A war of words escalated sharply on Saturday as Iran’s parliament speaker warned that the strategic Strait of Hormuz would “not remain open” if the United States proceeds with a blockade of Iranian ports, while President Donald Trump vowed to continue the pressure campaign until a peace deal is reached. “If American threats to block our ports become a reality, the Strait of Hormuz will not remain open for anyone,” Iran’s parliament speaker said in remarks carried by state media. The strait is a vital chokepoint through which roughly 20% of the world’s oil passes. President Trump fired back, insisting…
Author: KO Web Desk
Iran has announced that the Strait of Hormuz will stay open to commercial shipping for the rest of the current ceasefire, as reported by the BBC. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the waterway is “declared completely open” for the truce’s duration. In a post on X, he said, “In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire.” He also noted that shipping will continue “on the coordinated route as already announced by Ports and Maritime Organisation of the Islamic Rep. of…
US President Donald Trump on Thursday described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “friend” and said the two leaders had a “very good conversation” during a recent phone call, as diplomatic activity intensifies over West Asia. Responding to a question from ANI, Trump said, “I had a very good talk with him, and he’s a friend of mine from India, and he’s doing great. We had a very good conversation.” The remarks come days after Modi confirmed receiving a call from Trump, during which the two leaders reviewed regional developments, particularly in West Asia. In a post on X, Modi…
The 85-km Bandipora-Gurez road was closed on Friday following fresh snowfall at Razdan Top, officials said. An official said vehicular movement on the strategic road connecting Bandipora with the remote Gurez Valley was suspended as a precautionary measure after snowfall made the high-altitude Razdan Pass slippery and unsafe for traffic. Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Gurez, Mukhtar Ahmad, said the road shall remain closed until further orders. “Movement on the Bandipora–Gurez road shall remain suspended until further orders,” Ahmad said. Officials said snowfall at the pass reduced visibility and created slippery conditions, prompting authorities to halt traffic. The administration issued an advisory…
Two years ago, on April 16, 2024, Kashmir woke to an ordinary morning. By noon, it was mourning. The Gandbal-Batwara boat tragedy lasted only minutes in the waters of the Jhelum, but its impact stretched across months and years. What happened that day became more than a disaster; it became a symbol of delay, loss, waiting and grief. Residents of Gandbal, Batwara and nearby areas had for years relied on small boats to cross the Jhelum. The two banks were close, but the nearest bridge was far, forcing people to choose between a long route or a risky shortcut. Locals…
Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has raised alarm over the rapid deterioration of Hokersar Lake in Srinagar and Budgam districts, warning that its “pristine glory” is at risk of extinction. The audit found that over 2,528 kanals of the lake area have been encroached upon for construction, plantations, and farming. Authorities failed to evict encroachers despite issuing notices. The report highlights a lack of proper survey, demarcation, and a comprehensive conservation plan. Between 2014 and 2020, open water area decreased by 7%, while scrub area surged by over 1,100%, and aquatic vegetation increased by 42%—largely due to pollution, untreated sewage,…
PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti Thursday stated that achieving genuine peace in Jammu and Kashmir requires the Centre to prioritize winning over the public’s sentiment. Speaking in Baramulla, she emphasized that real prosperity cannot be achieved without the Centre making efforts to gain people’s trust and engaging in dialogue. The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister expressed optimism that the Central government would soon recognize that dialogue is the only viable path forward. She argued that while force, through the deployment of the Army everywhere or the imposition of laws like AFSPA, PSA, and UAPA, can suppress people, it cannot win…
Pakistan’s Field Marshal Asim Munir is set to visit Washington after his Iran trip, as diplomatic efforts to revive US-Iran talks continue. However, his meeting with US President Donald Trump is not confirmed. Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir arrived in Tehran on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 for talks with the Iranian leadership to resolve the conflict between the U.S. and Iran. The United States, meanwhile, has tightened its naval blockade on Iranian ports, claiming it has “completely halted economic trade going into and out of Iran by sea”, prompting a sharp warning from Tehran that it could block shipping…
Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, has landed in Iran as part of a delegation to hold high-level talks on the resumption of talks between Iran and the US. The delegation as per the media reports, is bringing a message from Washington to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, and we know that it has been received. It is also working very hard to coordinate the next round of talks here in Islamabad. According to Iranian state media, the delegation is carrying a specific new message from the United States intended to outline a framework for a second round of high-level…
In a significant move to ease transportation of goods from Kashmir Valley, Northern Railway’s Jammu Division has announced the operation of a dedicated parcel train service between Budgam and Delhi from April 17 to May 31. The service, named “Joint Parcel Product – Rapid Cargo Service” (JPP-RCS) will run between Adarsh Nagar, Delhi and Budgam, primarily aimed at benefiting fruit growers, traders and handicraft dealers. Officials informed that the train from Budgam will depart at 6:15 AM and reach Adarsh Nagar, Delhi, at 5:00 AM the following day. On its return journey, the train will leave Delhi at 5:00 AM…