Dozens of Iranians crossed into northern Iraq Sunday — the first day the border had opened since war struck their country — to buy cheaper groceries, access the internet, contact relatives and find work. Travellers said constant airstrikes and soaring food prices have made life in Iran increasingly desperate. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
17 March,2026 08:47 AM IST | Iraq | AgenciesAt least 12 Palestinians, including two boys, a pregnant woman and eight police officers, were killed Sunday by Israeli airstrikes in the war-torn Gaza Strip, hospital authorities said. A strike on Sunday morning hit a house in the urban refugee camp of Nuseirat in central Gaza and killed four people, including a couple in their 30s and their 10-year-old son, according to the nearby Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. The woman had been pregnant with twins, the hospital said. Embassy official meets CBSE heads Abu Mathen George, Deputy Chief of Mission in the Indian Embassy in Riyadh, held a virtual interaction with Principals of schools across Saudi Arabia that are affiliated with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). George addressed the queries regarding the board examinations. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
17 March,2026 08:33 AM IST | Cairo | AgenciesGlobal energy markets and military tensions collided Monday as US President Donald Trump urged about seven countries to deploy warships to secure the Strait of Hormuz while oil executives warned that disruptions in the vital corridor could trigger a worsening global fuel crunch. The warning comes as missile and drone attacks hit Gulf states and Brent crude climbed near USD 105 a barrel, with the conflict threatening one of the world’s most critical oil routes. Flashpoints in the Gulf >> Drone strike sparked fire at Fujairah oil facility in the United Arab Emirates>> Missile attacks reported in Bahrain>> Shipping risks rising near the Strait>> Energy analysts say even brief disruptions in the corridor can ripple through global markets, supply chains and fuel prices worldwide. A smoke plume rises from an ongoing fire at Dubai International Airport in Dubai on March 16. PIC/AFP Oil industry warning “Oil prices could rise further if markets tighten.”Darren Woods, CEO Exxon Mobil Mike Wirth, CEO Chevron, and Ryan Lance CEO ConocoPhillips Warned supply disruptions could worsen the energy crisis. What Trump said “We’re asking countries that depend on the oil to help police the strait and keep it open.”Donald Trump Why Hormuz matters Indicator Oil flowing daily Share of global oil trade Oil trapped behind strait Current Brent priceFigures 20 million barrels 20% 9-10 million barrels/day $105 barrel
17 March,2026 08:23 AM IST | Dubai | AgenciesPrime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday said that he will not allow the UK to be drawn into a "wider war" in the Middle East, asserting that he is working with European allies to develop a "viable plan" to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Addressing a press conference at 10 Downing Street, the prime minister said that the Strait of Hormuz must be reopened to "ensure stability in the markets", but added that it is not a "simple task". He said the UK is working with "all of our allies, including our European partners, to bring together a viable, collective plan" to restore freedom of navigation to the region, and "ease the economic impacts". Starmer asserted that he would not allow the UK to be drawn into a "wider war". "I want to see an end to this war as quickly as possible. Because the longer it goes on, the more dangerous the situation becomes," he said. Starmer pledged to help households with cost of living amid the energy price spike caused by the war, and said it was his "first priority." He announced 53 million pounds in support for those using heating oil to warm their homes. The prime minister also announced that the government has issued "legal direction to energy companies to pass on savings from government policies already announced." He said ending the war in the Middle East "is the quickest way to reduce the cost of living" and pledged to work towards de-escalation of the conflict in the region. Starmer also said that he spoke to US President Donald Trump on the phone on Sunday, during which the two discussed a number of issues. Asked about his relationship with Trump, Starmer said, "It's a good relationship", and they had a "good discussion about the Strait of Hormuz". "We are strong allies, have been for decades. But it is for me to act in what I consider to be in the best interest of Britain." Meanwhile, Trump has warned NATO of a "very bad future if allies don't help secure the Strait of Hormuz." In a statement last night, a spokesperson for the British prime minister said that Starmer and Trump "discussed the ongoing situation in the Middle East and the importance of reopening the Strait of Hormuz to end the disruption to global shipping, which is driving up costs worldwide." "The prime minister also expressed condolences for the American Service personnel who have lost their lives during the conflict. They agreed to keep in touch." The Middle East conflict began on February 28 when the US and Israel conducted airstrikes on Iran. In retaliation, Iran attacked Gulf countries hosting American military bases and choked the strategic Strait of Hormuz as leverage against the US and Israel. The conflict has led to a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the main transit route for Gulf energy supplies. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
