other nation, in line with the island's foreign policy.
Dissanayake said Iran too had made a request for a port call by three of its warships, returning from India after a naval exercise, on the same day the US requested permission to station their two aircraft.
"We were still considering the Iranian request to bring the three ships to Colombo from March 9 to 13. Had we said 'yes' to Iran, we would have had to say 'yes' to the US too," he said.
"But we didn't. We are steadfastly maintaining our position of neutrality," he added, drawing applause from the 225-member legislature. "We will not succumb to pressure from anyone."
The US attack on IRIS Dena on March 4 killed at least 84 sailors whose remains have since been repatriated to Iran.
 -Saving lives- Dissanayake said Sri Lanka's navy and the airforce swung into action to rescue 32 sailors from the sunken frigate and recovered the remains of 84.
A second Iranian ship, IRIS Bushehr, was allowed to enter Sri Lankan waters the following day amid fears for the safety of its 219 crew, who have since taken shelter in Colombo.
"It was a humanitarian gesture to shelter the sailors," Dissanayake said. "We were saving lives."
The third vessel, IRIS Lavan, made it to the south Indian port of Kochi and some of its sailors have returned home, according to Indian officials.
Dissanayake said his government had also demonstrated its neutrality by abstaining on a UN Security Council resolution last week condemning Iran's attacks.
"We did not support that resolution because it was a half-truth. It did not reflect the full story," Dissanayake said. "We stand for justice and fairness."
Sri Lanka maintains close ties with both the United States, the island's main export market, and Iran, the main buyer of Sri Lankan tea.

Joseph Kent, director of the US National Counterterrorism Center, resigned in protest of the US-Israeli war against Iran, calling it unjustified and influenced by external pressures.

Middle East war: US counterterrorism official resigns, says 'war started under Israel's pressure'

Joseph Kent, director of the US National Counterterrorism Center, resigned in protest of the US-Israeli war against Iran, calling it unjustified and influenced by external pressures.

A senior US counter-terrorism official resigned on Tuesday to protest the US-Israeli war against Iran and said the Islamic Republic posed no imminent threat to the United States.
"I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran," Joseph Kent, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center, said in his resignation letter to President Donald Trump.
Kent -- a former member of the Green Beret special forces who served multiple combat tours -- said "Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby."
Kent is the first senior US official to resign from the Trump administration to protest the war against Iran.
"Until June of 2025, you understood that the wars in the Middle East were a trap that robbed America of the precious lives of our patriots and depleted the wealth and prosperity of our nation," Kent said in his letter to Trump.
"Early in this administration, high-ranking Israeli officials and influential members of the American media deployed a misinformation campaign that wholly undermined your America First platform and sowed pro-war sentiments to encourage a war with Iran," he said.
"This echo chamber was used to deceive you into believing that Iran posed an imminent threat to the United States, and that should you strike now, there was a clear path to a swift victory," he said.
"This was a lie and is the same tactic the Israelis used to draw us into the disastrous Iraq war that cost our nation the lives of thousands of our best men and women," Kent said.
"I cannot support sending the next generation off to fight and die in a war that serves no benefit to the American people nor justifies the cost of American lives," he added.

Iran’s football federation is in talks with FIFA to move its 2026 World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico, citing safety concerns amid the ongoing Middle East conflict.

Iran 'negotiating' with FIFA over moving World Cup games to Mexico: embassy

Iran&rsquo;s football federation is in talks with FIFA to move its 2026 World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico, citing safety concerns amid the ongoing Middle East conflict.

