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Who is Mojtaba Ali Khamenei: Slain Ayatollah’s ‘radical’ son who has just lost most of his family chosen as the next Supreme Leader by Iran’s Assembly of Experts

Rukma Rathore
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Who is Mojtaba Ali Khamenei: Slain Ayatollah’s ‘radical’ son who has just lost most of his family chosen as the next Supreme Leader by Iran’s Assembly of Experts

On 8th March, Iran’s Assembly of Experts declared Sayyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei to be the third Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic in the midst of an intensifying crisis in the Middle East. He replaced his 86-year-old father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was neutralised on 28th February in a military strike by the United States and Israel.

Zahra Haddad Adel, Mojtaba’s wife and the daughter of a previous speaker of parliament, also perished in the attack along with their son. The fresh announcement came following indications of a divide among Iranian officials as the country awaited the verdict of the 88-seat Assembly of Experts, a body of clerics responsible for picking the Supreme Leader.

The 56-year-old has mostly kept a low profile in contrast to the late Khamenei, as only a few images and videos of him have ever been released. He has never held a public office, delivered speeches or offered interviews. However, there have been long-standing suspicions that he had significant authority over Iran. He was regarded as “a combination of aide-de-camp, confidant, gatekeeper and power broker.”

Meet Mojtaba Ali Khamenei

Mojtaba is the second-oldest son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and was born on 8th September 1969 in Mashhad, which is a holy Shia city and grew up while the latter attempted to topple the Pahlavi regime. He attended the esteemed Alavi High School in Tehran when the family relocated there post the 1979 revolution.

He served in the Habib ibn Mazahir Battalion of the 27th Mohammad Rasulullah Division during the last years of the Iran-Iraq War after enlisting in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) at the age of 17. He has a stronger connection to the organisation than his father, who has denied rumours of a split and swore allegiance to him. He developed enduring relationships with his comrades who went on to occupy high-profile jobs within the Iranian military institution.

Mojtaba taught and acquired his religious education from conservatives in the seminaries of Qom, the nation’s centre of Shia theological education, which is located south of Tehran. He was largely regarded as a Hojjatoleslam, a mid-level religious rank, instead of a senior Ayatollah deemed eligible for the top assignment.

Interestingly, he travelled to the United Kingdom’s private institutions four times between 2004 and 2008 for infertility treatment. He received medical care at the Wellington and Cromwell Hospitals in London.

“His marriage, to the daughter of former Majles Speaker Hadad Adel, followed two ‘temporary marriages’ and occurred relatively late in life, reportedly due to an impotency problem treated and eventually resolved during three extended visits to the UK,” read the diplomatic cables of the United States, which were made public by WikiLeaks in the late 2000s.

The meteoric rise to power

The younger Khamenei was referred to as “the power behind the robes” in the cables, based on Associated Press (AP). He had tapped his father’s phone and was referred to as his “principal gatekeeper.” However, he had been creating his own power base in the nation.

A 2008 cable conveyed that Mojtaba “is widely viewed within the regime as a capable and forceful leader and manager who may someday succeed to at least a share of national leadership; his father may also see him in that light.” It added, “Mojtaba is, however, due to his skills, wealth, and unmatched alliances, reportedly seen by a number of regime insiders as a plausible candidate for shared leadership of Iran upon his father’s demise, whether that demise is soon or years in the future.”

He ran the Supreme Leader’s office like a “fortress” long before he was appointed and was viewed as the real force. He worked behind the scenes but proved to be a crucial link between IRGC appointments and intelligence operations. His name emerged to be affiliated with a web of covert power and critical security apparatus, while his brothers mainly stayed within the comparatively safe limits of cultural or administrative roles attached to their father’s leadership.

Notably, hardliner Mohsen Araki, Alireza Arafi, who is one of the three members of the temporary council in charge of the nation and Hassan Khomeini, the grandson of the founder of the Islamic Republic in 1979, were competitors for the spot. However, Mojtaba’s selection illustrated how he consolidated support.

Moreover, he is considered more in favour of building nuclear weapons than his father and could adopt a more aggressive stance on Iran’s nuclear program. Additionally, he has resisted reformers who want to work with the West to end the nuclear campaign.

The grave accusations and US sanctions

The reformist faction accused Mojtaba of manipulating elections and using the Basij force to suppress peaceful demonstrators amid the Green Movement of 2009. A violent crackdown on these leaders and their supporters had ensued after the controversial re-election of ultra-conservative president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2009, which set off a massive movement. Mojtaba also played a key part in his first election in 2005.

Importantly, all-volunteer Basij forces have been at the centre of the onslaught against multiple waves of agitations in the country, including the latest uprising, which claimed the lives of thousands of people at the hands of the troops.

Mahdi Karroubi, who ran for president in both 2005 and 2009, called Mojtaba “a master’s son” and highlighted that he had tampered with both votes. However, the senior Khamenei apparently termed him “a master himself, not a master’s son.” It was mentioned that money was distributed to religious outfits via the IRGC and the Basij militia to influence the polls.

The United States Treasury Department placed sanctions on Mojtaba in 2019 and noted that he represented the Supreme Leader in “an official capacity, despite never being elected or appointed to a government position” aside from functioning in the latter’s office. It insisted that he was handed over responsibilities “to advance his father’s destabilising regional ambitions and oppressive domestic objectives” and joined hands with the commander of the IRGC’s Quds Force and Basij, a religious unit connected to the guards.

The Supreme Leader’s billion-dollar empire

Mojtaba owns a $3 billion global property and asset empire. According to sources, he has been intimately involved in the transactions, some of which date back at least to 2011, without putting the holdings in his own name, reported Bloomberg. They claimed that his financial dominance has included everything from Persian Gulf ships to Swiss bank accounts and British luxury property worth more than £100 million ($138 million).

The network of companies aided him in transferring money, estimated to be in the billions of dollars, into Western markets, despite sanctions slapped by Washington against him in 2019. This consists of luxury European hotels from Frankfurt to Mallorca, a mansion in an area known as the “Beverly Hills of Dubai” and premium real estate in several of London’s most elite neighbourhoods, including a £33.7 million house which was purchased in 2014.

Money for the deals had been routed through accounts at banks in the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and the United Arab Emirates. Insiders disclosed that the sale of his country’s oil had been the main source of the funds. Many of the acquisitions are made in the name of Ali Ansari, an Iranian businessman who had been sanctioned by the British.

Mojtaba and his family also controlled billions of dollars and business properties dispersed throughout Iran’s several bonyads or foundations, which were financed by the state firms and other wealth earlier managed by the shah.

PIB debunks AI Deepfake of Army Chief Upendra Dwivedi circulated by Pakistani accounts claiming India helped track the Iranian warship

OpIndia Staff
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PIB debunks AI Deepfake of Army Chief Upendra Dwivedi circulated by Pakistani accounts claiming India helped track the Iranian warship

The Press Information Bureau (PIB) has debunked a viral video falsely showing Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi claiming India shared intelligence with Israel about an Iranian warship. PIB confirmed the clip is an AI-generated deepfake being circulated by Pakistani propaganda accounts.