16 March,2026 11:32 PM IST | London | PTIIndia has again warned its citizens in Iran not to attempt to cross any land border without prior and explicit coordination with the Embassy in Tehran. In an advisory on Monday, the Indian Embassy in Tehran said, "In continuation/ reiteration of our advisory of March 9, all Indian nationals currently in Iran are strictly advised not to approach or attempt to cross any land border of Iran for onward travel without prior and explicit coordination with the Embassy of India, Tehran." The Embassy stated that it is in regular contact with members of the Indian community, and coordinated arrangements are being undertaken wherever necessary. "Uncoordinated movement toward land borders is strongly discouraged," it said. Indian nationals who attempt to leave Iran via land borders without the knowledge and guidance of the Embassy, it said, are "highly likely to encounter serious logistical and immigration difficulties". Embassy of India, Tehran issues an advisory, "In continuation/ reiteration of our advisory of March 9, all Indian nationals currently in Iran are strictly advised not to approach or attempt to cross any land border of Iran for onward travel without prior and explicit coordination… pic.twitter.com/yny4HccnKc — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 16, 2026 In continuation/ reiteration of our advisory of March 9, all Indian nationals currently in Iran are strictly advised not to approach or attempt to cross any land border of Iran for onward travel without prior and explicit coordination with the Embassy of India, Tehran: India… pic.twitter.com/i6B1v3Tjio — IANS (@ians_india) March 16, 2026 "All Indian nationals in Iran are therefore urged to strictly follow Embassy advisories and remain in touch with official channels, and before undertaking any travel," it added. Meanwhile, the first batch of 70 Indian students evacuated from Iran via Armenia has safely landed in Delhi, the J&K Students Association (JKSA) announced on Sunday. Nasir Khuehami, national convenor of the JKSA, said: "The first batch of more than 70 Indian students -- the majority of them from Jammu and Kashmir, along with several pilgrims -- who had been stranded in Iran amid the ongoing war-like situation in the region, safely arrived at Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, on a commercial flight this morning as part of the initial phase of the evacuation process. "The students returned to India via a connecting journey through Armenia and Dubai after undertaking a long and difficult land and air transit arranged in coordination with the concerned authorities." These students travelled from different cities in Iran by bus and crossed into Armenia, from where they boarded a Flydubai flight from Zvartnots International Airport in Yerevan to Dubai. From Dubai, the passengers boarded another connecting Flydubai flight that landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport at around 9.45 a.m. on Sunday. The majority of the returning students had been studying at various universities across Iran, including Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, and other universities across the country. Many of them had earlier been relocated to safer locations by the Indian Embassy in Tehran amid the deteriorating security situation. The Association expressed gratitude to the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Tehran for facilitating the safe evacuation and ensuring the students' return to India during a challenging situation. This development has brought much-needed relief to students and families across Kashmir who had been deeply worried about the safety of their children in the conflict-affected region. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
16 March,2026 05:59 PM IST | Tehran | IANSAmerican allies have adopted a cautious stance or issued direct refusals following President Donald Trump's call for roughly seven nations to dispatch warships to the Strait of Hormuz. The demand comes as the critical maritime oil route faces significant disruption amidst the ongoing conflict with Iran. Despite the urgency of the situation, key partners have been hesitant to commit military assets. Australia has confirmed it will not provide naval support to the region. Cabinet Minister Catherine King informed the ABC that while the waterway remains vital, Canberra has received no formal request and maintains no plans for deployment. "We won't be sending a ship to the Strait of Hormuz. We know how incredibly important that is, but that's not something that we've been asked or that we're contributing to," King stated. Mirroring this reluctant