Live! India had permitted all 3 Iranian ships, including torpedoed Dena, to dock: EAM
Iranian Foreign Minister expressed his country’s thanks for humane gesture, says Jaishankar; India issues advisory asking citizens in Bahrain to remain vigilant
Israel carried out a fresh wave of strikes in central Iran, targeting security installations and missile launch sites. The targets reportedly included a rocket engine production facility and several long-range ballistic missile launch positions.
Meanwhile, Bahrain sounded sirens on Monday and urged citizens and residents to move to safe locations amid threats from Iran. “The siren has been sounded. Citizens and residents are urged to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place,” the country’s interior ministry said. Earlier in the day, Iranian strikes hit Bahrain’s largest oil refinery, BAPCO, prompting the state oil company to declare force majeure.
The developments come after the US and Israel, for the first time since the conflict began, launched strikes on oil facilities across Iran, including in the capital, Tehran.
In another major development, the UAE’s air defence systems are responding to incoming missile and drone threats launched by Iran, the country’s defence ministry said. Saudi Arabia on Monday issued a stern warning to Tehran, saying it would be the “biggest loser” if attacks on Arab states continue.
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan also held a phone call with US President Donald Trump to discuss the Iranian strikes on the Gulf nation. The United States has ordered its embassy staff to leave Saudi Arabia after Iran carried out attacks on the kingdom.
Earlier, Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Iran's late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was named his successor, Iranian state TV announced early on Monday, as the war that began a little over a week ago with his father's killing took a dramatic turn.
Here is the top, trending news of Monday, March 9, 2026, including Iran war, Indian politics, states' politics, geopolitics, federal issues, economics, development issues, sports, entertainment, and so on.
Scroll down for all Live updates.
Live Updates
- 9 March 2026 11:35 AM IST
Jaishankar: Cabinet Committee reviews Gulf strikes, prioritises safety of Indians
EAM S Jaishankar told the Rajya Sabha that the Cabinet Committee of Security, chaired by the Prime Minister on March 1, reviewed airstrikes in Iran and attacks across the Gulf, focusing on the safety of Indians in the region.
- 9 March 2026 11:32 AM IST
Jaishankar says Indian embassies actively assisting stranded citizens amid West Asia conflict
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said the government is in constant touch with Indians in the Gulf and that the Indian Embassy in Tehran is fully operational, assisting stranded students amid the ongoing conflict.
He told Rajya Sabha that the embassy has already helped relocate several students to safer areas, while efforts are also underway to assist Indians stranded in countries such as Qatar and Jordan and bring them back safely. He said the safety of Indians is the government's main priority. "The prime minister continues to closely monitor the emerging developments, and relevant ministries are coordinating to ensure effective responses," he said.
- 9 March 2026 11:29 AM IST
Jaishankar urges dialogue, diplomacy to de-escalate West Asia tensions
EAM S Jaishankar told the Rajya Sabha that the government, expressing concern since February 20, continues to advocate dialogue and diplomacy to de-escalate tensions in West Asia amid Opposition protests.
- 9 March 2026 11:25 AM IST
Developments in West Asia a cause for concern, says EAM Jaishankar in Rajya Sabha
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday said that the ongoing developments in West Asia are a deep cause for concern for India. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, he emphasised that dialogue and discussion remain the preferred means to resolve all issues in the region.
Jaishankar added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi continues to closely monitor the situation in West Asia, highlighting the government’s focus on the safety of Indian citizens and the implications of the conflict on energy security.
The minister’s remarks come amid rising tensions in the Gulf following recent Iranian attacks on Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and other regional targets, which have also affected global oil markets and trade routes.
- 9 March 2026 11:04 AM IST
Congress chief Kharge urges full debate on US-Israel-Iran conflict in Parliament
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge urged Parliament to hold a full debate on the US-Israel-Iran conflict, calling for a detailed government plan to protect energy security, support traders, diversify exports, and shield citizens from price hikes.
- 9 March 2026 10:57 AM IST
Thick smoke at Bahrain’s BAPCO refinery after Iranian drone attack
Thick smoke was seen around Bahrain's largest oil refinery BAPCO on Monday, Reuters news agency reported citing an eyewitness. This came after Bahrain's government said there had been injuries and damage in the Sitra area due to an Iranian drone attack. As Iran continues retaliatory strikes on Gulf nations, Saudi Arabia on Monday said it had downed four drones heading towards Shaybah oilfield. The drones were intercepted over the country’s Rub al-Khali desert.
- 9 March 2026 10:48 AM IST
PM Modi calls for nurturing young athletes ahead of Olympics
Addressing a post-budget webinar, PM Narendra Modi said India is strengthening sports infrastructure and must identify and nurture young athletes as the country prepares for the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics.
- 9 March 2026 10:45 AM IST
PM Modi urges new health training models, telemedicine push
PM Narendra Modi urged health experts to develop new training models, expand telemedicine awareness, and modernise India’s education system to harness the aspirations of the country’s youth.
- 9 March 2026 10:42 AM IST
US urged India to buy Russian oil already at sea to ease supply fears: Energy Secy
The US has urged India to buy Russian oil already floating at sea and redirect it to Indian refineries to “tamp down” fears of supply shortages and price spikes amid the ongoing West Asia conflict, Energy Secretary Chris Wright has said.
However, the move, he said, is a short-term, pragmatic effort to stabilise the market and did not signal any change in Washington's policy towards Russia.
In an interview with CNN on Sunday, Wright said he, along with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, had spoken to Indian authorities about buying Russian crude cargoes currently waiting to be unloaded at Chinese refineries.
"India has been a great partner through this. I did call up the Indians, as did Treasury Secretary (Scott) Bessent, and said there’s a whole bunch of oil floating waiting to unload at Chinese refineries.
"Instead of having it wait six weeks to unload there, let’s just pull that oil forward, have it land in Indian refineries and tamp this fear of shortage of oil, tamp the price spikes and the concerns we see in the marketplace,” he said.
However, the US policy towards Russia has not changed at all, Wright said, adding that "India is very clear on that”.
- 9 March 2026 9:53 AM IST
Rupee crashes 46 paise to 92.28 against US dollar in early trade, nears all-time low
The rupee plummeted 46 paise to near its all-time intra-day low of 92.28 against the US dollar in early trade on Monday as global crude oil prices shot up and the greenback strengthened amid the worsening situation in the Middle East.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was trading higher by a staggering 25.68 per cent at USD 116.5 per barrel in futures trade as the war between US-Israel and Iran intensified.
A big surge in FII outflows and a crash at the domestic equity market in morning trade put further pressure in the local unit, forex traders said.
At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 92.22 against the US dollar before declining further to 92.28, down 46 paise from its previous close. The rupee had hit an all-time intra-day low of 92.35 on March 4.
The rupee depreciated 18 paise against the US dollar on Friday to close at 91.82 against the American currency.
"The rupee will remain vulnerable to the rising oil prices which have risen by more than 28 per cent since the last closure on Friday. Asian currencies were also lower on Monday," Anil Kumar Bhansali, Head of Treasury and Executive Director, Finrex Treasury Advisors LLP, said.
Rupee might touch 93.00 if oil remains above USD 100 in the coming trading sessions, he added.