In the fabricated video, General Dwivedi appears to say that under a “new strategic deal” with Israel, India informed Israeli authorities about the location of an Iranian naval vessel, identified in some posts as IRIS Dena, after it entered international waters. The clip further claims that the information enabled a U.S. submarine to strike the vessel.

PIB’s Fact Check Unit clarified that the Army Chief never made any such statement and labelled the video a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.

The original footage comes from General Dwivedi’s address at the Raisina Dialogue, where he spoke about India monitoring regional developments while maintaining neutrality. The manipulated version shows clear signs of tampering, including mismatched lip movements, unnatural phrasing, and AI-generated audio overlays.

PIB urged people to verify suspicious content through official channels and report misinformation via WhatsApp (+91 8799711259) or email [email protected].

The fake video surfaced amid rising Iran–Israel tensions and has been widely circulated on X by accounts linked to foreign disinformation networks. Independent fact-checkers have also confirmed it as a deepfake.

Many users on social media demanded stricter action against propaganda accounts, with some calling for Pakistan-based handles spreading such content to be blocked in India.

This is part of a broader pattern. Over the past year, several deepfake videos targeting General Dwivedi have circulated online, including false claims about Indian military during Operation Sindoor and internal policies. Each has been debunked by PIB, highlighting the growing use of AI-driven disinformation to target Indian institutions and influence public perception.

Gender stereotype guidelines vilify ‘upper caste men’ in rape cases: Supreme Court recalls handbook prepared under former CJI DY Chandrachud

Anurag
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Gender stereotype guidelines vilify ‘upper caste men’ in rape cases: Supreme Court recalls handbook prepared under former CJI DY Chandrachud

The Supreme Court of India has decided to formulate fresh guidelines to promote sensitivity among judges when the courts are dealing with cases that involve sexual offences and vulnerable victims. According to media reports, there is unease within the judiciary over a previous attempt to address gender stereotypes in courtrooms.

On 10th February, the apex court set aside the Allahabad High Court’s judgment in a POCSO case. In that matter, the High Court had drawn a distinction between “preparation” and “attempt”. The Court took a broader view of the case and asked the National Judicial Academy in Bhopal to constitute a committee of experts to prepare a comprehensive report on developing such guidelines. A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice N V Anjaria, passed the judgment.

The committee will be chaired by former Supreme Court judge Justice Aniruddha Bose. It will include domain experts including practitioners, academicians and social workers. The committee will study earlier attempts and propose draft guidelines for how judges and the judicial system should approach cases involving sexual offences and other sensitive situations involving vulnerable victims or witnesses.

According to the Indian Express report, the move comes amid internal discomfort over a 2023 Supreme Court publication titled “Handbook on Combating Gender Stereotypes” that was introduced during the tenure of former Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud.

Case that triggered the discussion

The directions from the apex court came during proceedings in a suo motu case initiated by the Supreme Court after an Allahabad High Court ruling that drew a distinction between “preparation” and “attempt” to commit rape in a POCSO case. The High Court had concluded that the actions of the accused did not amount to an attempt to rape and had therefore modified the charges accordingly.

However, the Supreme Court did not agree. It held that the allegations clearly indicated that the accused had moved beyond preparation and had begun executing their intent. It restored the original charges and set aside the High Court’s judgment.

In the broader context, the court accepted the concerns raised by counsel regarding insensitivity that sometimes seeps into judicial reasoning in sexual offences, specifically when minors and vulnerable victims are involved.

The court acknowledged that compassion and empathy must accompany the application of legal principles when courts deal with such cases.

Judges reportedly uneasy about 2023 gender handbook

The 2023 handbook was introduced as an effort to help judges recognise and avoid gender stereotypes in court proceedings and judgments. However, reports suggest that several judges expressed dissatisfaction with both the process and parts of the content of the handbook.

On the procedural side, some judges reportedly felt that a document meant to guide the judiciary should ideally have been discussed before the full court before being adopted. On the substantive side, certain portions of the handbook were viewed as problematic by some members of the judiciary.

The Indian Express cited unnamed sources familiar with the matter and noted that a section discussing stereotypes about sexual violence and caste is among the points of contention. The handbook states that a stereotype exists suggesting that “dominant caste men do not want to engage in sexual relations with women from oppressed castes” and therefore accusations of rape by such women against dominant caste men may be false.

Source: SCI

It then argues that historically, sexual violence has been used as a tool of social control and that dominant caste men have used such violence to reinforce caste hierarchies. According to sources quoted in reports, some judges felt that the Supreme Court should avoid making sweeping generalisations that could appear to attribute wrongdoing to entire communities.

‘Too Harvard oriented’ – CJI calls for practical guidance

During the hearing on 10th February, CJI Kant also criticised the technical language of the handbook and described it as overly academic and “Harvard oriented”. The court observed that assigning complex or forensic meanings to aspects of sexual offences could make such documents inaccessible to survivors, their families and ordinary citizens who interact with the legal system.

In its order, the bench emphasised that any future guidelines should be framed in language that is simple and easily understood by laypersons. The court also noted that many victims and complainants come from vulnerable backgrounds and may not have legal training or linguistic proficiency. Hence, guidelines must be accessible and grounded in practical realities rather than complicated academic terminology.

The Supreme Court has also stressed that the guidelines should reflect India’s social realities and linguistic diversity. The committee has been encouraged to identify offensive or insensitive expressions used in different regional contexts so that victims are better able to articulate their experiences before courts.

Furthermore, the court has directed that the guidelines should avoid heavy and complicated expressions drawn from foreign legal frameworks. They should instead be rooted in the ethos and social fabric of India. The committee has been asked to submit its report within three months.

A recalibration before the debate snowballs

While the 10th February order of the apex court does not explicitly criticise the 2023 handbook, the developments surrounding it suggest that the judiciary has recognised the need to revisit the exercise before it evolves into a wider institutional controversy.

The 2023 Handbook on Combating Gender Stereotypes was introduced with the stated objective of helping judges identify and avoid stereotypical assumptions in cases involving sexual violence. However, parts of its content appear to have generated unease among some members of the judiciary.

The concerns reportedly centred on certain sociological formulations in the handbook, including references to caste hierarchies and sexual violence. Reportedly, some judges felt these amounted to sweeping generalisations about entire communities.

For a document that has been issued by the Supreme Court, the language and formulation carry institutional weight. Courts are expected to adjudicate disputes involving individuals from diverse social backgrounds. However, broad sociological assertions within official material issued by the judiciary can sometimes be interpreted as institutional positions instead of academic observations.

In recent times, there have been discussions around institutional documents that have escalated quickly and taken the form of controversies. A recent example that should be considered here is the controversy surrounding the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026.