sentiment, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated on Monday that Japan currently maintains no plans to deploy naval assets for escorting vessels in the Middle East. Addressing the Japanese parliament, Takaichi clarified that Tokyo has not yet committed to any military involvement. According to a report by Reuters, she noted that the government is still evaluating its options. "We have not made any decisions whatsoever about dispatching escort ships. We are continuing to examine what Japan can do independently and what can be done within the legal framework," Takaichi told the legislature. While some have issued firm refusals, others remain in a state of deliberation. South Korea indicated that it remains in discussions with Washington, with the presidential office in Seoul noting that any potential move would only occur after a thorough and "careful review" of the situation. In London, Prime Minister Keir Starmer maintained a diplomatic approach to the request. According to Downing Street, Starmer held talks with Trump regarding the necessity to reopen the strait to mitigate "global shipping disruptions." The British leader also consulted with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to coordinate a Western response. Both leaders agreed to further deliberate on the Middle East crisis during a scheduled meeting on Monday. The push for international intervention was detailed by President Trump while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday. He revealed he has put pressure on nations with a high dependency on Middle Eastern crude to assist in policing the waterway, which handles approximately one-fifth of the world's oil. While the President did not specifically name all the nations involved, he argued that they should protect "their own territory." He further reiterated his stance that the United States has significantly less dependency on the strait compared to other global powers. Trump specifically highlighted China's involvement as a major stakeholder, noting that Beijing secures the majority of its oil supplies through Hormuz. However, he stopped short of confirming whether China would participate in any international coalition. Despite the President's public appeals and the strategic importance of the route, no concrete military commitments have been secured as global oil prices continue to rise. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
16 March,2026 02:21 PM IST | Washington DC (US) | ANIPresident Donald Trump urged NATO partners and China to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the critical conduit for crude that Iran has effectively closed, as major economic players began releasing oil reserves on Monday to ward off supply disruptions. Global oil prices have surged by 40 to 50 percent after Iran choked off the waterway and attacked energy and shipping industry targets in the Gulf in retaliation for the US-Israeli war against the Islamic republic. Crude prices were hovering around USD100 on Monday as the Middle East war entered its third week, with Israel saying it still has "thousands of targets in Iran", where it was also "identifying new targets every day". Trump said the United States was in discussions with Iran but that Tehran was not ready for a deal to end the war, although the Islamic republic's foreign minister had earlier denied any talks with Washington. "I don't think they're ready. But they are getting pretty close," Trump said. The US president had called on countries including China, France, Japan, South Korea and Britain at the weekend to send ships to escort tankers through the strait. "It's only appropriate that people who are the beneficiaries of the strait will help to make sure that nothing bad happens there," Trump told the Financial Times on Sunday. Unlike the United States, Europe and China are heavily dependent on the Gulf for oil imports. Trump threatened to delay a planned summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping later this month if Beijing does not assist with reopening the strait. He also warned that no response or a negative reply to his request would be "very bad for the future of NATO". But Tokyo and Canberra both said they were not planning deployments. Iran warning Trump's comments came after Iran warned other countries against getting involved in the war, which has spread across the Middle East. In a phone conversation with his French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot, Tehran's top diplomat Abbas Araghchi called on other countries to "refrain from any action that could lead to escalation and expansion of the conflict". Arguing that the US security umbrella in the region was "inviting rather than deterring trouble", Araghchi on X urged neighbouring countries "to expel foreign aggressors". Iran has launched waves of attacks on countries in the Middle East that host US forces, and Italy's military said a drone attack at Ali Al Salem airbase in Kuwait -- which hosts both US and Italian forces destroyed an unmanned aircraft belonging to Italy but caused no casualties. Italy's foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, sought to play down