Iran's football federation is "negotiating" with FIFA to relocate the country's first-round matches at the World Cup to Mexico from the United States, citing the conflict in the Middle East, Iran's football federation said.
Iran's participation at this summer's finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico has been thrown into doubt since the war began late last month.
"When (US President Donald) Trump has explicitly stated that he cannot ensure the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel to America," Iranian football chief Mehdi Taj said on Monday in remarks posted on the X account of Iran's embassy in Mexico.
"We are currently negotiating with FIFA to hold Iran's matches in the World Cup in Mexico."
While world football's governing body confirmed to AFP it has been in contact with the Iranian FA, FIFA did not suggest such a rescheduling was on the cards.
"FIFA is in regular contact with all participating member associations, including IR Iran, to discuss planning for the FIFA World Cup 2026," the spokesperson told AFP.
"FIFA is looking forward to all participating teams competing as per the match schedule announced on 6 December 2025."
Iran are scheduled to face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles, followed by Egypt in Seattle.
The team's base camp for the tournament is currently slated to be located in Tucson, Arizona.
Abolfazl Pasandideh, Iran's ambassador to Mexico, on Monday denounced "the US government's lack of cooperation regarding visa issuance and the provision of logistical support" for the Iranian delegation ahead of the World Cup, in a statement published on the embassy's website.
He added he had also "suggested to FIFA that Iran's matches be moved from the United States to Mexico."
Trump triggered uproar last week after stating that while Iran's football team would be "welcome" in the United States, they should not travel to the tournament "for their own life and safety".
Trump's comments came after FIFA president Gianni Infantino had given assurances the US leader had promised him the Iranian team would be welcome.
Iran hit back at Trump's comments saying "no one can exclude Iran's national team from the World Cup".
Iran were the second Asian team after Japan to qualify for the World Cup, securing their place almost a year ago as they topped their qualifying group.
But Iran's place at the tournament was thrown into question after the United States and Israel launched a massive offensive against the Islamic Republic, which responded with waves of missiles and drones targeting Israeli territory and American targets across the Middle East.
Should Iran not take part in the World Cup, it is not yet clear which country might replace them.

Iran’s new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei ordered the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid the escalating Middle East conflict.

New Iranian supreme leader calls for defiance, keeps key waterway shut

Iran&rsquo;s new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei ordered the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid the escalating Middle East conflict.

Iran's new supreme leader ordered the vital Strait of Hormuz oil shipping lane to remain closed on Thursday, while US President Donald Trump said stopping the Islamic republic's "evil empire" was more important than crude prices.
Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who was reportedly injured in an air strike, has yet to appear publicly since his nomination last Sunday as supreme leader, and his defiant message was read by a newscaster on state television.
Khamenei, whose father Ali Khamenei was killed in the first wave of US-Israeli attacks at the start of the Middle East war, called for the Strait of Hormuz to remain blocked and for Gulf countries to close their US military bases.
"The lever of blocking the Strait of Hormuz must definitely be used," Khamenei said of the waterway through which a quarter of world's oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) usually transit.
He added that "a limited amount of" Iran's revenge for US and Israeli strikes had "taken concrete form, but until it is fully achieved, this case will remain among our priorities."
Iran launched a new wave of attacks against Gulf energy targets on Thursday that sent prices oil spiking briefly above $100 a barrel and led to a warning that the crisis could lead to "the largest supply disruption" in history.
But Trump dismissed growing concerns, writing on social media that "of far greater interest and importance to me, as President, is stoping an evil Empire, Iran, from having Nuclear Weapons, and destroying the Middle East and, indeed, the World."
 - Vessels attacked -
Images from Bahrain on Thursday showed thick smoke rising after a strike on fuel tanks in Muharraq, with residents told to stay inside and close their windows.
Drones caused damage again at Kuwait's international airport and in downtown Dubai, while Saudi Arabia said it had intercepted drones headed towards its Shaybah oil field and its embassy district.
Shipping in and around the crucial Strait of Hormuz remains at a near-standstill, with another three vessels attacked in the Gulf off the coast of the United Arab Emirates and Iraq.
The Paris-based International Energy Authority, a world authority on energy markets, warned Thursday the 13-day conflict "is creating the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market", which would surpass those of the 1970s.
With Gulf states slashing production and oil tankers stuck in the Gulf, benchmark oil prices have risen 40-50 percent since the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, threatening to crimp growth and stoke inflation.
 - 'Mistake' -
A top Iranian military figure warned on Wednesday that the country could wage a prolonged war that would "destroy" the world economy.
Trump, who is under mounting domestic pressure, ruled out the air campaign ending "immediately" while indicating that US forces were running out of targets to hit.
"If the White House imagines the conflict will stop when Donald Trump decides it... they're making a mistake and ignoring the lessons of history," Pierre Razoux, director of studies at the Mediterranean Foundation for Strategic Studies, told AFP.
"The Iranian regime, which no longer has anything to lose, will wage a war of attrition against the United States and Israel to punish them for their aggression."
One Tehran resident hoping for the fall of the Islamic republic told AFP she was worried about the US and Israel calling off their air campaign despite her fears about the daily bombardment.
"I don't know what will happen to us mentally and emotionally if it doesn't work out this time," she told AFP on condition of anonymity.
 - 'End of the line' -
The conflict has spread across the region, with hundreds killed by Israeli strikes in Lebanon, including at least eight more who died on Beirut's blood-stained seafront where displaced families were camping in tents.
After the Iran-backed Hezbollah group announced a new operation against Israel on Wednesday, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said he was ordering troops to "prepare for expanding" attacks on Lebanon.
The violence has killed more than 687 people in Lebanon, according to authorities, while more than 800,000 people have registered as displaced.
In Iran, over three million people have been displaced by the war, according to new figures issued Thursday by the UN's refugee agency.
Israel's military said it had began a new "wide-scale" wave of strikes in Iran on Thursday, including one southeast of Tehran that it said had targeted a site used for developing nuclear weapons.
Satellite imagery from Wednesday shows what appeared to be three strikes from bunker-busting munitions at the Parchin military facility.
US forces said they had struck 28 Iranian mine-laying vessels amid fears that Tehran could render the Strait of Hormuz unnavigable.
The Strait, through which a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) passes, lies off Iran and is just 54 kilometres (34 miles) wide at its narrowest point.
Tehran has vowed that not one litre of oil will be exported from the Gulf while US-Israeli attacks continue, although industry figures suggest its own sanction-hit exports are continuing to get through.
 - Oil prices spike again -
Oil prices have soared past $100 a barrel despite an announcement that leading consumer countries would authorise a record release of their strategic crude reserves in action coordinated by the IEA.
The move was not enough to allay fears of a global crisis.
"In trading desk language, the IEA release is the equivalent of pointing a garden hose at a refinery blaze," commented Stephen Innes at SPI Asset Management.
Iran's health ministry said on March 8 that more than 1,200 people have been killed in the war, a figure AFP has not been able to independently verify.
In Israel, authorities said 14 people have been killed, while attacks in the Gulf have killed 24 people, including 11 civilians and seven US military personnel, according to local authorities and the US Central Command.
The war has cost the United States more than $11.3 billion, lawmakers were told in a Pentagon briefing, according to the New York Times.