The guidelines, which were stayed by the apex court in the last week of January this year, structurally presume the General Category as perpetrators in matters of caste discrimination.

While the two issues are not related, both illustrate how institutional texts dealing with sensitive social questions can generate intense debate when the language used in these documents gives sweeping generalisations about social hierarchies. Against that backdrop, the Supreme Court’s move appears to reflect a cautious recalibration rather than a direct repudiation of the earlier handbook.

Another point raised during the hearing was the accessibility of the text. CJI Kant remarked that the handbook appeared “too Harvard oriented”. His remarks suggested that the language and conceptual framing were overly academic and difficult for laypersons to understand.

The bench emphasised that guidelines meant to shape judicial behaviour should ultimately serve the needs of litigants and victims who interact with courts, many of whom may not be familiar with technical legal or academic terminology.

The court’s order therefore signals a shift in approach. Instead of allowing the debate around the handbook to deepen, it has chosen to restart the exercise through a consultative mechanism. With this order, the Court has effectively pressed pause on the earlier framework while trying to build a more widely accepted one.

The move can be seen as an institutional course correction. The judiciary understands the need for sensitivity and empathy while dealing with sexual offence cases. However, the court has also indicated that the tools used to promote such sensitivity must have carefully drafted notions. Such documents should be discussed within the judiciary and should not trigger any controversy.

US–Iran war timeline: Khamenei killed, Iran attacks US bases, oil crisis fears grow, Iranian ship sinks in Indian Ocean and more

Aditi
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US–Iran war timeline: Khamenei killed, Iran attacks US bases, oil crisis fears grow, Iranian ship sinks in Indian Ocean and more

As the US-Israel-Iran war entered its ninth day on Sunday (8th March), the tensions in the Middle East do not appear to be subsiding anytime soon. At least 1,332 people have reportedly been killed in Iran since the beginning of the conflict on February 28th, 2026. The ongoing military conflict involving the United States and Israel on one side and Iran on the other has gripped the entire West Asia.

The conflict further escalated after the US-Israeli strikes on Iran killed its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. After this, Iran responded more aggressively, drawing several other Middle Eastern countries, which were US allies or had US military assets, into the conflict. Iran launched air strikes on many countries in the Gulf region, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, which has adversely affected global trade and fuel supplies.

Here is a timeline with details of all the events that have unfolded so far in the US-Israel-Iran war:

The Why and How of the current conflict

Prior to the 1979 Iranian Revolution, relations between Israel and Iran were cordial and Iran was the second Muslim country to recognise Israel in 1948. However, following the 1979 Revolution, the Iranian political landscape changed drastically with the overthrow of the Shah’s regime. The Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini regime that replaced the Shah in Iran was openly hostile towards Israel. The same hostility towards Israel continued in the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei regime as well.

Iran nurtured several terrorist groups, such as Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis, in the Middle East, which abhor Israel’s existence. It has also been aiding proxy wars against Israel. In addition to that, Iran has been violating the terms of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which set limits on its nuclear programme. The Iranian nuclear programme, which Israel views as a threat to its existence, has been a major factor behind Iran’s ongoing conflict with the US and Israel.

Iran’s current military hostilities with the US and Israel began last year when Israel warned Iran that the latter’s nuclear enrichment efforts could attract military action. Subsequently, on June 13th, 2025, Israel launched a 12-day war against Iran, during which it attacked Iran’s nuclear facilities, killing its senior commanders and nuclear scientists. Justifying its strikes on Iran, Israel said that the country was closer than ever to obtaining nuclear weapons.

Iran responded with ballistic missile strikes on Israel. This was followed by the US military striking between June 21st, 2025 and June 22nd, 2025, on Iranian nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. On June 23rd, 2025, Iran struck a US air base in retaliation in Qatar, which was followed by the announcement of a ceasefire by the US.

A timeline of the fresh US-Israel-Iran conflict

As an extension of last year’s military action against Iran, the US and Israeli defence forces launched fresh strikes on Iran on February 28th, 2028, under two separate coordinated military operations, viz. ‘Operation Epic Fury’ and ‘Operation Lion’s Roar’ (aka ‘Roaring Lion’). Israeli Defence Forces’ (IDF) Operation Lion’s Roar aims to completely annihilate Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities. On the other hand, the US military’s Operation Epic Fury has a broader objective of weakening Iran’s military infrastructure and disabling its terror funding.

February 28th, 2026: The Killing of Khamenei and other Iranian leadership, Iranian strikes on Gulf countries

The US and Israel launched a coordinated strike against Iran, killing Iran’s top leadership, including its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and some of his family members. The Iranian casualties included Iranian Defence Minister Nasirzadeh, the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Abdol Rahim Mousavi, and the head of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard and security adviser Ali Shamkhani. Several sites across Iran, such as Tehran, Qom, Kermanshah, Isfahan, and Karaj, were targeted by the US and Israeli forces. While people opposed to the Khamenei regime celebrated Khamenei’s death, widespread protests were witnessed among the Shia Muslims in India against his death.

Responding to the US-Israeli strikes, Iran launched missile and drone attacks on Israel and the US military bases, such as Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, and the US Navy’s 5th Fleet headquarters in Qatar. Iran also attacked the Middle Eastern countries of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Kuwait.

Iranian missiles hit several parts of Abu Dhabi, including the Al-Dharfa US Base in the Southern part of the city. Similarly, 5 major blasts caused by Iranian strikes shook Dubai, leading to the closure of its airspace, which left many passengers stranded. One of the blasts damaged the Dubai International Airport, injuring four people. Zayed International Airport in the UAE’s Abu Dhabi also suffered damage. The landmark Burj Al Arab hotel also sustained severe damage and was engulfed in flames after debris from an intercepted drone struck the building.

March 1st, 2026: IRGC attack vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, UAE warns Iran against attacking its neighbours

The US and Israel launched strikes on hospitals and the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) headquarters in Tehran. They also targeted sites in Natanz city in the Isfahan province. Israeli forces bombed Beirut, Lebanon, killing the head of Hezbollah’s intelligence chief, Hussein Makled. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) attacked vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil shipping route. This affected global trade and energy supplies. The attack damaged several tankers and disrupted maritime traffic. This led to crude oil prices shooting up globally. While the petrol and diesel prices in India remain stable, the prices of Liquefied Petroleum Gas registered a surge.

After Iranian strikes on Gulf countries, the UAE warned Iran against targeting its neighbours. Anwar Gargash, the diplomatic advisor to the UAE President, said that Iran’s attack on the Gulf countries is a “miscalculation”.

The same day, the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer gave the US permission to use RAF bases in Cyprus to tackle the growing threat from Iran. As the conflict in the Middle East escalated, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and condemned the attacks on the UAE.

