A woman reacts on meeting her husband, unseen, and one of the twin infants upon their arrival from Abu Dhabi at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport amid disruptions to flight services caused by escalating conflict in the Middle East, in Mumbai, Tuesday, March 3. PTI
Live! Qatar cuts gas supplies to India; Trump says too late for talks with Iran
Qatar supplies about 40 per cent of the nearly 27 million tonne of LNG which India imports annually; Tehran says it is open to dialogue
As tensions in West Asia continue to escalate, United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday flatly dismissed the prospect of renewed negotiations with Iran, declaring it was "too late" for talks.
"Their air defence, Air Force, Navy, and the leadership is gone. They want to talk. I said 'Too Late'," Trump posted on Truth Social, suggesting Iran's key military and political structures had been effectively dismantled.
The remarks came shortly after Dr Abdul Majid Hakeem Ilahi, a representative of the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, said that Tehran remained open to dialogue — but on its own terms. "Iran is ready for negotiations but with dignity," he said.
US says it destroyed IRGC centres
The Iran-US conflict intensified sharply on Tuesday (March 3), with Washington claiming it has destroyed key Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) command centres, air defence systems and missile launch sites, even as Tehran announced a “massive drone and missile attack” on a US air base in Bahrain, alleging it set critical facilities ablaze.
The IRGC, on the other hand, said it carried out a “massive drone and missile attack” on a US air base in the Sheikh Isa area of Bahrain this morning. It said it deployed 20 drones and three missiles, “destroying the main command and headquarters building of the US air base and setting its fuel tanks on fire”.
With no sign of the conflict abating anytime soon, US President Donald Trump said operations are likely to last four to five weeks but that he was prepared “to go far longer than that.” In a sign of concern over the potential for spiralling violence, the State Department on Monday urged US citizens to leave more than a dozen Middle Eastern countries due to safety risks.
Also read | Iran-Israel conflict marks return of Western power politics
Trump earlier warned Iran of imminent retaliation after two Iranian drones struck the US Embassy compound in Riyadh, causing a fire and material damage. “You’ll find out soon what the retaliation will be,” Trump said in response to the drone strikes.
Meanwhile, Tehran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared the Strait of Hormuz “closed” and warned that any vessel attempting to pass through the strategic waterway would be set ablaze. The IRGC announcement marks one of the most significant geopolitical escalations in the ongoing armed conflict between Iran on one side and Israel and the US on the other.
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Live Updates
- 3 March 2026 12:10 PM IST
CBSE postpones class 10, 12 board exams in Middle East region
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Tuesday postponed the class 10 and 12 board exams scheduled for March 5 in the Middle East region amid the Iran-Israel conflict, officials said.
"Due to the current situation in parts of the Middle East---Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE, the board has decided to postpone class 10, 12 exams on March 5,” said CBSE Examination Controller Sanyam Bhardwaj.
The new dates will be announced later, and for further exams, the situation will be reviewed on March 5, Bhardwaj added.
On Sunday, the board had postponed the exam scheduled on March 2 in the region.
This comes as the Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei was killed in a major attack on Iran launched by Israel and the United States on Saturday. His death was confirmed on Sunday.
US President Donald Trump said the heavy and pinpoint bombing of Iran would continue through the week or as long as necessary.
- 3 March 2026 11:28 AM IST
'Avoid Embassy until further notice': US Embassy in Saudi Arabia tells Americans
The US Embassy in Saudi Arabia acknowledged coming under attack from Iranian drones Tuesday, urging Americans to avoid the diplomatic post for the time being.
The embassy posted on X: “Avoid the Embassy until further notice due to an attack on the facility.” It said all appointments had been canceled.
The Saudi Defence Ministry earlier Tuesday said the embassy was attacked by two drones.
- 3 March 2026 11:27 AM IST
US State Dept orders evacuation of non-emergency personnel, family in Bahrain, Jordan
The US State Department on Tuesday ordered the evacuation of non-emergency personnel and family in Bahrain and Jordan.
The State Department announcement online said the decision came “due to safety risks.” The State Department has urged Americans across the Mideast to leave over the ongoing war with Iran.
The US Embassy in Saudi Arabia has acknowledged coming under attack from Iranian drones Tuesday and urged Americans to avoid the diplomatic post for the time being.
The Saudi Defense Ministry earlier Tuesday said the embassy was attacked by two drones.
- 3 March 2026 10:24 AM IST
Protests against Khamenei's killing: Curbs remain in force in Kashmir
Strict restrictions remained imposed in Kashmir for the second consecutive day on Tuesday following massive protests across the valley against the killing of Iran's Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
While educational institutions were shut for two days and mobile internet speed throttled on Monday as precautionary measures, the authorities cancelled all movement of security force convoys in the valley on Tuesday as protests started turning violent at some places.
