Live! Hormuz Strait closed only to ships from US, Israel, Europe, allies: Iran
Araghchi condemns attack on frigate in international waters; Modi calls for swift end to conflicts; Iran denies launching drone towards Azerbaijan
Here is the top, trending news of Thursday, March 5, 2026, including Iran war, Indian politics, states' politics, geopolitics, federal issues, economics, development issues, sports, entertainment, and so on.
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Live Updates
- 5 March 2026 5:25 PM IST
Only Western ships barred from Strait of Hormuz: Iran
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard announced Thursday that the Strait of Hormuz is closed only to vessels from the US, Israel, Europe and allied nations. The statement, broadcast on state TV, warned that any such ships entering the waterway “will certainly be hit”. The IRGC said Iran reserves the right to regulate passage during wartime under international law, following days of halted commercial traffic in one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. This gives hope to countries like India, which have been affected severely by the closure of the strait. - 5 March 2026 5:01 PM IST
India offers condolences over Khamenei's death; Misri visits embassy
India on Thursday condoled the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri conveying New Delhi's message of sympathy to the Iranian Ambassador.
Misri visited the Iranian embassy and signed the condolence book on behalf of the government of India.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also released photograph of the foreign secretary's conversation with Iranian envoy to India Mohammad Fathali.
Khamenei was killed in an Israel-US strike on February 28.
Though India called for resolution of the West Asia crisis through dialogue and diplomacy, it chose not to react to Khamenei's killing.
Misri's visit to the Iranian embassy and signing of the condolence book assumed significance as several opposition parties had criticised the government for not reacting to Khamenei's death.
- 5 March 2026 4:28 PM IST
CEC Gyanesh Kumar in Kochi to review poll preparedness
CEC Gyanesh Kumar on Thursday arrived in Kochi, where he had earlier served as District Collector, as part of a three-day visit to review preparations for the upcoming Assembly elections.
After arriving at the Kochi airport, Kumar spoke to reporters in Malayalam.
"We are returning to Kochi after a gap of 22 years. I will be here for the next two days," he said.
As per the schedule, Kumar will visit various parts of Kochi city on Thursday evening and later hold a meeting at a hotel till night.
He will interact with young voters and take part in a voter awareness campaign at the Goshree Bolgatty Bridge on Friday morning.
Later, he will visit the Marine Drive walkway, Rainbow Bridge and Children’s Park before attending meetings at the hotel till evening.
He will then visit the Musical Walkway and Cheenavala Bridge at night.
On Saturday morning, he will visit Cherai Beach before attending further meetings in Kochi.
Kumar served as the Collector of Ernakulam district from June 2001 to July 2004.
- 5 March 2026 4:26 PM IST
'I just wanna go home': Daren Sammy pleads for exit
West Indies head coach Daren Sammy on Thursday voiced his frustration on social media as the Caribbean side remained stranded in Kolkata for more than four days due to international airspace restrictions triggered by the US and Israeli strikes on Iran.
The West Indies, who were knocked out of the T20 World Cup after losing to India in the Super Eight stage on Sunday, have been unable to fly back home as flight operations through parts of the Gulf region remain disrupted.
Expressing his frustration, Sammy posted on X: "I just wanna go home." Four hours later, the former West Indies captain followed it up with another post seeking clarity on their travel plans.
"At least an update, tell us something. Today tmw, next week. It's been 5 days," Sammy wrote.
With the situation still uncertain, several West Indies players are expected to remain in India as their respective IPL franchises are set to begin preparatory camps in the coming weeks.
Rovman Powell is part of Kolkata Knight Riders, whose camp begins on March 18, while Sherfane Rutherford represents Mumbai Indians. Shimron Hetmyer plays for Rajasthan Royals and Romario Shepherd is with Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
An official of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) said the matter is being handled by the International Cricket Council.
- 5 March 2026 3:43 PM IST
Yet another Iranian vessel seeks 'urgent' help off Sri Lanka coast
A day after IRIS Dena, an Iranian war vessel, was torpedoed by a US submarine off the coast of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean, yet another ship from the West Asian nation gave an “urgent port call” to the island-nation’s authorities, Sri Lankan MP Namal Rajapaksa said in a post on X on Thursday.
He, however, said his country’s government was yet to give a clearance.
“It has been brought to our notice that another Iranian vessel is in Sri Lanka’s Exclusive Economic Zone, just outside our territorial waters and has sought the government’s permission to make an urgent port call. However it is yet awaiting the government’s clearance,” Rajapaksa, who is an Opposition leader, said in his post.
The leader asked the Sri Lankan government to unveil its stance on the matter.
In the case of IRIS Dena, which was returning from a maritime show in Visakhapatnam held in February, the attack killed nearly 90 people, and the Sri Lankan Navy rescued at least 32 seriously injured sailors and took them to a hospital in Galle.
It has been brought to our notice that another Iranian vessel is in Sri Lanka’s Exclusive Economic Zone, just outside our territorial waters and has sought the government’s permission to make an urgent port call. However it is yet awaiting the government’s clearance.