March 2nd, 2026: Iran blocks the Strait of Hormuz, Israel attacks Hezbollah

In retaliation for the killing of the Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Hezbollah launched strikes on Israel. In addition to that, Iran launched airstrikes on the US embassy in Kuwait and at the Bahrain port. Explosions caused by Iranian missiles were also reported in Jerusalem, Dubai, Abu Dhabi in the UAE, Doha in Qatar, and Manama in Bahrain. Notably, Iran completely blocked the Strait of Hormuz, followed by Qatar announcing a full halt to the production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and associated products.

The conflict further escalated as Israel launched a wave of airstrikes on the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut in Lebanon and ordered evacuations. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz declared Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem a “target for elimination”. The statement came after Hezbollah launched strikes on Israel.

March 3rd, 2026: Iran continues to hit several regions in the Middle East

Iran attacked the US embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with a drone, while hitting several sites in the region. Subsequently, the US State Department ordered a precautionary evacuation of non-emergency personnel and family in Kuwait after an Iranian strike in Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Qatar and Jordan. Meanwhile, the US and Israel continued to launch strikes on Iran, particularly targeting its nuclear facilities and missile infrastructure. Israel also carried out strikes in Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah.

As the conflict in West Asia continued to deteriorate, PM Modi had telephonic conversations with Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, King of Bahrain, Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, and King Abdullah II of Jordan. He expressed his concern over the situation and reaffirmed India’s support for peace, security and well-being of the people in the Middle East.

March 4th, 2026: US sinks Iranian ship, Trump directs DFC to provide insurance for maritime trade

Iran denied attacking Turkey, a NATO member, after a ballistic missile entered its airspace. Meanwhile, the US and Israel continued to launch airstrikes in Iran, and Israel bombed multiple parts of Lebanon. Apart from that, a US submarine sank an Iranian warship, IRIS Dena, in the Indian Ocean Region, resulting in the death of 87 people out of 180 people onboard.

As the war in West Asia escalated, US President Donald Trump directed the United States Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to provide immediate political risk insurance and financial guarantees for maritime trade moving through the Gulf. The announcement came after concerns were raised regarding the security of keyshipping lanes amid the conflict.

As the Iranian ship came under the US attack near Sri Lanka’s coast, an attempt was made by the leftist media portals and the Congress ecosystem to suggest that India was supporting the US in attacking Iran. The leftist media portals and the Congress ecosystem widely shared a false statement made by former US Army Colonel Douglas Macgregor on a US news channel, where he claimed that the US was using Indian naval bases to attack Iran. However, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs intervened and strongly rejected the claims as “fake and false,” adding, “We caution you against such baseless and fabricated comments.”

March 5th, 2026: Azerbaijan accuses Iran of firing drones in its territory

As the US-Israel-Iran war entered its sixth day, Azerbaijan accused Iran of firing drones at its territory and ordered its southern airspace closed for 12 hours. Two drones reportedly landed on an airport and close to a school. The Azerbaijan government warned Iran that the attack would “not remain unanswered.” Following the previous day’s attack on the Iranian ship, Sri Lanka began offloading the 208-member crew of a second Iranian vessel, the IRIS Bushehr, off its coast.

The United States said that it sank more than 30 Iranian ships during the ongoing war.

March 6th, 2026: Israel continues strikes on Hezbollah sites in Beirut

Israel continued to attack Hezbollah in Beirut’s southern suburbs in a wave of airstrikes, after asking people to evacuate. According to the Israeli military, 26 waves of strikes were carried out overnight in the southern suburbs in Beirut, with targets including Iran-backed Hezbollah militia command centres and weapons.

March 7th, 2026: The US military claims to have hit 3000 targets in Iran

On the eighth day of the conflict, the US military’s Central Command said that it had struck over 3,000 targets in Iran and destroyed 43 Iranian warships since the beginning of the conflict on February 28th. US President Donald Trump asked Iran to surrender unconditionally.

On the other hand, Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Saeed Khatibzadeh, said that the European nations that they will become “legitimate targets” for Iranian retaliation if they join the US and Israel, as Iran continued to attack, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

In response to Israel’s strikes in Beirut, Hezbollah fired rockets at multiple locations in northern Israel. Besides, Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Amir-Saeid Iravani, accused Israel and the US of recognising “no red line” and committing war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Meanwhile, the UK extended support to Saudi Arabia as Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Qatar’s Hamad International Airport partially resumed operations via dedicated emergency routes. As flight disruptions occurred across the Middle East due to the ongoing conflict, Indian retail giant Lulu Group sent dedicated chartered cargo flights carrying fresh food supplies to the United Arab Emirates. The shipment was part of several more such shipments being arranged by the Group for transporting to the Gulf country.  

March 8th, 2026: Bahrain accused Iran of striking a desalination plant

On the ninth day of the conflict, Bahrain accused Iran of striking a desalination plant, as the Iranian President vowed to intensify attacks on the US sites across the region. Meanwhile, Israel carried out strikes at various sites in Iran, where an oil facility was attacked, and in Lebanon.

There is no sign of the conflict coming to an end anytime soon, as US President Trump and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu resolved to carry on the offensive against Iran. Trump made it clear that he is not willing to negotiate with Iran and hinted that the ongoing war would end only when Iran no longer has a functioning military or leadershipin power.

Modi govt planning to introduce different levels of restrictions on social media use by minors: Read how research highlights risks for children and why regulation is the need of the hour

Shriti Sagar
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Modi govt planning to introduce different levels of restrictions on social media use by minors: Read how research highlights risks for children and why regulation is the need of the hour

The Modi government is not in favour of imposing a blanket ban on social media for children. Instead, it is considering a more nuanced and graded approach that would introduce different levels of restrictions for users below the age of 18.

According to a report by the Indian Express, policymakers are planning to impose a framework that would classify children into different age groups and impose different restrictions on social media sites accordingly.

“There will be a certain set of restrictions for those in the 8-12 years age bracket, another set for 12-16 year olds, and different measures for those aged 16-18 years,” said a senior government functionary.

According to reports, the government may impose a new law to regulate social media sites used by children. This law may be introduced during the monsoon session of Parliament. This proposal is still under consideration within the government circles, and discussions may take place with all the stakeholders before the framework is prepared accordingly.

Sources said that the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has already considered what can be done on the issue during internal meetings. Some of the measures that the government may adopt include restricting children’s access to social media during specific hours of the day or limiting the period that children can stay on social media.

According to one of the officials, the government is planning to adopt a policy that is similar to that of some other countries that restrict children’s access to social media during specific hours of the day. “Like how China has placed a strict one-hour period per day for children to access online gaming services… of course, all this will be linked to platforms also being required to gather parental consent,” said the official.

However, the government is keen to spark a discussion among the public on the issue before making any decisions on the same. The government’s major concern is to ensure that children’s security is guaranteed.

“We are in favour of restrictions, but not a ban,” said the government official.

The move comes at a time when several states and countries around the world are debating stricter controls on children’s access to social media.

Research studies highlight risks of social media for children

The growing debate over restricting social media for children is also supported by several academic studies and research papers that highlight its potential risks.

