Nepal halts visa-on-arrival facility for Iranian citizens

IANS | March 13, 2026 7:36 PM

Kathmandu, March 13 (IANS) The government of Nepal has decided to stop providing visa-on-arrival facilities to Iranian citizens visiting the country amid the ongoing US–Iran conflict in West Asia, the country's Department of Immigration said on Friday.

Iran’s new leader Mojtaba Khamenei wounded: Pentagon

IANS | March 13, 2026 7:33 PM

Washington, March 13 (IANS) U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Friday that Iran’s newly installed supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, had been wounded and forced into hiding as the country’s military leadership struggled amid intense American strikes.

Iran is losing military power fast: US

IANS | March 13, 2026 7:23 PM

Washington, March 13 (IANS) The US said Friday that its military campaign against Iran had sharply degraded Tehran’s armed forces, with more than 6,000 targets struck and Iranian naval power rendered “combat ineffective” as the conflict entered its 13th day.

Pentagon blames Iran for Strait of Hormuz disruption

IANS | March 13, 2026 7:12 PM

Washington, March 13 (IANS) The Pentagon on Friday said Iran, not the United States or its allies, was responsible for disruptions to commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy corridors.

Iran President Pezeshkian, FM Araghchi among top leaders to make public appearance during Tehran rally

IANS | March 13, 2026 7:05 PM

Tehran, March 13 (IANS) Several top Iranian politicians and officials, including country's President Masoud Pezeshkian, attended an International Quds Day rally in Tehran on Friday, marking their most high-profile public appearance since the joint US-Israel airstrikes that killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other top officials on February 28.

Conducted airstrikes on Pakistan's strategic military installations: Afghan Defence Ministry

IANS | March 13, 2026 6:20 PM

Kabul, March 13 (IANS) Afghanistan's Ministry of National Defence said on Friday that it has conducted strikes on Pakistani military centres and installations in Kohat district of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in retaliation to the airstrikes launched by Islamabad on Thursday night which resulted in several civilian casualities on the Afghan side.

ASEAN FMs discuss implications of Middle East conflict

IANS | March 13, 2026 5:12 PM

Manila, March 13 (IANS) The Foreign ministers of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Friday emphasised the importance of an immediate cessation of hostilities in the Middle East, calling upon all parties concerned to exercise utmost self-restraint, avoid any acts that may further aggravate the situation, and resolve differences through diplomacy and dialogue in the interest of maintaining peace and stability in the wider region.