Iran will halt attacks on neighbouring countries: Masoud Pezeshkian, President of Iran

Pezeshkian also apologised for previous attacks

Tehran (Iran) / Washington DC (USA) / New Delhi – Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has announced that Iran will not attack neighbouring countries unless those countries launch attacks on Iran from their own territory. As a result, attacks on countries in the Persian Gulf and the broader Middle East have now stopped. Pezeshkian also apologised to neighbouring countries for the recent attacks carried out against them. He said that Iran does not want to escalate tensions with these countries and will try to avoid such attacks in the future.

Agreement possible only if Iran surrenders unconditionally: Donald Trump

US President Donald Trump stated that the American military is performing well in the current campaign, and therefore the United States is now in a position to decide the next course of action. He added that any agreement would require Iran to surrender unconditionally. Responding to Trump’s statement, Pezeshkian said that those who dream of Iran’s unconditional surrender should take that dream with them to the grave.

Tonight will see the largest attack on Iran: Scott Bessent

While speaking to Fox News, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that the largest attack on Iran so far would be carried out tonight (7 March). The purpose of the attack is to severely damage Iran’s missile launchers and missile manufacturing facilities.

Phone conversation between Vladimir Putin and Pezeshkian

Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke with Pezeshkian over the phone. During the conversation, Putin emphasized the need to immediately stop the conflict and move toward peace. He reiterated that disputes related to Iran should be resolved through political and diplomatic means rather than through the use of force. In the current situation, all sides should exercise restraint and seek solutions through dialogue.

Russia provided secret intelligence to Iran

According to a report published by The Washington Post, Russia has been providing Iran with confidential intelligence during the war. The report says Russia supplied information about US warships and airbases in the Middle East, which enabled Iran to target those facilities.

However, Russia stated that officials from Iran and Russia remain in contact, but it did not confirm whether it is providing secret or military assistance.

Firing on Shia Muslim protests in Pakistan; 38 Dead

Violence has erupted in Skardu, the largest city in Gilgit-Baltistan. Since March 1, protests have been ongoing, and 38 people from the Balti Shia community were killed when Pakistan Army and paramilitary forces opened fire. Many protesters were also injured. Angered by the incident, protesters vandalised and set fire to military installations and government offices. Authorities imposed curfew in several areas to control the situation.

Pakistan in crisis after Qatar stops LNG supply

Due to the ongoing war, Pakistan is facing an energy crisis. The country reportedly has only a few days’ supply of energy resources left, ranging from crude oil to Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG – liquefied natural gas). In the meantime, Qatar has sent a notice to Pakistan stating that it is stopping the supply of LNG gas to Pakistan. This decision has increased the difficulties for Pakistan and several other countries. Qatar supplies 99% of Pakistan’s LNG, 72% of Bangladesh’s LNG, and 53% of India’s LNG. India has alternative sources of supply, but Pakistan does not appear to have many alternatives. Therefore, after Qatar’s decision, Pakistan faces a major challenge in deciding how to manage its energy needs going forward. If the energy supply in Pakistan decreases significantly, the country could face a serious electricity crisis.

Petrol shortage in Pakistan

Pakistan is currently struggling with a serious shortage of petrol and diesel. People in the provinces of Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Sindh are complaining that fuel is not available at petrol pumps. In many areas, petrol stations are empty, and even after standing in long queues, people are unable to obtain petrol or diesel. At the same time, the Government of Pakistan has announced an increase in fuel prices. According to the new prices:

High-speed diesel: 335 Pakistani rupees per litre

Petrol: 321 Pakistani rupees per litre

Pakistan currently has approximately 24 days of petrol and diesel reserves. However, because of the war situation, oil supplies through other routes are not reaching the country properly. The worst impact is being seen in Balochistan, where it is reported that more than 70% of petrol pumps are empty.

No oil crisis in India

India is not facing an oil crisis at present. According to Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, India has approximately 45 days of oil reserves available. In addition, the United States has allowed India to purchase oil from Russia for the next 30 days, enabling India to import a large quantity of oil from Russia. Currently, petrol and diesel prices in major Indian cities remain stable, and no new price increases have been announced.