One such study published by researchers from Gujarat University titled “Studies on Social Media and Its Impact on Youth: Exploring Real-World Consequences” concluded that social media can have a significant negative impact on young people’s mental health and behaviour.

According to this research, excessive social media usage has been found to be linked to various mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and social isolation among young people using these social media sites. Other factors such as cyberbullying, addiction, sleep disorders, and negative body images have also been highlighted in this study as issues faced by teenagers using social media.

Researchers have found that social media sites are filled with carefully selected images and content, and this could create a sense of aspiration among young people using these sites. When young people constantly compare their lives with these images, they may end up feeling disappointed and dissatisfied with their own lives.

The study also found that many young people feel constant pressure to remain active on social media. This pressure, combined with the fear of missing out (often referred to as FOMO), can negatively affect their emotional well-being.

Another research paper published in the National Library of Medicine in the United States, titled, “The Use of Social Media in Children and Adolescents: Scoping Review on the Potential Risks” examined the potential risks of social media use among children and adolescents.

The findings of the research indicated that while social media may sometimes provide benefits like communication and information sharing, overuse or uncontrolled use may sometimes pose a risk to the mental and physical health of the user.

According to the findings of the research, overuse of social media has been linked to depression, anxiety, and addiction among young people. It has also been linked to unhealthy eating habits because of the exposure to junk foods that are advertised on social media.

The researchers also pointed out that children who spend more time on social media often develop unhealthy lifestyles that may lead to obesity.

In addition to the mental and physical health problems that may arise from social media use among children, the research identified several risks that children face while using social media. These risks include cyberbullying, online grooming, exposure to pornography, and exposure to inappropriate or harmful content.

The research also noted that overuse of social media may sometimes lead to physical problems like eye strain, headaches, and sleep problems. For many teenagers, social media may sometimes interfere with sleep because of the late hours spent on social media. This may then impact their physical and mental health negatively.

Researchers stressed the need for greater awareness among parents, healthcare professionals, and policymakers about these risks. They also recommended educating families about responsible internet usage and encouraging more face-to-face communication among young people.

Overall, the findings of these studies suggest that stronger regulations and guidance may be necessary to protect children from the harmful effects of uncontrolled social media use.

Australia becomes the first country to ban social media for children

Globally, several governments have already begun taking strong action to regulate children’s access to social media. Australia has emerged as the first nation in the world to impose a social media ban on children below the age of 16.

Under a landmark law that came into effect on 10th December last year, major social media platforms were required to block users below the age of 16 from creating accounts or accessing their services.

Companies that fail to comply with this law will be liable to pay a penalty of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars.

This ban includes a number of social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube, Reddit, Twitch, and Kick.

Children below 16 are not allowed to create accounts on these social media platforms, and their existing accounts have also been deactivated.

This ban has been imposed by the Australian government after expressing concerns over social media platforms, as they encourage users to spend more time online. Officials said these platforms frequently expose children to content that could negatively affect their mental health and overall well-being.

A study conducted by the Australian government in 2025 revealed that “96% of children aged between 10 and 15 years old were already using social media.” The study also revealed that “seven out of ten of these children had already been exposed to harmful online content.”

The harmful online content included “violent or misogynistic material, as well as posts glorifying eating disorders or self-harm.”

The study also revealed that “one in seven children had been subject to grooming behaviour by adults or older individuals online, while more than half of the children had been the victims of cyberbullying.”

To enforce the ban, the Australian government has put the responsibility on the shoulders of the social media companies instead of the children or the parents. “To enforce the ban, social media companies would be required to take ‘reasonable steps’ to ensure that minors cannot access their sites.”

Several countries are considering similar bans

Following Australia’s move, many other countries have started discussing similar measures to regulate social media access for children.

Denmark is reportedly preparing to introduce a ban on social media for children under the age of 15. The proposed legislation could be implemented by mid-2026, and the government has already secured support from both coalition and opposition parties.

France has also taken steps toward similar regulation. Lawmakers in the country’s lower house passed a bill in January that would ban social media for children under 15. French President Emmanuel Macron has supported the proposal as a way to address excessive screen time among young people.

In Germany, a proposal has been introduced to ban social media use for children below the age of 16. However, discussions are still ongoing within the country’s coalition government, and some political leaders remain cautious about introducing a complete ban.

Greece is also reportedly preparing to announce restrictions on social media use for children under 15, although no formal legislation has been introduced yet.

In Asia, Indonesia has announced plans to ban children under 16 from accessing major online platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live, and Roblox.

Malaysia has also indicated that it plans to implement a similar ban on social media usage for children under 16 within the next year.

Meanwhile, Slovenia is drafting legislation that would restrict children under 15 from accessing popular social media platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram.

Spain has also announced plans to introduce a ban for users under 16, although the proposal still requires parliamentary approval before it can become law.

The United Kingdom is also studying the possibility of introducing similar restrictions. Officials have said the government will first consult parents, young people, and civil society organisations before making a final decision.

The debate around social media restrictions for children is increasingly gaining momentum not just in India but across the world. Experts believe that regulating children’s access to digital platforms may now be the need of the hour, given the rapid rise in screen time among young users.

Many psychologists and education experts have warned that excessive use of social media can significantly affect children’s attention span and concentration levels. With constant exposure to short videos, notifications, and rapidly changing content, children may find it difficult to focus on long-form learning activities such as reading, studying, or even classroom discussions.

OpIndia Exclusive: Network facilitating marriages between Muslim men and Hindu women exposed at Ahmedabad court? Registrar Syed faces serious allegations

લિંકન સોખડિયા
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OpIndia Exclusive: Network facilitating marriages between Muslim men and Hindu women exposed at Ahmedabad court? Registrar Syed faces serious allegations

A recent case from Ahmedabad’s Gheekanta Court has raised serious questions after a Muslim youth and a Hindu girl reportedly arrived at the marriage registration office dressed as lawyers so that no one could recognise them. The incident has now taken a more troubling turn after details emerged suggesting that the registrar himself may have been involved in facilitating the marriage. Registrar MM Syed had allowed the couple to enter the marriage registration office through a back door nearly two hours before the office was scheduled to open.

OpIndia Gujarati’s investigation into the matter has revealed further details suggesting that registrar Syed was helping Muslim youths not only from Ahmedabad but also from other districts and states to register marriages with Hindu girls at the same court office. The matter first came to light on 4 March and since then several details have continued to emerge.

Mother says daughter was taken away months earlier

In this case, the Hindu girl’s mother said that the accused Salman is a resident of Pethapur and that he had taken her daughter away several months earlier. According to her, when Salman came to the court in 2026 to register the marriage, it came to light that the Hindu girl was pregnant.

She further said that Salman was pressuring her daughter to perform nikah with him. The incident created tension inside the court premises and members of the legal fraternity began examining the matter more closely.

