EU leaders reject military involvement in Strait of Hormuz amid war on Iran
Listen to this article Listen to this article | 4 mins info European leaders have rejected demands by United States President Donald Trump to help ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz as foreign ministers from the European Union gathered in Brussels to discuss skyrocketing oil prices during the US-Israeli war on Iran. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on Monday said Berlin had no intention of joining military operations during the conflict. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list “We expect from the US and Israel to inform us, to include us into what they’re doing there and to tell us if these goals are achieved,” he told reporters before the meeting in Brussels. “Once we have a clear picture of that, we believe we need to move into the next phase, namely, defining a security architecture for this entire region, together with the neighbouring states,” he said. Wadephul added that NATO had not made any decision on assuming responsibilities in the Strait of Hormuz after Trump on Sunday called for a naval coalition to deploy warships to secure the key Gulf waterway, through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil shipments transit. The strait has essentially been shuttered as a result of the war, which has seen the US and Israel launch deadly attacks across Iran since February 28. Iran has retaliated by firing missiles and drones across the wider Middle East, roiling global energy markets. Trump’s call for countries to secure the waterway has been met with pushback from several European countries despite the soaring oil and gas prices. Greek government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said on Monday that Greece would not engage in any military operations in the Strait of Hormuz while Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Italy was not involved in any naval missions that could be extended to the area. Advertisement Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said, however, that Europe should keep an open mind on helping to ensure freedom of navigation in the strait even if the continent did not support the US-Israeli decision to go to war with Iran. “We must face the world as it is, not as we want it to be,” Rasmussen said, adding that the EU must decide on a plan “with a view towards de-escalation”. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom said it was working on a collective plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and restore freedom of navigation in the Middle East but doing so would not be easy. EU feels Trump’s pressure EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told reporters before the meeting in Brussels that the bloc’s leaders would focus on how the EU could contribute to reopening the waterway. “We first need to discuss what the member states are willing to do in the Strait of Hormuz,” she said. “Of course, the needs to open the Strait of Hormuz are there right now.” Kallas said the strait’s closure, which has sent oil prices to more than $100 a barrel, was benefitting Russia’s war on Ukraine, which is largely funded by Moscow’s energy revenues. Reporting from Brussels, Al Jazeera’s Step Vaessen said what was clear is that European leaders are “increasingly feeling the pressure from Trump to help him reopen the Strait of Hormuz”. “There is very little appetite [on the part of EU leaders] for joining the war, especially because they feel left out of the loop,” Vaessen said. “They will be discussing a way to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but that doesn’t necessarily mean sending warships.” In an interview with the Financial Times on Sunday, Trump said NATO faced a “very bad” future if his proposal for a military operation in the strait received no response or a negative one. France has suggested the EU could expand its Aspides mission, a small naval mission established in 2024 to protect ships from attacks by Yemen’s Houthis in the Red Sea. It currently has an Italian and a Greek ship under its direct command and may also call upon a French ship and another Italian vessel for support. But Germany has been among the EU members to express scepticism of the idea. “What does … Trump expect a handful or two handfuls of European frigates to do in the Strait of Hormuz that the powerful US Navy cannot do?” German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said in Berlin. “This is not our war. We have not started it.” Asked about Trump’s comments on the future of NATO, Pistorius said he did not anticipate the alliance to fall apart over the issue. Advertisement Adblock test (Why?)
