Iran Live! Hegseth warns Iran of ‘most intense day yet of US strikes’

Iran launched new attacks on Tuesday at Israel and Gulf Arab countries as it kept up pressure on the Middle East in a war started by Israel and the United States that has rattled world markets and shows no signs of a letup.

In Bahrain, authorities said an Iranian attack hit a residential building in the capital, Manama, killing a 29-year-old woman and wounding eight people. Saudi Arabia said it destroyed two drones over its oil-rich eastern region, and Kuwait's National Guard said it shot down six drones.

In the United Arab Emirates, firefighters battled a blaze in the industrial city of Ruwais — home to petrochemical plants — after an Iranian drone strike. No injuries were reported.

Sirens also sounded in Jerusalem, and sounds of explosions could be heard in Tel Aviv as Israel's defence systems worked to intercept barrages from Iran.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov says Russia remains ready to help broker an end to the war in the Middle East.

Following Russian President Vladimir Putin's call on Monday with US President Donald Trump, Peskov said that Russia's mediation offers “are still on the table.”

He told reporters that “Russia is ready to provide assistance to the best of its ability and will be happy to do so.”

A ship likely came under attack in the Persian Gulf off the coast of the United Arab Emirates' capital, a centre run by the British military, says.

The possible attack on the bulk carrier would expand the radius of ongoing assaults against shipping by Iran during the war.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre reported the incident, saying a captain aboard the vessel reported seeing “a splash and heard a loud bang in close proximity to a bulk carrier.”

A spokesman for Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard has threatened not to allow “a single litre of oil” to leave the Persian Gulf.

Ali Mohamad Naeini has made a comment in a statement.

He says Iran “will not allow the export of even a single litre of oil from the region to the hostile side and its partners until further notice.” “Their attempts to reduce and control oil and gas prices will be temporary and ineffective,” he said. “Trade in wartime conditions is subject to security considerations.”

Qatar's Defence Ministry reported that it has intercepted an incoming missile.

Qatar had warned the public to stay inside on Tuesday afternoon out of concern for an incoming Iranian attack.

Also, the United Arab Emirates said that its air defences had been activated to intercept incoming fire from Iran.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday will be the most intense day yet of US strikes inside Iran as the Islamic Republic, its firepower diminished, vowed to fight on. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meanwhile, said “we are breaking their bones” and said the war's aim is a popular overthrow of Iran's government.

“Our aim is to bring the Iranian people to cast off the yoke of tyranny; ultimately, it depends on them,” Netanyahu said.

Hegseth's statement came shortly after he said that “the last 24 hours have seen Iran fire the lowest amount of missiles they have fired yet.” 

Stocks of food delivery players and restaurants ended lower on Tuesday amid a shortage of commercial LPG cylinders, which triggered fears of operations being shut if the situation is not resolved.

The stock of food delivery player Swiggy fell by 2.26 per cent, while Eternal lost 1.50 per cent on the BSE.

Jubilant FoodWorks, which operates fast-food chains Domino's Pizza and Dunkin' Donuts, declined 1.45 per cent.

Also, United Foodbrands slipped 1.42 per cent, Sapphire Foods India edged lower by 0.94 per cent, and Restaurant Brands Asia dipped 0.73 per cent.

Cargoes worth about Rs 345 crore for export to Iran are lying at Kandla and Mundra ports following West Asian crisis, Parliament was informed on Tuesday.

In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada said there are disruptions in shipping and port operations due to the ongoing West Asian crisis which is affecting the cargo movement.

As on Mach 1, rice, tea and pharmaceuticals cargo weighing 35,962 tonne having Free on Board (FOB) value of Rs 305.67 crore was lying at Kandla port, which was meant for exports to Iran.

Similarly, rice, tea and pharmaceuticals cargo weighing 5,676 tonne having FOB value of Rs 40.72 crore was lying at Mundra port, which was meant for exports to Iran.

"India's trade with Iran is mainly in cereals and pharma. Due to the ongoing developments in West Asia, there are disruptions in shipping and port operations which is also affecting the cargo movement," Prasada said.

Iran is one of the key buyers of Indian basmati rice.

Congress MP Manish Tewari says the motion seeking the removal of Speaker Om Birla was meant to underline that Parliament does not belong solely to the government but also to the Opposition. Speaking during the debate on the resolution, he said the move was aimed at asserting the Opposition’s role in the functioning of the House.

Tewari referred to Article 93 of the Constitution, which deals with the election of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha, and questions why the government had not appointed a Deputy Speaker, yet.

He also says the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Lok Sabha were meant to facilitate the freedom of speech of members, not to restrict it.

Stock market benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty ended nearly 1 per cent higher on Tuesday (March 10) after two days of massive decline, following a drop in crude oil prices and recovery in global peers amid indications that the West Asia crisis could end soon.

The 30-share BSE Sensex jumped 639.82 points or 0.82 per cent to settle at 78,205.98. During the day, it surged 960.09 points or 1.23 per cent to 78,526.25.

The 50-share NSE Nifty climbed 233.55 points or 0.97 per cent to end at 24,261.60.

Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, tumbled 9.03 per cent to USD 90.26 per barrel.

From the 30-Sensex firms, Mahindra & Mahindra, InterGlobe Aviation, Maruti, ICICI Bank, Asian Paints and UltraTech Cement were among the major gainers.

Eternal, Infosys, Reliance Industries and Bharti Airtel were among the laggards.

"Dalal Street mirrored the improvement in global sentiment after the sharp decline in crude oil prices, following comments from Trump hinting at a possible end to the war. Broader markets outperformed the benchmark indices, with most sectors trading in positive territory," Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments Limited, said.

The BSE smallcap select index jumped 1.91 per cent, and the midcap select index climbed 1.71 per cent.

Among BSE sectoral indices, auto surged 2.93 per cent, consumer durables rose 2.60 per cent, services 2.35 per cent, BSE PSU Bank 2.29 per cent, consumer discretionary 2.07 per cent, financial services 2.01 per cent, commodities 1.74 per cent, and Private Banks index 1.72 per cent. IT, energy, oil & gas and BSE Focused IT were the laggards.