Data suggests several such marriages were registered

To understand the matter further, OpIndia visited the Gheekanta Court and examined available records. During the examination of data from the last four months, details emerged indicating that registrar Syed was extensively involved in facilitating marriages between Muslim men and Hindu girls.

Records from December 2025 to January 2026 showed that in just this two month period, 11 marriages were registered where the groom was Muslim and the bride Hindu.

The matter did not stop there. Some of these cases involved individuals coming from outside Gujarat. According to the data available, some Muslim youths had come from Uttar Pradesh while others had travelled from Mumbai to register marriages with Hindu girls at this same registration office.

After the recent incident came to light, lawyers submitted a complaint demanding that registrar Syed be made a co accused in the case and dismissed from his post. OpIndia spoke to one of the lawyers who was part of the complaint.

Lawyer recounts what happened inside the registrar’s office

Sudha Christian, a lawyer and notary working at the Gheekanta Court, spoke to OpIndia about what happened on the day of the incident.

She said that on the day of the incident the girl’s family members had arrived outside the court around 10 am and were asking to go inside the registrar’s office. They were told that the office would open at 11 am. However, the family insisted that their daughter was already inside the office.

Christian said she had some work inside the office and therefore went inside. When she entered, she saw a Hindu girl and a Muslim youth standing inside the registrar’s office dressed in lawyers’ clothes. Another woman lawyer named Manisha and a police constable were also present there.

Christian said she questioned why the Hindu girl had been allowed entry in a lawyer’s coat and why the registrar was not objecting. At that moment, the police constable closed the office door and said that the door would not be opened until the marriage was completed because opening it could create a commotion outside.

Plan was to disguise the couple as lawyers

Christian said she immediately informed her friend, lawyer Meena. Following this, advocate Meena Barot arrived and informed others that a girl had entered the registrar’s office disguised as a lawyer.

Christian said the plan had been devised by registrar M. M. Syed and advocate Mittal Jadeja. According to her, they planned that if the couple entered in the guise of lawyers no one would question them and the marriage would take place quietly. She further said that advocate Mittal Jadeja had withdrawn the marriage vakalatnama.

She said this amounted to fraud because only licensed advocates are permitted to wear the lawyer’s coat inside court premises. Christian also said that despite the girl’s parents being present outside, registrar Syed did not allow the girl to meet them. She said that once she took photographs and circulated them, people gathered there and the matter came to light.

‘Fraud committed while wearing a lawyer’s coat’

Another lawyer and notary, Ragini Dave, also spoke about the complaint filed by advocates. Dave said that on the day of the incident the girl’s parents, several lawyers and members of Hindu organisations were present in the court premises. According to her, the issue was not merely about a marriage but about fraud committed by wearing the black coat associated with the legal profession.

She said that police personnel from Karanj, Madhupura and Shahpur police stations were present there and a large number of advocates protested. Dave said that the police inspectors and the DySP of the concerned police stations were present and demands were placed before them for action.

She said that during the confrontation the couple started claiming that the coat worn by the girl was not a lawyer’s coat but that of a waiter. Dave pointed out that there is a clear difference between the coat worn by a waiter and that worn by a lawyer.

The lawyer community submitted an application demanding action against the accused and registration of an FIR. The complaint was submitted at Karanj police station. Dave further said that normally on the day of marriage girls wear traditional attire such as choli and sari and that people do not get married wearing black coats and uniforms. According to her, the arrangement indicated an attempt to mislead people.

She said that advocate Mittal Jadeja had brought the couple to the registrar’s office and that the entire plan was designed to mislead those present.

Couple was taken inside the ‘green corridor’

Dave further explained that normally when couples arrive for marriage registration they are made to stand outside registrar Syed’s glass cabin. In this case, however, the couple had been seated inside the cabin.

She said they were taken inside what is referred to as the “green corridor”. No lawyers were allowed to enter that area, and the girl was also not allowed to meet her family members waiting outside.

Sudha Christian said that the application submitted by lawyers mentioned Section 319(2) of the BNS, under which disciplinary action can be taken by the Bar Council and complaints of cheating can be registered.

She said that appearing inside court premises as a bogus lawyer should attract punishment. Christian also questioned how the registrar allowed unknown individuals to enter the office where even lawyers are normally not permitted and where important documents are stored.

Questions over challan payment timing

Christian also raised questions regarding the payment of the challan in the case. She said that challans are not normally accepted after 4 pm, yet in this case the payment was made around 6 pm. She said this also raises questions about the manner in which the process was carried out.

She further said that another person named Wasim was also connected to the matter. Wasim had earlier worked at the office but had been transferred. According to Christian, he still functioned as an administrator for Syed.

Christian said that Syed and Mittal Jadeja together planned the entire arrangement and that both should be removed from their positions. She added that it is possible that similar arrangements may have been carried out elsewhere by registrars and lawyers who guide such cases.

She also said that the girl’s parents had been visiting the office for about a month and had requested the registrar to inform them if their daughter appeared there. According to her, Syed had told them that he would inform them.

However, when the girl eventually came to the office, she was kept inside the green corridor and was not allowed to meet her parents.

Registrar stopped cases involving Muslim girls and Hindu boys

During the investigation, OpIndia also received information suggesting that when cases involved a Muslim girl and a Hindu boy, registrar Syed would not allow the marriage to take place.

According to advocates, he would somehow inform the Muslim girl’s parents or relatives and in many instances the marriage would be stopped. OpIndia spoke to advocate Abhi Rajput, who said he had witnessed one such case.

Rajput said that two months earlier a Hindu boy and a Muslim girl had approached him and both wanted to marry each other of their own free will. However, as the end of the mandatory 30 day notice period approached and the wedding date drew closer, the Muslim girl’s parents were incited not to allow the marriage.

Rajput said that when the couple reached the registrar’s office on the day of the marriage, the girl’s parents suddenly arrived and took her away. He said the boy was not financially strong and therefore did not pursue further legal action.

Rajput said that when a person holds a registrar level post, which is a Class 2 government position, people expect fairness and justice. In such circumstances, he said, cases should not be handled in a one sided manner on the basis of religion.

Advocates demand action against registrar

Rajput further said that when such actions take place, fundamental rights are also affected. He said that registrars who behave in such a manner should be removed from service and legal action should be initiated against them.

Rajput also said that after his experience he posted a video about the matter on social media. Following this, several advocates commented that when the girl is Muslim and the boy Hindu, the registrar obstructs the process.

He said that in such cases Syed creates problems during documentation and harasses applicants over documents. Rajput said that he had also received information suggesting that many cases involving Muslim boys and Hindu girls from different places had been registered at this same office.

Questions raised about loopholes in the marriage registration process

The developments surrounding this case have raised larger questions about the functioning of the marriage registration system. Advocates said that if government officials begin showing bias on the basis of religion and if the uniform of lawyers, who are expected to protect the legal system, is misused to deceive others, it undermines the credibility of the legal framework itself.