— Namal Rajapaksa (@RajapaksaNamal) March 5, 2026
The… - 5 March 2026 3:00 PM IST
SpiceJet operates 13 special flights from UAE to bring stranded passengers
SpiceJet will operate 13 special flights from the UAE on Thursday to facilitate the return of passengers stranded due to the Middle East conflict.
"Of the 13 flights, 12 will operate from Fujairah and 1 will operate from Dubai. The airline will operate seven special flights to Mumbai, five special flights to Delhi and one special flight from Dubai to Mumbai," it said in a statement on Thursday.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, the airline said it operated 12 special flights from Fujairah to Delhi, Mumbai and Kochi.
The escalating conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran in the Middle East have significantly disrupted flight operations, leaving a large number of passengers stranded in various cities.
- 5 March 2026 2:58 PM IST
Iran war is costing Israel $3 billion a week, finance ministry warns
The ongoing war with Iran is bleeding Israel's economy at an estimated NIS 9.4 billion — roughly USD 3 billion — every week, the Israeli Finance Ministry has warned. The staggering figure accounts for the closure of educational institutions, workplace shutdowns, and the mobilisation of reserve soldiers under the current nationwide red-level restrictions imposed by the IDF's Home Front Command shortly after Israel and the US launched their joint offensive against Iran last Saturday.
In a letter to Home Front Command chief Maj. Gen. Shai Klapper, Finance Ministry Director General Ilan Rom urged a shift to orange-level alert, which would allow businesses and workplaces to partially reopen as early as Thursday.
"There is no dispute about the need to preserve a defence policy adapted to the security situation, but at the same time, shutting down the economy on a broad scale carries heavy economic costs," Rom warned, adding that Israel's economy has already been "paying a heavy economic price" for two and a half years due to rising security needs and the repercussions of war.
The distinction between alert levels carries significant financial weight. Under the current red-level restrictions, all gatherings, educational activities and most workplaces are prohibited. A shift to orange would permit economic and workplace activity, provided employees remain in close proximity to protected spaces, while keeping schools shut.
Rom estimates this change alone would nearly halve the weekly economic damage — from NIS 9.4 billion to approximately NIS 4.5 billion, or USD 1.5 billion.
"This policy will enable the expansion of economic activity while maintaining Home Front security, in a manner that meets both economic and security needs," Rom said.
- 5 March 2026 2:48 PM IST
Iran drones strike Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan, two civilians injured
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry on Thursday accused Iran of carrying out a drone attack against its exclave of Nakhchivan.
One drone crashed near the airport in Nakhchivan and another one near a school, the ministry said in a statement. Two civilians were injured, the ministry said.
Iran has not acknowledged targeting Azerbaijan, but its attacks have spread erratically as the war has gone on involving regional countries and beyond.
- 5 March 2026 2:43 PM IST
PM Modi calls for swift end to Ukraine, West Asia conflicts after talks with Finnish president
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday called for a "swift end" to the conflicts in West Asia and Ukraine, saying no issue can be resolved through military confrontation.
"India and Finland, both, believe in the rule of law, dialogue, and diplomacy. We are in agreement that no issue can be resolved through military conflict alone. Be it Ukraine or West Asia, we will continue to support the swift end of conflicts and every effort towards peace," Modi said in his media statement, following wide-ranging talks with Finnish President Alexander Stubb.
The two countries agreed to elevate their ties into a strategic partnership, with a focus on digitalisation and sustainability.
"This partnership, from AI to 6G telecom, from clean energy to quantum computing, will give momentum and energy to our cooperation in many high-tech areas," Modi said, adding that the India-EU free trade agreement would further strengthen trade, investment and technology cooperation between the two nations.
Finnish President Stubb, who began a four-day visit to India on Wednesday, aimed to shore up bilateral cooperation across trade, investment and critical technology. The visit signals a broader push by both nations to deepen engagement at a time of significant global instability.
- 5 March 2026 1:50 PM IST
Iran launches new attacks, saying US will 'bitterly regret' sinking warship
Iran launched a new wave of attacks Thursday morning at Israeli and American bases and threatened that the United States would “bitterly regret” torpedoing an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean and a religious leader called for “Trump's blood,” while Israel said it had begun a “large-scale” attack on Tehran.
Israel announced multiple incoming missile attacks and air sirens sounded in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Iranian state television said additional strikes also targeted US bases. The Israeli military said it launched targeted attacks in Lebanon at the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group a “large-scale wave of strikes against infrastructure” in Iran's capital, without elaborating. Explosions were heard in multiple locations in Tehran a short time later.
The US Navy sank the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena Tuesday night in the Indian Ocean, killing at least 87 Iranian sailors, which Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi decried Thursday as “an atrocity at sea.” “Frigate Dena, a guest of India's Navy carrying almost 130 sailors, was struck in international waters without warning,” he wrote on social media. “Mark my words: The US will come to bitterly regret (the) precedent it has set.”