In order to avoid tensions, they have also decided not to have any road opening parties of the security forces deployed on Tuesday.
At least 14 people, including six security personnel, were injured during protests on Monday that erupted in Jammu and Kashmir following the killing of Khamenei.
Officials said that 75 rallies were held at various places in the Kashmir Valley, while a few demonstrations were held in the Jammu region as well on Monday.
This is the first time since August 2019 that protests on such a large scale have taken place in Kashmir.
The administration of the Kashmir division appealed to people to exercise restraint and adhere to advisories issued by the authorities.
- 3 March 2026 10:16 AM IST
Dubai-bound flights turn back to India soon after services resume amid Iran-US conflict
Limited flight operations between parts of the Middle East and India resumed on Tuesday, even as widespread airspace disruptions persisted with the Iran-US conflict entering its fourth day. Select relief and scheduled services began operating under restricted conditions, offering partial relief to stranded passengers.
However, shortly after limited operations resumed, three Dubai-bound Emirates flights from India – from Delhi, Chennai and Bengaluru – were forced to return to their origin airports soon after take-off due to continuing regional airspace restrictions.
One service from Mumbai was able to complete its journey and land in Dubai after executing midair reversals. In addition, several Riyadh-bound international flights from multiple global destinations were reported to have turned back amid security alerts and reports of drone-related threats in the region.
- 3 March 2026 9:57 AM IST
Iran conflict: Maharashtra govt launches helpline for citizens stranded in Middle East
The Maharashtra government has launched an emergency WhatsApp helpline for hundreds of state residents stranded in the Middle East amid the ongoing US-Israel-Iran conflict, officials said on Tuesday.
According to officials, several hundred people from Maharashtra are stranded in the Middle East due to airspace closure caused by the Iran war, though all are safe.
The Chief Minister's office, in a post on X, said that CM Devendra Fadnavis is personally monitoring the situation and is in constant contact with various agencies. He is also coordinating regularly with the Central government, which is extending all possible assistance, while Maharashtra Minister Girish Mahajan has been tasked with coordination efforts.
The CMO further stated that the state government, in coordination with the Indian People's Forum in Dubai, has issued a WhatsApp helpline number +971 50 365 4357 for stranded citizens who require assistance.
- 3 March 2026 9:23 AM IST
Middle East crisis: SpiceJet to operate four special flights from UAE's Fujairah
SpiceJet on Tuesday said it will operate four special flights from Fujairah in the UAE to bring back stranded passengers.
Flight operations have been disrupted due to the close of airspaces in the Middle East amid the escalating conflict involving US, Israel and Iran.
In a statement, SpiceJet said it would operate four special flights to connect Fujairah with Delhi, Mumbai and Kochi on Tuesday and for the next few days. Out of them, two flights would be operated to Mumbai.
The airline is also exploring the possibility of operating more special flights, subject to passenger requirements and regulatory approvals.
SpiceJet will restore its scheduled Fujairah-Delhi and Fujairah-Mumbai flights from March 4, the statement said.
- 3 March 2026 8:52 AM IST
Netanyahu says peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia now possible
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has hinted at the possble normalisation of ties between Tel Aviv and Saudi Arabia. Speaking to Fox news, he said that peace between Saudi Arabia and Israel would now be possible due to action against Iran.
Saudi Arabia and Israel were on track to normalise their relations. In exchange of normalisation, Saudi Arabia and the US would partner up to start a civil nuclear programme for Riyadh. However, due to Israel's war on Gaza and ongoing genocide against Palestinians, Saudi Arabia announced it would be halting all discussions regarding ties with Israel.
- 3 March 2026 8:51 AM IST
Iran conflict not an “endless war,” says Netanyahu
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the conflict in the West Asia region will not be an “endless war”.
Speaking to FOX News in an interview, the Israeli leader said that the attacks on Iran won't be "an endless war" but could "take some time."
He added that the campaign would be "a quick and decisive action," later adding: "It may take some time, but it's not going to take years."
- 3 March 2026 8:50 AM IST
Two MBBS students from India stranded in Iran amid conflict
Two MBBS students from Haryana’s Nuh are stranded in Iran’s Arak city amid escalating tensions in West Asia following an attack on the country by the US and Israel, their families have claimed.
Ziya Ur Rehman (25) from Rai Puri and Fahed Khan (22) from Bisru villages travelled to Iran in 2023 to pursue an MBBS at Arak University. With tensions rising, their parents and relatives say they are anxious, though both students have indicated that the situation in Arak remains stable for now.