80 international flights were cancelled at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport due to escalating Middle East tensions, even as select services by Emirates and Air India resumed and additional passenger facilities were arranged.

Middle East conflict: 80 international flights cancelled at Delhi airport

80 international flights were cancelled at Delhi&rsquo;s Indira Gandhi International Airport due to escalating Middle East tensions, even as select services by Emirates and Air India resumed and additional passenger facilities were arranged.

As many as 80 international flights were cancelled at the Delhi airport on Tuesday due to operational disruptions for airlines amid the escalating Middle East conflict.
Some airlines, including Emirates, have partially started operations to and from the Middle East.
An official said 36 departures and 44 arrivals were cancelled at the Delhi airport.
Meanwhile, an Emirates flight, EK513 enroute to Dubai returned to the national capital due to airspace restrictions, as per information available on flight tracking website Flightradar24.com.
"Due to the ongoing political situation in the Middle East, several westbound international flights are causing delays or schedule adjustments," Delhi airport operator DIAL said in a post on X.
In the last three days, Indian airlines cancelled 1,117 overseas flights due to the crisis in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, Air India operated a flight from Dubai to Delhi carrying 149 passengers on Tuesday.
"We are happy to welcome our guests and crew from Dubai aboard flight AI916D. This is the first flight by an Indian carrier to arrive in New Delhi today with 149 passengers and 8 operating crew members onboard, amid the ongoing situation in the Middle East," the airline said in a post on X.
As many as 143 cockpit and cabin crew members of Air India and Air India Express who were stranded in Dubai returned to the national capital in another Air India flight AI918D on Tuesday.
The official said, on Tuesday early morning Emirates flight EK512 from Dubai landed at the Delhi airport.
DIAL has taken various measures to help passengers whose flights have been cancelled due to the crisis.
More than 400 additional seating arrangements, including recliners, have been put in place and washroom teams have been augmented to ensure clean facilities for stranded passengers, the official said.
Two additional medical teams have also been deployed.
The Indira Gandhi International Airport, operated by DIAL, handles over 1,300 flights daily.

India has expressed “great anxiety” over the intensifying West Asia conflict, highlighting risks to nearly one crore Indians in the Gulf and warning that disruptions to trade and energy supply chains could seriously impact the economy.