Indian cargo ships sailing through the Strait of Hormuz

After China, Indian cargo ships have also started sailing through the Strait of Hormuz. Two Indian cargo vessels, Pushpak and Parimal, are reportedly traveling at full speed along this important commercial route. Earlier, Iran had allowed only Chinese cargo ships to pass through this route. Now that Indian vessels are also being seen on this route, discussions have started about whether India and Iran have reached some agreement, or whether the ships are sailing at their own risk. Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi recently held a telephone conversation with India’s External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar. Additionally, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh visited New Delhi, where he met Indian officials, including Jaishankar.

India not fully dependent on the Strait of Hormuz

Earlier, India used to import oil from about 27 countries, but now it imports oil from around 40 countries. Because of this diversification, India is no longer completely dependent on the Strait of Hormuz route for its oil supply. Out of the total crude oil imported by India, only about 40% arrives through the Strait of Hormuz. The remaining 60% comes through other routes. Therefore, even if one route is blocked, the chances of a fuel shortage in the country are low.

Russia will not publicly reveal the data regarding oil supply to India

Russia has stated that it will not disclose the figures of oil exports supplied to India. According to Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for the Kremlin, many countries and groups around the world are trying to damage Russia’s global energy trade. In such a situation, keeping export information confidential is the best approach, he said.

Pressure from the United States on Sri Lanka

After the United States sank an Iranian warship near Sri Lanka, 32 Iranian sailors were rescued with assistance from Sri Lanka and are currently receiving treatment there. The United States has now put pressure on Sri Lanka to keep these rescued soldiers in the country until the war ends. However, Sri Lanka responded that handing over the rescued sailors to their own country is its responsibility.

Iranian warship stops in Kochi

An Iranian warship, IRIS Lavan, has stopped at the port of Kochi in India. Iran had requested assistance from India after the vessel experienced a technical malfunction on 28 February. There are 183 soldiers on board the ship. The warship had recently participated in international naval exercises held in India. Another Iranian warship, IRIS Dena, which was returning from the same exercises, was attacked and sunk by the United States. In that attack, 87 Iranian sailors were killed.

Iranian warship ended up on the wrong side and was attacked: Dr S Jaishankar

India’s External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar commented on the incident in which the United States sank the Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean. He said that the Iranian warship was returning after participating in naval exercises in India, but it got caught on the wrong side of the conflict zone, and under those circumstances the United States attacked the vessel. Jaishankar added that he supports international law.

Meeting between Saudi Defence Minister and Pakistan’s Army Chief

On 6 March, Khalid bin Salman Al Saud met Asim Munir. During the meeting, they discussed the aggressive actions of Iran against Saudi Arabia. According to the Ministry of Defence of Saudi Arabia, the discussion took place within the framework of the strategic defence agreement between the two countries. Both sides expressed hope that Iran would act wisely, listen to reason, and avoid miscalculations or wrong decisions.

Iranian military officer accused of spying for Israel killed

Reports claim that Esmail Qaani, a senior general in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, was executed by Iran. He was accused of spying for Mossad, the intelligence agency of Israel. Qaani had miraculously survived during the attack on Ali Khamenei, after which suspicions were raised about him. He had also previously survived several assassination attempts. There were allegations that Qaani had betrayed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s trust. However, Iran has not officially confirmed these claims. Qaani was the head of the Quds Force, which is known for establishing and supporting Iranian-affiliated groups abroad.

Earthquake tremors in Iran yet again

On 7 March, earthquake tremors were felt west of Bandar Abbas. The earthquake measured about 4.1 on the Richter scale. People rushed out of their homes in fear after the tremors. So far, no casualties or property damage have been reported. Earlier, on 3 March, another earthquake measuring 4.3 struck near Gerash.

Only 10 days of food supplies left in Dubai

Fruits and vegetables in Dubai and other Gulf countries are reportedly running out. The Strait of Hormuz has been closed for commercial shipping. Due to attacks on Jebel Ali Port, the supply of vegetables, dairy products, and fresh fruits has stopped. Many nearby countries depend on this route for food imports, but Iran has blocked the passage. As a result, many supermarkets and malls in Dubai are running out of vegetables, milk, and fruits. Reports indicate that Dubai currently has only about 10 days of food supplies remaining.