Trump threatens to destroy Iran’s desalination plants. Here’s what that could mean Israeli airstrikes on March 7 on oil depots surrounding Tehran produced heavy smoke and acid rain The Independent UK · Mar 30
Ukraine signs 10-year defence deal with arms producer Bulgaria, Zelenskyy says The agreement with Bulgaria comes hot on the heels of a raft of similar deals Zelenskyy inked with partners in the Gulf. Euronews · Mar 30
Islamabad talks signal emergence of new four-nation bloc in Middle East Unlikely grouping of Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey steps up efforts to broker ceasefire and curb dominance of Iran and Israel The Guardian - UK · Mar 30
What are Ukraine's new Gulf defence deals? Here is what Zelenskyy signed Ukraine signed 10-year defence partnerships with three Gulf countries as Zelenskyy toured the region over the weekend. What is there for the Gulf and what will Ukraine get in return? Euronews · Mar 30
Shiite grief over attacks on Iran’s sacred cities has deep historical roots Several Shiite communities in South Asia recently refrained from celebrating Eid as they mourned the death of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. From Nigeria to Kashmir – well beyond the Gulf region – the assassination has stirred deep concerns among Shiite Muslims. The Conversation · Mar 30
Trump threatens to obliterate Iran's Kharg island oil hub if no deal reached 'shortly' About 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports leave the country via the small island in the Persian Gulf's north, much of it destined for China and other Asian markets. Euronews · Mar 30
Is Kuwait International Airport Open Today? Airport Still Remains Closed Due To Drone Attacks Kuwait International Airport did not open or resume normal operations on Monday as regional conflict continued to disrupt aviation in the Gulf nation, with repeated Iranian-linked drone strikes damaging critical infrastructure including radar systems and fuel facilities. International Business Times · Mar 30
Dubai, Abu Dhabi Face Potential Risks Amid Rising Gulf Tensions, Warns Jeffrey Sachs Renowned US economist Jeffrey Sachs has cautioned that major Gulf cities such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi could face significant risks if the United Arab Emirates (UAE) becomes directly involved in a potential conflict with Iran. His remarks come amid escalating geopolitical tensions in the region and growing alignment between… Whats Hot · Mar 30
Trump mulls seizing Iran's Kharg Island oil terminal even as talks show progress U.S. President Donald Trump openly mused about seizing Iran’s Kharg Island oil terminal in the Persian Gulf and the United States and Israel kept up their attacks on the Islamic Republic, even as there were signs of progress in nascent ceasefire talks The Independent UK · Mar 30
'Dubai could be blown up': US top economist Jeffrey Sachs flags risks for UAE if it enters Iran war Top US economist Jeffrey Sachs warned the UAE that its alignment with the US and Israel could expose Dubai and Abu Dhabi to serious threats if it enters the ongoing Iran war. He criticized the Abraham Accords as an "invitation for disaster," arguing that overreliance on American security guarantees is… The Times of India · Mar 30
Saudi, Kuwait, Bahrain 'fighting back': Trump claims Gulf nations '100% on US side' against Iran President Trump declared Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Kuwait, and Bahrain are fully aligned with the US against Iran, stating they are "100% on our side." He noted these Gulf nations were surprised by Iran's missile and drone attacks but are now fighting back effectively. The ongoing conflict, now in its… The Times of India · Mar 30
A shadow war? The Shia-Sunni equation behind Iran's Gulf attacks For decades, West Asia had learned to live with tension. Proxy battles, covert strikes, deniable operations and quiet escalations had defined the region’s uneasy equilibrium. But what unfolded in recent weeks broke that pattern. Iran did not just respond to the joint strikes by the United States and Israel, it… The Times of India · Mar 29
Trump is contemplating the sheer folly of boots on the ground in Iran. How did it come to this? After the anguish of Iraq and Afghanistan, it’s almost unthinkable the US would again send troops to the Middle East – but its president is desperate and narcissistic, says foreign affairs commentator Simon Tisdall The Guardian - UK · Mar 29
'Provided satellite images': Zelenskyy alleges Russian link behind Iranian strikes on US bases in Middle East Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed that Russia captured satellite images of US air bases in the Gulf region, including Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, “multiple times” ahead of an Iranian attack. The Times of India · Mar 29
The Independent UK · Mar 29 Iran-backed Houthis enter the monthlong war and could further threaten global shipping Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have entered the monthlong war in the Middle East and claimed they launched missiles toward Israel
The Guardian - AU · Mar 29 Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy drums up defence agreements with Gulf states on countering missiles and drones Ukraine leader says signs with Qatar and Saudi Arabia, with one to come with the United Arab Emirates, as Iran presses aerial campaign against neighbours. What we know on day 1,495
Fortune · Mar 28 Dollar dominance is reinforced by the global oil trade, but the Iran war could give rise to the 'petroyuan' as U.S. security shield weakens "The world saves in dollars in large part because it pays in dollars," Deutsche Bank said.
The Guardian - UK · Mar 28 BBC Arabic defended as lone voice in region for giving ‘Israeli perspective’ Exclusive: World Service director Fiona Crack says platform pursues stories ignored by the Gulf’s state-owned media
The Independent UK · Mar 28 Zelenskyy visits Gulf Arab states to talk drone defense and seek strategic ties Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has made unannounced visits to the United Arab Emirates and Qatar as Kyiv seeks to use its drone expertise to help Gulf Arab states blunt Iran’s attacks while the war in the Middle East rages on
The Times of India · Mar 28 Ukraine signs defence pact with Qatar after Saudi deal, expands drone warfare cooperation Ukraine has inked new defence pacts with Qatar and Saudi Arabia, following a similar agreement with the UAE. These deals focus on drone warfare expertise, joint projects, and technological exchange. Kyiv aims to leverage its experience countering Russian drones to assist Gulf nations facing threats, potentially trading its interceptors for…
The Times of India · Mar 28 Drone strike rocks port of Salalah in Oman: Iran military confirms American logistics vessel targeted as war with US-Israel escalates Tensions surge as Iran confirms targeting a US-linked vessel near Oman's Salalah port, a vital shipping hub. This escalation expands the conflict into critical maritime zones, threatening global trade and energy markets. The move signals Iran's willingness to strike US assets, blurring lines between military and logistical targets and raising…
Euronews · Mar 28 Qatar and Ukraine sign defence agreement as Zelenskyy's Gulf tour shapes new partnerships Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Doha on Saturday amid his tour around the Gulf region, one month since the beginning of the Iran war.
International Business Times · Mar 28 Is Kuwait International Airport (KWI) Today? Airport Remains Closed March 28 2026: No Commercial Flights Kuwait International Airport (KWI) was not open for regular commercial passenger flights on Saturday, March 28, 2026, as ongoing regional security concerns, repeated drone strikes and resulting infrastructure damage continued to ground operations at the Gulf nation's primary aviation hub.
The Times of India · Mar 28 One month of Iran war: Tehran's defiance turns Trump's regime-change dream into nightmare On February 28, what began as Donald Trump’s “dream” project to topple Iran’s regime under Ali Khamenei now appears to have shifted into a pressing push for a “deal”, a term the US president frequently invokes, aimed at reopening the vital oil chokepoint, the Strait of Hormuz.
Radio France Internationale · Mar 28 Europe turns to Algeria as war causes Middle East gas supplies to falter As war in the Middle East disrupts global energy flows and leaves countries scrambling to replace gas supplies from the Gulf, European governments are turning their attention to a North African supplier with pipelines already linked to the continent: Algeria.