the attack the second on an Italian base in the Middle East this week insisting: "We are not at war with anyone." Iraqi authorities meanwhile said rockets wounded five people at Baghdad's airport, which houses a US diplomatic facility, while Iran's Revolutionary Guards said about 700 missiles and 3,600 drones had been fired at US and Israeli targets so far. Saudi Arabia intercepted more than 60 drones since midnight, according to a tally of defence ministry figures released on Monday, while Dubai airport suspended flights briefly after a "drone-related incident" sparked a fire nearby. And French President Emmanuel Macron told Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian it was "unacceptable" to target French interests after an Iranian-designed drone killed a French soldier in Iraq's Kurdistan region. The war has also spread to Lebanon, where Israel launched a new strike on Beirut's southern suburbs late on Sunday. Energy markets On the economic front, the International Energy Agency said members will begin releasing 400 million barrels of oil from their strategic reserves, with Asia Oceania nations to make stocks available immediately, and Europe and the Americas follow in the weeks to come. Japan, which depends on the Middle East for 95 percent of its oil imports, said Monday in a notice in its official government gazette that the level of oil reserves in the country "is being lowered". The issuance of the notice compels managers of oil reserves to release part of their stockpile to meet the new standard. The blockade of Hormuz has been felt across the globe, with Australia officials urging the public against price-gouging and panic buying as prices soar, while India restaurants were forced to adapt their menus to save cooking gas. On the outskirts of Sydney, landscaper Emma Futterleib, who drives up to 500 km a week, told AFP "there's definitely some penny pinching going on". "It hurts the budget, that's for sure," she said, adding she was "trying to be a bit careful on how much we are spending on groceries." In Tehran, some residents sought to restore some normalcy at the weekend compared to the start of the war on February 28. Traffic was busier than last week and some cafes and restaurants had reopened, as had more than a third of stalls in the Tajrish bazaar, a popular shopping hub, with Nowruz, the Persian New Year, just days away. Some shoppers queued at ATMs to withdraw cash. Online operations at Bank Melli, one of the country's largest, had been paralysed in recent days. It was a similar story outside the capital. In an interview from Tonekabon, a city in Mazandaran province on the Caspian Sea, 49-year-old Ali told AFP that shops were open and crowded despite steep price rises. "Only the main square is closed every night, and government demonstrations take place," he said, adding that only Iran's domestic intranet was working, without outside connections. More than 1,200 people have been killed by US and Israeli strikes, according to Iranian health ministry figures that could not be independently verified. The UN refugee agency says up to 3.2 million people have been displaced in Iran. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
16 March,2026 01:40 PM IST | Tehran, Iran | AFPUS President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning regarding the future of NATO, suggesting the alliance could face a "very bad" outlook if member nations do not assist in securing the Strait of Hormuz. In a telephone interview with the Financial Times published on Sunday, the President delivered a blunt message to European allies concerning the strategic maritime passage. He argued that nations benefiting from the waterway must share the burden of its protection. "It's only appropriate that people who are the beneficiaries of the Strait will help to make sure that nothing bad happens there," Trump told the newspaper. He further cautioned that "if there's no response or if it's a negative response, I think it will be very bad for the future of NATO." The President highlighted previous American support for Ukraine during its conflict with Russia as a point of comparison. He remarked, "We didn't have to help them with Ukraine. Now we'll see if they help us because I've long said that we'll be there for them, but they won't be there for us." When questioned on the specific nature of the assistance required, Trump indicated he expects "whatever it takes," including the deployment of minesweepers to the region. While NATO is traditionally a North American and European defence alliance established to maintain stability and protect its members, rather than an instrument for offensive operations, Trump reiterated his expectations while returning to the White House from Florida. Speaking aboard Air Force One, he noted, "We're always there for NATO. It'd be interesting to see what country wouldn't help us with a very small endeavour, which is just keeping the Strait open." The President also suggested that international partners could assist in neutralising threats originating from the Iranian coast. He stated a desire for "people who are going to knock out some bad actors