Iran officials tout ‘Trump-burning’ celebration amid battle of narratives
Tehran, Iran – Iranian authorities are organising street-level events across the country over the coming days to maintain security control and send more messages of defiance to the leaders of the United States and Israel in the third week of their war. Wednesday is the last day in the Iranian calendar, and Iranians have for thousands of years marked it with Chaharshanbe Suri, a festival of fire and celebration to symbolise the triumph of light over darkness and welcome Nowruz, or the Persian New Year. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list The general prosecutor’s office in Tehran sent text messages to people on Monday to say they are prohibited from using fireworks and explosives or from lighting fires during celebrations, as is the custom, since they may be “misused by spying or rioting elements of the enemy”. But state television urged Iranians to mark this year’s festivities by making and setting ablaze effigies of US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “We must turn Chaharshanbe Suri into a devil-burning ceremony. Using whatever we can, from pieces of cloth to cardboard, let’s make figures of Trump and Netanyahu and burn them in the squares and streets,” state television said. It said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) will continue to create a “regional Chaharshanbe Suri” by firing ballistic missiles and drones at other countries as the US and Israel bomb Tehran and cities across Iran. The IRGC released footage of a Sejjil long-range ballistic missile being fired for the first time during this war on Sunday, and reported more attacks on Monday while vowing to “pursue and kill” Netanyahu. The missile has a range longer than 2,000km (1,240 miles). Advertisement Tehran has ruled out any negotiations with Washington, and says it expects reparations and a guarantee against future attacks if the war is to stop. A giant mural unveiled at Valiasr Square in downtown Tehran this week showed Iranian ballistic missiles, accompanied by the text, “Until the world finds rest”. The streets of Tehran show a fraction of their usual hustle and bustle, but some businesses remain open for limited hours during the day, and the atmosphere turns more security-focused when night falls. There are numerous patrols by the paramilitary Basij forces of the IRGC, and pro-establishment supporters heed calls from authorities to congregate in mosques and at main city squares and streets to shout “Allah akbar” and “Death to America”. Multiple residents of the capital who spoke with Al Jazeera said pro-state groups have been organising nightly motorcades moving through various neighbourhoods, during which people wave their mobile phone lights and chant religious slogans using loudspeakers. “You are certain to face multiple checkpoints and roadblocks and have your belongings searched if you go out at night. You’ll see some during the day, too,” said a resident, who asked not to be named due to security concerns. “The checkpoints are often manned by several cars and sometimes heavy vehicles with mounted machine guns, and you see masked men with assault rifles. Some of them look to be very young,” he said. The Israeli army has started using its heavy surveillance and attack drones like Hermes and Heron variants to monitor and then launch munitions towards a number of major checkpoints in Tehran over recent days. Multiple Basij local commanders have since been killed, prompting state forces to stay on the move or set up checkpoints in tunnels and under bridges. The IRGC-affiliated Fars news agency on late Saturday released footage showing pro-establishment people queuing up at night to sign up for checkpoint or patrol duty for the Basij force. State media have also been widely circulating images of young women, dressed entirely in black chadors and veils and wearing black masks, wielding assault rifles and waving flags. Mohammad Zahraei, a senior Basij commander, confirmed on Sunday that the force is recruiting as much as possible, and said it will continue to operate as part of the security apparatus during the war. In a message last week, hardline parliament chief and former top IRGC commander Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said state supporters must only keep in mind one thing: “Street, street, street”. Advertisement Iranian authorities have issued threats of using lethal force against any public anti-establishment sentiment or street protests, saying arrested dissidents will face severe punishments, including execution and confiscation of assets. “Now the vile enemy, frustrated by not achieving field combat goals, is once again seeking to instill fear and chaos in the streets; but a blow even stronger than January 8 awaits the ‘neo-Daeshis’,” the intelligence directorate of the IRGC said in a statement last week. This was in reference to thousands being killed during nationwide protests in January, mostly on the nights of January 8 and 9, which the government blamed entirely on “terrorists” and “rioters” armed and funded by the US and Israel. The United Nations and international human rights organisations accuse Iranian state forces of being behind the killings. They have also called for the release of tens of thousands arrested during and in the aftermath of the protests. Iranian authorities continue to announce arrests linked with the ongoing war, noting this week that dozens were arrested for sending videos of impact points and checkpoints to “terrorist” media outlets outside of the country using tools to circumvent internet filtering. The internet remains entirely shut down more than two weeks since the start of the war, while signal-jammed satellite television networks offer the only alternative to state media outlets, which mostly focus on statements from local officials and successful IRGC attacks across the region. According to NetBlocks and other global monitors, a state-run internet provider in Iran that offered limited services to whitelisted individuals and entities was also largely taken down on Sunday afternoon, but no reason was provided. Adblock test (Why?)
