Live! Iran rejects latest ceasefire proposal, wants permanent end to war

Gold rises over 1 pc to Rs 1.51 lakh/10g in futures trade

Gold prices rose over 1 per cent to Rs 1.51 lakh per 10 grams in futures trade on Monday amid escalating geopolitical tensions in West Asia.

On the Multi Commodity Exchange, the yellow metal for June delivery climbed Rs 1,621, or 1.08 per cent, to Rs 1,51,301 per 10 grams, from Thursday's closing level of Rs 1,49,680 per 10 grams.

Commodity markets were closed on Friday due to Good Friday.

Since the onset of the conflict in West Asia, gold has lost its sheen by Rs 14,358, or nearly 9 per cent, from Rs 1,65,659 per 10 grams recorded on February 27, 2026.

In overseas markets, gold futures for June contract gained USD 47.55, or 1.02 per cent, to USD 4,727.25 per ounce.

According to analysts, market sentiment remained volatile after US President Donald Trump said he would bring "hell" to Iran and set a new deadline for Tuesday for the opening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Tehran has rejected the latest ultimatum and continued to carry out attacks on energy assets across West Asia.

Security scare at Delhi Assembly as car driven by masked man breaks through iron gate

A car driven by a masked man forced through one of the boundary gates of the Delhi Assembly premises, leading to a security scare on Monday afternoon, officials said.

The car, bearing a UP registration number, entered the Assembly premises breaking through Gate No. 2 at around 2 PM, they said.

"The driver proceeded towards the office of Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta and placed a flower bouquet near the porch before retreating," said a Delhi Secretariat official.

The incident has raised "serious" security concerns, and authorities are treating it as a potential "security breach", he said.

The incident comes close on the heels of bomb threats received by the Assembly during the recently concluded budget session.

Iran envoy backs India’s stand on West Asia conflict, urges wider condemnation

As the West Asia conflict entered its fifth week, Iran’s Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, praised New Delhi’s position while urging stronger international responses.

Speaking to ANI on Monday, he described India’s approach as measured, saying, "India's call for dialogue and restraint is a commendable and responsible position." He added that "the role of countries like India can be highly effective under these circumstances."

At the same time, he said Iran expects nations to denounce US and Israeli actions that, in Tehran’s view, "have violated Iran's national sovereignty and targeted civilians and civilian infrastructure."

Fathali maintained that Iran does not seek conflict but warned, "if a war were imposed on us, the management of its end… would be in Iran's hands," calling current actions "purely legitimate self-defence against external aggression."

On economic ties, he stressed, "Chabahar Port is a strategic project," adding cooperation should continue "independent of external pressures."

Head of intelligence of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard killed

Asian Markets rise as oil surge, Iran war jitters persist

Asian markets that were open on Monday mostly edged higher, with investors tracking developments in the Iran conflict, rising oil prices, and signals from US President Donald Trump. Japan’s Nikkei 225 climbed about 1.1 per cent in early trade, while South Korea’s Kospi advanced 1.5 per cent. Markets in Australia, Hong Kong and mainland China remained shut due to holidays.

Attention is fixed on Trump’s Tuesday deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with some analysts warning the conflict could widen if it passes without resolution. Over the weekend, Trump issued fresh threats even as fighting persisted, and US forces recovered two aviators after their aircraft was downed.

Oil remains central to market sentiment, with US crude at USD 111.92 and Brent at USD 110.74. As Jay Woods put it, “the word uncertainty is paramount,” adding the focus has shifted to “uncertainty surrounding the ongoing Iranian War.”

Over 25 killed in Iran as strikes escalate Hormuz tensions

More than 25 people were killed in Iran after coordinated strikes by Israel and the United States on Monday, according to early reports . Tehran responded with missile attacks targeting Israel and Gulf Arab states, as tensions escalated around the Strait of Hormuz ahead of a US-imposed deadline.

Explosions continued through the night in Tehran, with strikes hitting near Azadi Square and the Sharif University of Technology. In Israel, casualties were reported in Haifa, where rescue teams searched through debris amid renewed missile fire. Gulf nations activated air defences as drones and missiles entered their airspace.

US President Donald Trump warned Iran would be driven “back to the stone ages” if the strait remained closed, adding, “you'll be living in Hell.” Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf rejected the warning as “reckless,” saying, “You won't gain anything through war crimes.”

Iran refuses to reopen Hormuz for 'temporary ceasefire'

A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran has received a ceasefire proposal from Pakistan and is currently reviewing it. However, the official made it clear that Iran will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for a “temporary ceasefire.”

The official made it clear that Iran will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for a “temporary ceasefire.”

Mediators push Iran ceasefire talks amid escalation threat: Report

With a deadline set by Donald Trump drawing near, quiet diplomatic exchanges are intensifying around Iran, even as expectations for a quick breakthrough remain low. Citing multiple sources, Axios reported that US, Iranian and regional intermediaries are weighing terms for a 45-day ceasefire that might open a path toward ending the war.

Those familiar with the discussions said a limited agreement within the next 48 hours appears unlikely. Mediators have warned Tehran that there is little room left for delay, stressing that this window may be its final chance to avoid severe consequences. Behind the scenes, contingency planning is already complete: a joint US-Israeli campaign targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure could be launched if talks collapse.

The urgency follows a slight extension to an earlier deadline, after Trump shifted it to Tuesday evening via Truth Social, offering what officials describe as a narrow diplomatic opening.

Negotiations are moving through intermediaries in Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey, alongside direct message exchanges between envoy Steve Witkoff and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Proposals from Washington have yet to gain Tehran’s approval.

At the centre of the talks lies a phased framework: an initial ceasefire, followed by broader negotiations over maritime access and Iran’s uranium stockpile. Iranian officials, wary of fragile truces seen elsewhere, have signalled they want assurances the pause would hold. Meanwhile, regional fears persist that any escalation could destabilise Gulf energy and water systems, with Iran warning the Strait of Hormuz will "never return" to its pre-war state.

Trump threatens to blow up 'entire' Iran

Airstrikes hit Tehran as alerts sound across the region

Airstrikes were reported across Tehran in the early hours of Monday, with blasts breaking the pre-dawn quiet. The specific targets were not immediately identified. Residents reported the repeated sound of fighter aircraft moving overhead through the night.

Regional tensions were evident elsewhere. In Israel, authorities issued a missile warning. In Dubai, two separate alerts prompted air defence responses, though officials did not clarify what had been targeted.

Kuwait said its air defence systems were activated several times overnight to intercept incoming threats, highlighting the broader spread of hostilities across the region.