Safety of one crore Indians top priority, says India as West Asia conflict widens

India has expressed &ldquo;great anxiety&rdquo; over the intensifying West Asia conflict, highlighting risks to nearly one crore Indians in the Gulf and warning that disruptions to trade and energy supply chains could seriously impact the economy.

As the conflict in West Asia intensified, India on Tuesday emphasised the interest of one crore Indian nationals in the region and voiced concern over possible disruptions in energy supplies because it could have serious consequences for the Indian economy.
New Delhi also strongly called for "dialogue and diplomacy" to ensure an early end to the conflict, while noting that India has critical stakes in the security and stability of the region as a proximate neighbour and the current developments "evoke great anxiety".
In its second statement since the US and Israel attacked Iran and Tehran's subsequent retaliation, India said the safety and security of Indians living in West Asia is its "utmost priority".
"In recent days, we have not only witnessed an intensification of the conflict but also its spread to other nations. The destruction and deaths have mounted, even as normal life and economic activities come to a halt," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.
"As a proximate neighbour with critical stakes in the security and stability of the region, these developments evoke great anxiety," it said.
The MEA, however, did not mention the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the US-Israel strike.
"There are almost one crore Indian citizens who live and work in the Gulf region. Their safety and well-being is of utmost priority. We cannot be impervious to any development that negatively affects them," it said.
"Our trade and energy supply chains also traverse this geography. Any major disruption has serious consequences for the Indian economy."
"As a country whose nationals are prominent in the global workforce, India is also firmly opposed to attacks on merchant shipping," it said.
<img src="https://cdn.editorji.com/69a6e5b5b0deb_1772545461.jpeg" width="501" height="372">
The MEA said that already, some Indian nationals have lost their lives or are missing as a result of the attacks in the last few days.
"In this background, India strongly reiterates its call for dialogue and diplomacy. We raise our voice clearly in favour of an early end to the conflict. Already, many lives have been regrettably lost and we express our grief in that regard," the MEA said.

More than 250 flights were cancelled at Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai airports as escalating tensions between the US, Israel and Iran disrupted international operations, with over 1,100 Indian flights grounded in three days.

Middle East conflict: Over 250 flights cancelled at four airports

More than 250 flights were cancelled at Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai airports as escalating tensions between the US, Israel and Iran disrupted international operations, with over 1,100 Indian flights grounded in three days.

More than 250 flights were cancelled at Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai airports on Tuesday due to the Middle East conflict, officials said.&nbsp;
For the fourth day, flight operations continued to be disrupted as airlines cancelled flights amid the escalating conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran.&nbsp;
As many as 80 flights were cancelled at the Delhi airport while 107 services were cancelled at the Mumbai airport, the officials said. At Bangalore, at least 42 flights have been cancelled for the day.&nbsp;
In a post on X, Chennai airport said 30 flights have been cancelled. The numbers include departures and arrivals.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FLIGHTUPDATE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FLIGHTUPDATE</a> | Kindly take note of the list of flight cancellations at Chennai International Airport due to airspace closures over parts of the Middle East on 03.03.2026. Passengers are advised to check with their respective airlines for the latest updates.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChennaiAirport?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChennaiAirport</a>&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/TYxbt7iGLY">pic.twitter.com/TYxbt7iGLY</a>
&mdash; Chennai (MAA) Airport (@aaichnairport) <a href="https://twitter.com/aaichnairport/status/2028703561685832180?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2026</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Since the Middle East crisis erupted on February 28, Indian airlines have cancelled 1,117 international flights in the last three days.&nbsp;
"Given the changing geopolitical situation in the Middle East, some west-bound international flights may be subject to delays or operational adjustments," Delhi airport operator DIAL said in a post on X.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Passenger Advisory issued at 15:00 hrs.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DelhiAirport?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DelhiAirport</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PassengerAdvisory?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PassengerAdvisory</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DELAdvisory?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DELAdvisory</a><a href="https://twitter.com/MoCA_GoI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MoCA_GoI</a><a href="https://twitter.com/DGCAIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DGCAIndia</a> <a href="https://t.co/gaFeNX4fa9">pic.twitter.com/gaFeNX4fa9</a>
&mdash; Delhi Airport (@DelhiAirport) <a href="https://twitter.com/DelhiAirport/status/2028765612076564988?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2026</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
In the attacks on Iran by the US and Israel that started on February 28, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed. In retaliation, Iran is firing drones and missiles at Israel and US military installations around the Gulf.&nbsp;

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi urges Prime Minister Narendra Modi to clarify India’s stand on the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader amid escalating US-Israel-Iran tensions.