Lawyers also said that the incident highlights how loopholes in the current marriage registration process may be exploited by officials and intermediaries.

Against this backdrop, the proposed reforms and new marriage registration laws being considered by the Gujarat government are being seen by some as necessary steps. Measures such as greater transparency in the registration process, mandatory presence or notification of parents or guardians and restrictions on the discretionary powers of registrars may be required to prevent such networks from operating.

Advocates said that unless strict legal safeguards are implemented, the court premises, which are considered a place of justice, could continue to be misused for such activities.

This report was originally published in OpIndia Gujarati which can be checked here.

India provides safe harbour to Iranian Navy ship Lavan in Kochi, while IRIS Dena was made to wait for 11 hours after requesting to berth at Galle Port in Sri Lanka

Shriti Sagar
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India provides safe harbour to Iranian Navy ship Lavan in Kochi, while IRIS Dena was made to wait for 11 hours after requesting to berth at Galle Port in Sri Lanka

The US-Iran war has already claimed one Navy vessel outside of the Persian Gulf, in the Indian Ocean Region, when a US submarine torpedoed and sank the IRIS Dena on March 4. In the latest development, Sri Lanka has taken control of an Iranian warship, the IRIS Bushehr, on late Thursday, 5th March, after the vessel sought emergency assistance while anchored outside the nation’s territorial waters.

The move came just a day after a US submarine sank another Iranian warship, IRIS Dena, on Wednesday, 4th March, in the same region, resulting in the deaths of at least 32 crew members.

Sri Lankan Navy officials started transferring more than 200 crew members from the seized IRIS Bushehr to the mainland on Friday, 6th March. Navy spokesman Commander Buddhika Sampath stated that the crew members were first transferred to the port city of Colombo before being taken to a naval base located at Welisara, 20 km north of the capital, after medical checks and immigration procedures.

“The disembarkation is in progress,” Sampath said while confirming the operation.

Sri Lankan authorities said the ship had initially requested permission to dock on Wednesday, 4th March, after one of the engines on the ship had malfunctioned. However, after several hours of negotiations with the Iranians and the captain of the ship, Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake granted permission for the ship to dock at the eastern port of Trincomalee instead of the commercial port in Colombo.

In a statement on the matter, the President said, “Our position has been to safeguard our neutrality while demonstrating our humanitarian values.” 

He added that Sri Lanka had intervened to protect lives while following international maritime conventions. “SriLanka intervened in a way that demonstrated our commitment to international conventions, protecting the reputation and dignity of our country, and protecting human lives,” he said.

There are 53 officers, 84 cadet officers, 48 senior sailors, and 23 sailors on the Bushehr ship. Some of the crew will remain on the ship while it is being taken to Trincomalee by the Sri Lankan authorities, while the rest will be hosted at naval facilities.

India shelters Iranian ship IRIS Lavan at Kochi

Another Iranian naval vessel had already received assistance from India earlier in the week.

Days before the sinking of IRIS Dena, Iran approached India requesting urgent docking permission for another ship, IRIS Lavan, which had also been present in the region for the International Fleet Review and the MILAN-2026 naval exercise hosted by India.

According to media reports, Iran sent the request on 28th February, the same day that the United States and Israel launched the first wave of strikes on Iran under their “Epic Fury” offensive, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran told Indian authorities that the ship had developed “technical” issues and needed immediate docking. India approved the request on the next day on 1st March, allowing the vessel to enter Kochi port.

The IRIS Lavan eventually docked at Kochi on Wednesday, 4th March. Its crew of 183 sailors has since been accommodated at naval facilities in the city.

As per reports, India’s decision may have saved the ship and its crew from the fate that later befell IRIS Dena. While the Lavan was safely docked in Kochi, the Dena was torpedoed by a US submarine in international waters south of Sri Lanka.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi later said that IRIS Dena had been a “guest of the Indian Navy” before it was attacked.

IRIS Dena was offered safe harbour too, says report

The Iranian frigate had participated in the MILAN multilateral naval exercise organised by India and attended by warships from dozens of countries.

The warship had left Visakhapatnam after taking part in the International Fleet Review and the MILAN-2026 naval exercise, which concluded on 25th February. The ship then headed towards international waters on its way back to Iran.

According to a report by the Indian Express, New Delhi had offered the vessel shelter at one of its ports as the situation in the region became increasingly tense after the first round of US-Israeli strikes on Iran on 28th February.

However, the Dena continued its journey instead of taking shelter.

IRIS Dena was made to wait hours in Galle, Opposition asks the Lankan govt ‘why’?

On the early morning of Wednesday, 4th March, the frigate was sailing about 20 nautical miles off the coast of Galle, in Sri Lankan waters, when it was attacked.

A US submarine torpedoed the vessel, sinking it in one of the rare instances since the Second World War where a submarine destroyed a surface warship. The ship was carrying around 180 crew members.

Reports suggest that Iran has asked Sri Lanka to allow it to move the war vessel to a safer location. The Sri Lankan President, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, was holding talks with his team to decide the response to the request. The ship stayed about 40 nautical miles off Sri Lanka’s southern coast for “nearly 11 hours” awaiting clearance.

The attack occurred hundreds of miles from the Gulf region, where both US and Israeli forces are conducting attacks on Iran.

Sri Lankan naval authorities launched a search and rescue mission as soon as they received a distress call at about 5:30 am.

The Sri Lankan Navy managed to rescue 32 sailors from the sea. However, military rescuers later recovered 87 bodies from the wreckage. Around 60 people were believed to have gone missing following the attack.

Officials in the southern Sri Lankan city of Galle confirmed that the survivors were being treated in the hospital for serious injuries.

The Indian Navy aids in the search and rescue operation

After receiving the distress call from IRIS Dena on Thursday, 4th March, India initiated search and rescue operations in the area.

The Indian Navy deployed a P-8i long-range maritime patrol aircraft and INS Tarangini, a ship, for rescue operations. Additionally, another ship, INS Ikshak, also set off from Kochi towards the search operation for the missing crew members.

Indian officials stated that more aircraft with air-droppable life rafts were kept on standby in case they were needed for rescue operations.

Meanwhile, Sri Lankan Navy ships were scanning the waters for any signs of the missing crew members.

The sinking of IRIS Dena was a major escalation of the conflict between Iran, the US, and Israel.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Araghchi condemned the attack and described it as an “atrocity at sea”. He warned that the United States would “bitterly regret” the strike.

The incidents involving the Bushehr, Lavan and Dena illustrate how the ongoing conflict involving Iran is now spreading far beyond the Middle East.

The Indian Ocean, which is one of the busiest waterways in the world for international trade, has suddenly emerged as an important strategic area where many nations have to walk a tightrope between politics, humanitarian crises, and national security concerns.

The decision of India to allow IRIS Lavan to dock at Kochi was clearly an effort by India to prevent any further escalation of the conflict and protect life in the region.