that are along the shore," in reference to Iranian units utilising naval mines and drones in the Gulf. Trump expressed continued dissatisfaction with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer regarding the lack of immediate UK backing for recent US-Israeli military actions against Iran. "The UK might be considered the No. 1 ally, the longest-serving, etc., and when I asked for them to come, they didn't want to come," he said, mentioning a conversation held with Starmer earlier on Sunday. He criticised the timing of the British offer, stating, "And as soon as we basically wiped out the danger capacity from Iran, they said, 'Oh, well we'll send two ships,' and I said, 'We need these ships before we win, not after we win.' I've long said that NATO is a one-way street." This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
16 March,2026 01:07 PM IST | Washington | ANIThe war with Iran is rattling Washington and pushing oil prices higher. Fighting in the Strait of Hormuz is disrupting global energy flows. The conflict is also widening political divisions in the United States. The conflict, now in its third week, has disrupted energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz and triggered sharp debate across the US political spectrum over the strategy and consequences of the war. Speaking on CNN’s State of the Union, US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said the United States had inflicted severe damage on Iran’s military capabilities. “Militarily, the US military has decimated Iran's air force, their air defences, their missile capability, their missile production capability,” Waltz said in the interview with CNN anchor Jake Tapper. “This has been a dominant victory, the likes of which we haven't seen in modern American military history.” Waltz also argued that Iran was becoming increasingly isolated diplomatically, citing support at the United Nations for condemning Iranian attacks on civilian infrastructure. “The Iranian regime has never been more diplomatically isolated,” he said. President Donald Trump, meanwhile, has suggested the conflict could continue until Washington decides its objectives have been met. Asked about when the war might end, Trump said in remarks aired by Fox News: “I can't touch that. I mean, I have my own idea. It'll be as long as it's necessary.” Iran has sought to leverage its position in the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy choke-point, raising fears of prolonged disruption to oil supplies and shipping routes. Waltz said the disruption affects Asia most directly. “Eighty percent of the oil coming out of the Gulf heads to Asia,” he said on CNN, arguing that countries dependent on the energy flow should help secure the waterway. The war has also drawn strong criticism from Democrats, who accuse the administration of launching the conflict without congressional approval. Democratic Senator Cory Booker said in the CNN interview that the conflict represented a constitutional overreach by the White House. “It’s outrageous that this is a unilateral war started by one person, the president,” Booker said. “The Constitution clearly says a war, especially something of this magnitude, should come to Congress.” Booker added that lawmakers should not treat the situation as routine. “This is a massive military undertaking… costing American taxpayers billions and billions of dollars and tragically costing 13 lives,” he said. Former transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg also criticised the administration’s handling of the war in an interview on CNN’s programme. “What I'm worried about is not the soldiers and the people who are serving. What I'm worried about is their political leadership,” Buttigieg said. He warned that Americans were already feeling the economic consequences of the conflict. “Mortgage rates are up because of this war. Food is going to be more expensive because of this war. And, of course, the price of gas that we're paying at the pump is higher because of this war,” Buttigieg said. The Pentagon has confirmed that 13 US service members have died since the conflict began, including six killed when a refuelling aircraft crashed in Iraq. The cause of the crash remains under investigation. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
16 March,2026 12:42 PM IST | Washington | IANSEleven Indian nationals have been indicted in the United States for their alleged involvement in a fraudulent conspiracy to orchestrate staged armed robberies aimed at helping individuals secure illegitimate immigration status. The United States Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts announced the charges on Friday. According to prosecutors, the defendants "participated in staged armed robberies of convenience stores for the purpose of allowing store clerks to falsely claim they were crime victims on immigration applications." The illicit operation reportedly commenced around March 2023. Federal investigators allege that Rambhai Patel and his associates coordinated faked heists at various convenience stores, liquor outlets, and fast-food establishments across Massachusetts. The