Rahul Gandhi questions PM Modi's silence on assassination of Iran’s supreme leader

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi urges Prime Minister Narendra Modi to clarify India&rsquo;s stand on the assassination of Iran&rsquo;s Supreme Leader amid escalating US-Israel-Iran tensions.

Amid the US-Israel-Iran conflict, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi must speak up and answer as to whether he supports the assassination of a head of state as a way to define the world order.
He said the unilateral attacks on Iran, as well as Iran's attacks on other Middle Eastern nations, must be condemned.
"Silence now diminishes India&rsquo;s standing in the world," the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said on X.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Escalating hostilities between the United States, Israel and Iran are pushing a fragile region toward wider conflict. Crores of people, including nearly a crore Indians, face uncertainty. While security concerns are real, attacks that violate sovereignty will only worsen the&hellip;
&mdash; Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) <a href="https://twitter.com/RahulGandhi/status/2028742606575034428?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2026</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
His remarks come days after Iran confirmed that its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had been assassinated in targeted strikes carried out the previous day by the United States and Israel.
Gandhi said escalating hostilities between the United States, Israel and Iran are pushing a fragile region toward wider conflict.
Crores of people, including nearly a crore Indians, face uncertainty, he said.
"While security concerns are real, attacks that violate sovereignty will only worsen the crisis. The unilateral attacks on Iran, as well as Iran's attacks on other Middle Eastern nations, must be condemned. Violence begets violence -- dialogue and restraint remain the only path to peace," the former Congress chief said.
"India must be morally clear. We should have the courage to speak plainly in defence of international law and human lives. Our foreign policy is rooted in sovereignty and the peaceful resolution of disputes -- and it must remain consistent," Gandhi said.
He said PM Modi must speak up.
Does he support the assassination of a head of state as a way to define the world order, Gandhi asked.
The United States and Israel launched a major attack on Iran on Saturday, with US President Donald Trump calling on the Iranian public to seize control of their destiny and rise against the Islamic leadership that has ruled their country since 1979.

The Indian Embassy in Iran has advised all Indian nationals, including students and pilgrims, to leave the country by available means of transport due to the evolving security situation and fresh protests in Tehran. 

India asks its nationals in Iran to leave by available means

The Indian Embassy in Iran has advised all Indian nationals, including students and pilgrims, to leave the country by available means of transport due to the evolving security situation and fresh protests in Tehran.&nbsp;

India on Monday advised all its nationals residing in Iran to leave the country by all available means of transport, including commercial flights, in view of the evolving security situation.&nbsp;
The Indian embassy in Iran issued a fresh advisory to the Indian nationals amid fresh protests in Tehran and increasing fears of US military strikes on the Gulf nation.&nbsp;
Students at several universities in Iran held anti-government demonstrations in a first such agitation since Tehran's brutal crackdown on the protesters last month. According to official estimates in January, little over 10,000 Indians, including students, were living in Iran.&nbsp;
"In continuation of the advisory issued by the government of India on January 5 and in view of the evolving situation in Iran, Indian nationals who are currently in Iran (students, pilgrims, business persons and tourists) are advised to leave Iran by available means of transport, including commercial flights," the embassy said.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://t.co/hVDwTTdhja">pic.twitter.com/hVDwTTdhja</a>
&mdash; India in Iran (@India_in_Iran) <a href="https://twitter.com/India_in_Iran/status/2025823016672710921?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2026</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The mission also reiterated that all Indian citizens and PIOs (persons of Indian-origin) should exercise due caution, avoid areas of protests or demonstrations and stay in contact with the Indian Embassy.&nbsp;
"All Indian nationals in Iran are requested to also have their travel and immigration documents, including passports and identity cards, readily available with them," the mission said in the advisory.
"They are requested to contact the Indian Embassy for any assistance in this regard," it said.&nbsp;

US President Trump met Israeli PM Netanyahu to continue Iran negotiations. Netanyahu stressed Israel's security, while Iran rejected extra demands beyond its nuclear program.