Qatar Airways announces ‘limited’ flights to and from Doha
Airline says limited number of flights will operate as of March 18 between Qatari capital and dozens of destinations. Listen to this article Listen to this article | 2 mins info Published On 16 Mar 202616 Mar 2026 Click here to share on social media share2 Share plus2googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Qatar Airways has announced a limited flight schedule to and from the Qatari capital, Doha, as the US-Israeli war on Iran roils air travel in the region. The airline said on Monday that it would operate a limited number of flights from Wednesday to March 28. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list The flights will operate to and from dozens of cities in Africa, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, North and South America, and the Asia Pacific. “With Qatar Airways scheduled flight operations still temporarily suspended due to the closure of Qatari airspace, we want you to know that we are doing our utmost to support you with your journey, and to reunite you with your family and loved ones,” the airline said. “Qatar Airways will resume operations once the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority announces the safe full reopening of Qatari airspace.” Air travel in several countries in the Middle East has been disrupted since the US and Israel launched a military assault on Iran on February 28. The US-Israeli attacks have prompted retaliatory Iranian missile and drone strikes across the region, including in several Gulf countries that serve as major air travel hubs. A flydubai plane prepares to land during a fire near Dubai International Airport in the UAE [File: AFP] Continued airspace restrictions have left many travellers stuck in the region with no means of getting home as the war continues. The United Arab Emirates, which has been the hardest hit by Iranian attacks, said on Monday that flights were gradually resuming at Dubai International Airport after a “drone-related incident” that sparked a fuel tank fire nearby. Advertisement In a statement, the airport said flights to and from Dubai were gradually resuming to “selected destinations”. Authorities also said they had contained the fire and no injuries were reported. Adblock test (Why?)
LPG crisis deepens, hits corporate kitchen: TCS, Infosys, Cognizant, Wipro reduce canteen menu
After Infosys, through its Pune canteen committee, advised employees to carry their own tiffins, TCS employees at the Commerce Zone campus in Pune’s Yerawada were told to bring their own lunchboxes due to an LPG shortage affecting canteen services.
Commuters alert: NHAI hikes FASTag annual pass fee for FY 2026-27, check new price, validity, benefits and more
An activated FASTag annual pass allows free passage at designated National Highway (NH) and National Expressway (NE) fee plazas for one year or 200 trips, whichever is earlier, without per-trip user fee charges.
Pakistan eyes Delhi, Mumbai as spy network films railway stations, RPF deployment sites; details here
Police arrested six accused after receiving a tip-off. A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered under Sections 152 and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act.
‘LPG situation remains concerning, but no dry-up reported by distributors,’ says govt amid ongoing crisis
The Government has reiterated its commitment to prioritising the interests of domestic consumers and ensuring uninterrupted LPG supply, particularly for households and priority sectors.
West Bengal Election 2026: BJP announces first list of 144 candidates, Suvendu Adhikari fielded from Nandigram, check full list here
The list was finalised at a meeting of the party’s central election committee chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with senior leaders including Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh present.
India-US trade deal cancelled? Govt says pact to be signed only after new tariff structure is in place, here’s all you need to know
The bilateral deal, announced in early February, was initially expected to be concluded in March. However, recent developments in US trade policy have complicated the timeline.
Did Mamata Banerjee violate Model Code of Conduct by announcing release of DA arrears, hike in honorariums to muezzins, purohits minutes?
Has West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee violated the Model Code of Conduct by announcing sops minutes ahead of the announcement of poll dates by the Election Commission of India? What has the ECI said?