primary objective of these staged crimes was to bolster applications for a US visa. This specific immigration benefit is reserved for victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse and assist law enforcement in subsequent investigations. According to court filings, the staged incidents involved an individual acting as a robber who would threaten staff with what appeared to be a firearm. After seizing cash from the register and fleeing, the clerks or owners would reportedly wait at least five minutes, allowing the perpetrator to escape, before contacting the police to report the incident. Prosecutors further alleged that those portrayed as victims compensated an organiser to be included in the fraud. "The 'victims' are alleged to have each paid Patel to participate in the scheme," the documents stated. In turn, the organiser is accused of paying business owners for the use of their premises. Authorities confirmed that the organiser, the primary robber, and the getaway driver have already faced charges and convictions. The current group of eleven defendants is accused of either coordinating with the organiser or paying to take part in the scheme for themselves or their relatives. Following the announcement, six of the accused were apprehended in Massachusetts and appeared in a Boston federal court on Friday. The remaining defendants were arrested in Kentucky, Missouri, and Ohio, and are expected to be transferred to Boston for further proceedings. The charge of conspiracy to commit visa fraud carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Additionally, those convicted could face a fine of up to USD 250,000. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
16 March,2026 12:41 PM IST | Boston | ANIIran's Foreign Minister Araghchi said on Sunday (local time) that his country's "nuclear material" was currently buried under rubble following recent attacks on its nuclear facilities. He said that the material may be recoverable in the future, but remains inaccessible for now, CBS News reported. Speaking in a CBS News interview, Araghchi said Iran's "nuclear material" was buried after strikes on its nuclear infrastructure. He added that while it may be possible to recover the material, Iran currently has no plans to retrieve it. "They are under the rubbles. Our nuclear facilities were attacked, and everything is under the rubbles. There is the possibility to retrieve them, but under the supervision of the agency. If one day we come to the conclusion to do that, it would be under the supervision of the agency. But for the time being, we have no program. We have no plan to recover them from under the rubbles," Araghchi said, as reported by CBS News, referring to oversight by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Araghchi also said Iran had previously been willing to dilute its stockpile of highly enriched material during negotiations with the United States before the latest escalation. "Well, that was one of the elements of a deal that we were negotiating with our, you know, American interlocutors. That element dealt with the question of Iran's 60 percent enriched material, and I offered actually, that we are ready to dilute those enriched material, or down blend them, as they say, into lower percentage," he said. "That was a big offer, a big concession in order to prove that Iran has never wanted nuclear weapons and would never want them," CBS News quoted the Iranian leader as saying. Earlier, President Donald Trump stated that the US might conduct further military operations against Iran's Kharg Island oil export hub. In an interview with NBC News on Saturday, Trump asserted that previous American strikes had "totally demolished" the majority of the island's oil infrastructure. He further remarked that the US "may hit it a few more times just for fun." Throughout the ongoing hostilities, US forces have launched airstrikes against military installations on the island, striking numerous targets, including missile storage facilities and various defence sites. While earlier reports suggested that the oil export infrastructure remained largely undamaged, Trump announced on Saturday that the US had indeed struck the island, which he described as a vital hub for Iran's oil trade. The President claimed that US forces had "obliterated" military installations on Kharg Island. Located in the Persian Gulf, the site serves as the primary gateway for Iran's crude oil shipments to international markets. Although the terminals themselves were not the primary focus of the recent strikes, Trump cautioned that energy infrastructure remains a potential target if Tehran continues to disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
16 March,2026 10:03 AM IST | Tehran, Iran | ANIADVERTISEMENT
-1773649786660_d.png "US President Donald Trump speaks with reporters aboard Air Force One during a flight from West Palm Beach. PIC/AFP")
-1773648079050_d.png "Donald Trump. Pic/AFP")
-1773644620463_d.png "US President Trump returns to the White House in Washington on 15th March. PIC/AFP")
-1773642140930_d.png "US visa fraud plot by Indians comes to light. Representational Image")