Trump tells Israel's Netanyahu Iran talks must continue

US President Trump met Israeli PM Netanyahu to continue Iran negotiations. Netanyahu stressed Israel's security, while Iran rejected extra demands beyond its nuclear program.

US President Donald Trump told Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House Wednesday that talks with Iran must continue, rebuffing the Israeli prime minister's push for a tougher stance against Tehran.
"There was nothing definitive reached other than I insisted that negotiations with Iran continue to see whether or not a Deal can be consummated," Trump said on social media after their three-hour meeting.
"If it can, I let the Prime Minister know that will be a preference. If it cannot, we will just have to see what the outcome will be," said Trump, adding a reminder of last year's US strikes against Iran's nuclear program.
Seeking to push for the Islamic republic's ballistic missile program to be included in any deal, Netanyahu had rushed to Washington for his seventh meeting with Trump since the US leader returned to power.
Netanyahu's office said that during the talks with Trump the Israeli premier had "insisted on the security needs of the state of Israel in relation to the negotiations" on Iran.
Trump has hinted at US military action against Iran following Tehran's deadly crackdown on protesters, but at the same time Washington and Tehran restarted talks last week with a meeting in Oman.
Talks had been suspended after the US strikes on Iran's atomic sites during Israel's 12-day war with Iran last July.
 - What does Netanyahu want? -
The White House meeting was held behind closed doors, with Netanyahu slipping in via a side entrance without receiving the traditional honor guard. Trump and Netanyahu were seen shaking hands in a photograph released by the Israeli premier's office.
Netanyahu said as he left for Washington his talks would "first and foremost" be about the Iran negotiations, while adding they would also discuss Gaza and other regional issues.
"I will present to the president our views regarding the principles for the negotiations," he said in a video statement. Netanyahu's office said he would highlight Iran's missile arsenal.
Israel's concerns came to a head during their unprecedented war last year, during which Iran launched waves of ballistic missiles and other projectiles at Israeli territory, striking both military and civilian areas.
 - What does Trump think? -
While boosting hopes of a nuclear deal, Trump has also been dialing up the threat of possible US military action against Iran.
He warned in an interview with Axios news outlet Tuesday that he was "thinking" of sending a second aircraft carrier strike group to the region.
"Either we will make a deal or we will have to do something very tough like last time," Trump said. "We have an armada that is heading there and another one might be going."
 - What does Iran say? -
So far, Iran has rejected expanding its talks with the United States beyond the issue of its nuclear program, though Washington also wants Tehran's ballistic missile program and its support for regional militant groups on the table.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Wednesday that Tehran would "not yield to excessive demands" on its nuclear program.
But he insisted his country was not "not seeking to acquire nuclear weapons."
 - 'Board of Peace' and West Bank -
Netanyahu's visit will also include other issues, from Gaza to the West Bank.
He officially signed on as a member of Trump's "Board of Peace" during a meeting earlier Wednesday with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Israeli PM's office said.
The group was originally meant to oversee the Gaza ceasefire but Trump is now positioning it as a possible rival to the United Nations.
The meeting also came amid growing international outrage over Israeli measures to tighten control of the occupied West Bank by allowing settlers to buy land directly from Palestinian owners.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warned the United States that their forces are on high alert amid nationwide protests, even as President Donald Trump said Washington is keeping military pressure while remaining open to talks.

Iran warns 'finger on trigger' as Trump says Tehran wants talks

Iran&rsquo;s Revolutionary Guards warned the United States that their forces are on high alert amid nationwide protests, even as President Donald Trump said Washington is keeping military pressure while remaining open to talks.

The commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards warned Washington Thursday that the force had its "finger on the trigger" in the wake of mass protests, as US President Donald Trump said Tehran still appeared interested in talks.
Trump has repeatedly left open the option of new military action against Iran after Washington backed and joined Israel's 12-day war in June aimed at degrading Iranian nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.
Trump said Thursday a US naval "armada" was heading toward the Gulf, adding: "We're watching Iran."
A fortnight of protests starting in late December shook Iran's clerical leadership under supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, but the movement has petered out in the face of a crackdown that activists say killed thousands, accompanied by an unprecedented internet blackout.
The prospect of immediate American action against Tehran appears to have receded, with both sides insisting on giving diplomacy a chance.
On his way back from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump told reporters on Air Force One the United States was sending a "massive fleet" toward Iran "just in case."
"I'd rather not see anything happen but we're watching them very closely," he added.
In a standoff marked by seesawing rhetoric, Trump had on Tuesday warned Iran's leaders the United States would "wipe them off the face of this Earth" if there was any attack on his life in response to a strike targeting Khamenei.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in a speech Thursday accused the United States and Israel of stoking the protests as a "cowardly revenge... for the defeat in the 12-Day War".
 - 'Legitimate targets' -
Guards commander General Mohammad Pakpour warned Israel and the United States "to avoid any miscalculations, by learning from historical experiences and what they learned in the 12-day imposed war, so that they do not face a more painful and regrettable fate".
"The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and dear Iran have their finger on the trigger, more prepared than ever, ready to carry out the orders and measures of the supreme commander-in-chief," he said.
Pakpour's comments came in a written statement quoted by state television marking the national day in Iran to celebrate the Guards, whose mission is to protect the 1979 Islamic revolution from internal and external threats.
Activists accuse the Guards of playing a frontline role in the deadly crackdown on protests.
The group is sanctioned as a terrorist entity by countries including Australia, Canada and the United States, and campaigners have long urged similar moves from the EU and UK.
Another senior military figure, General Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi who leads the Iranian joint command headquarters, meanwhile warned that if America attacked, "all US interests, bases and centres of influence" would be "legitimate targets" for Iran's armed forces.
 - Real toll? -
Giving their first official toll from the protests, Iranian authorities on Wednesday said 3,117 people were killed.
The statement from Iran's foundation for martyrs and veterans sought to draw a distinction between "martyrs", members of security forces or innocent bystanders, and what it called US-backed "rioters".
Of its toll of 3,117, it said 2,427 people were "martyrs".
Pezeshkian said Thursday that protest "is the natural right of citizens", but a distinction had to be drawn between protesters "whose hands are stained with the blood of innocent people".
However, rights groups say the heavy toll was caused by security forces firing directly on protesters and that the actual number of dead could be far higher, even more than 20,000.
Efforts to confirm the scale of the toll have been hampered by the national internet shutdown, with monitor Netblocks saying Thursday the blackout had surpassed "two full weeks".
"All the evidence gradually emerging from inside Iran shows that the real number of people killed in the protests is far higher than the official figure," said the director of the Iran Human Rights NGO Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, saying the authorities' toll has "no credibility whatsoever".
Warning that their own current tolls do not reflect the true number of fatalities, IHR says it has verified at least 3,428 killings. Another NGO, US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), has documented 4,902 deaths.
According to HRANA, at least 26,541 people have been arrested. On Thursday alone, state TV announced over 200 more arrests in provinces including Kermanshah in the west and Isfahan in central Iran.

US President Donald Trump says a US naval armada is heading toward the Gulf to keep pressure on Iran, even as he downplays the likelihood of immediate military action.

Trump says US still watching Iran, fleet sailing to region

US President Donald Trump says a US naval armada is heading toward the Gulf to keep pressure on Iran, even as he downplays the likelihood of immediate military action.

President Donald Trump said Thursday a US naval "armada" was heading toward the Gulf, maintaining pressure on Iran although he has recently downplayed the prospect of imminent military action.
Last week, Trump pulled back from a threat to strike Iran over its deadly crackdown on anti-government protests after the White House said Tehran had halted planned executions of demonstrators.
But the Republican president on Thursday confirmed continuing military preparations. US media have reported in the past week that the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group was ordered from maneuvers in the South China Sea to the Middle East.
"We're watching Iran," Trump told reporters on Air Force One as he flew back from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
"You know we have a lot of ships going that direction, just in case... We have a big force going toward Iran," the president said.
"I'd rather not see anything happen but we're watching them very closely."
He described the force as "an armada" and "massive fleet," but added, "maybe we won't have to use it."
Trump reiterated that his threat to use force against Tehran had stopped 837 hangings of protesters. He also confirmed he was open to talking with Iran.
Iranian authorities on Wednesday gave their first official toll from the protests -- which appear to have ebbed in recent days -- saying 3,117 people were killed. Rights groups say the actual number of dead could be far higher.
Trump has repeatedly left open the option of new military action against Iran after Washington backed and joined Israel's 12-day war in June aimed at degrading the Islamic republic's nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

iran

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