Sri Lanka, meanwhile, has attempted to maintain its policy of neutrality even as it responded to humanitarian crises in the Indian Ocean. Sri Lankan President Dissanayake made this position clear when he said, “We have followed a very clear stance. We will not be biased to any state, nor will we be submissive to any state.”

It is not clear why there was a delay in response from the Sri Lankan government when IRIS Dena requested to berth at Galle Port, though port berthing permission is usually subject to multiple factors.

Lankan leader Namal Rajapaksa has stated that the government should make its position clear on the issue. Speaking to the media, Namal referred to an instance during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, when the Sirimavo Bandaranaike government in the island nation had allowed refuelling for a Pakistani aircraft on humanitarian grounds after India closed its airspace.

US boasts about un-sanctioning its own sanction on Russian oil, admits that India buying Russian crude will keep global oil prices stabilised

Sanghamitra
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US boasts about un-sanctioning its own sanction on Russian oil, admits that India buying Russian crude will keep global oil prices stabilised

The US Treasury Department has been tying itself in knots trying to convince the world that they control India’s energy purchase priorities. On March 6, the Treasury Department issued a notice announcing that it is ‘allowing’ India a 30-day waiver to purchase Russian crude currently in tankers at sea.

Speaking at a news show, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright was seen explaining how the 30-day waiver ‘allowed’ by them was necessary for the stabilisation of global oil prices because Russian crude getting refined at India’s refineries reduces the burden on global refineries and keeps oil prices stabilised at a time when there is a supply crunch.

“China does not treat their suppliers well. So there is a bunch of floating barrels just sitting there. So we have reached out to our friends in India, we said ‘buy their oil, bring it into your rifineries. That puts stored oil into the Indian refineries and releases the pressure on other refineries around the world. …We have a number of measures like it that is short term and temporary. There is no change in our policy towards Russia. This is a very brief change in policy, just to keep oil prices down”, Chris Wright stated on ABC News Live.

On another news show, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox, “Yesterday, Treasury agreed to let our allies in India start buying Russian oil that is on the water. The Indians have been very good actors. We had asked them to stop buying sanctioned Russian oil, and they did. They are going to substitute it with US oil. But there is a temporary gap in oil around the world. So we have given them permission to accept Russian oil. We may un-sanction other Russian oil too. There is one thing Treasury can do here. There are hundreds of millions of barrels of sanctioned crude on the water, and in essence, by un-sanctioning them, the Treasury can create supply. We are looking at that. We are going to be announcing measures to bring relief to the market.”

He added that there is an ‘other side’ of this change in stand, that can keep oil prices sustainable. 

The US lies and hypocrisy

The only thing more glaring here than the obvious lie that the US controls India’s oil purchases is the sheer hypocrisy of the US government to insinuate that their sanctions are a blessing for the world, and when they pretend to un-sanction their own sanctions, it is again for the benefit of the world.

India never stopped buying Russian oil in the first place. India’s purchase has decreased or increased depending on supply and economy since it started purchasing Russian crude in large quantities in 2022 (because it was available at discounted prices). Regardless of US claims of making India “stop” buying Russian oil, India imported over 20% of its crude from Russia in February 2026.

The Indian government has told time and again, even in their parliament, that Indian purchase of crude, any crude, is a sovereign decision driven by national interest. India imports over 80% of its crude oil, and India buys wherever it is available cheaply. 

The US claims of ‘stopping’ and ‘allowing’ are both false 

Secondly, here, the Trump administration itself is admitting that India buying Russian crude keeps global prices down. This is something that was corroborated by India’s Ministry of External Affairs last year when it said that the USA government had conveyed to them that India should keep buying Russian oil to keep the global oil market sustainable. The US government flipped on its own stand when it slapped 25% additional tariffs on India for buying Russian oil.

Bessent and Wright may have to keep their domestic MAGA fanbase appeased, and for that, they need to proclaim time and again that they are the ones controlling the global oil purchase through sanctions. But the reality is India has always bought oil as per its needs and national interests. India may have avoided certain sanctioned entities due to legal issues, but Russian oil has been flowing into India consistently since 2022.

As of now, an increasing number of tankers carrying Russian crude are docking at Indian ports. The world is in the grip of a potential supply crunch of oil and gas because, in a sad irony, the USA has started another war.

Do Islamists wait for Hindu festivals? From India to the UK, Hindus attacked during Holi: Read 8 cases

सौम्या सिंह
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Do Islamists wait for Hindu festivals? From India to the UK, Hindus attacked during Holi: Read 8 cases

Attacks by Islamists on Hindus during their festivals have become a disgraceful norm over the years. On the occasion of Holi, reports of violence against Hindus emerged from various parts of the country. In some places, Hindus celebrating Holi were assaulted, while in others, Islamists rioted over Holi colours splashed on mosque walls.

Situations became tense as disputes escalated in some areas, including Bihar, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and even the United Kingdom’s London. In most areas, the situation could be brought under control only after police intervention.

Year changes, Hindu festival changes, but attacks by Islamists driven by intolerance and sheer hatred for Hindus don’t. OpIndia has been documenting such incidents over the years during Ram Navami, Hanuman Jayanti, Deepawali, Durga Pooja, and Holi, among other festivals.

The following is a detailed account of recent attacks on Hindus during Holi.

Clashes erupt in Bihar’s Munger over colour splashing on a Muslim man

On Holi, tensions erupted between Hindus and Muslim over the use of colours in Dom Tola, Rampur Colony, located in the Adarsh ​​police station area of ​​Munger district, Bihar. Hindu youths celebrating Holi splashed colours on some Muslim passersby, leading to a heated argument.

According to eyewitnesses, seeing the situation heating up, some anti-social elements tried to incite violence, and there was even the possibility of stone-pelting. Upon receiving information, Adarsh ​​Police Station Chief Pankaj Kumar Paswan arrived at the scene with police forces and calmed the situation by talking to both sides. Later, SDPO Abhishek Anand also arrived and appealed to the public to maintain peace. The administration has increased police patrols in the area.

Dehradun: Salim assaulted a vegetable seller

A case of assault on a vegetable vendor by some Muslim youths has been reported at Laxman Chowk in the Kotwali Nagar area of Uttarakhand’s Dehradun. According to the victim, Laxmi Devi Sonkar, a teenager, bought fruit and returned a short time later, abusing her.

It is alleged that he attacked her with fruit, slapped her, and threatened to kill her. When she resisted, he pushed her onto the road and ran away. The woman said that the accused had previously assaulted her mother.

Based on the complaint, police have registered a case against Salim, a resident of Shiv Nagar Colony, Kanwali Road. Police reinforcements were deployed in the area following the incident due to tensions.

Hindu man cleaning temple attacked in Mirzapur

A man and his mother were attacked while cleaning a temple on Holi in Raipur village, located in the Vindhyachal Kotwali area of ​​Mirzapur district in Uttar Pradesh. Village resident Anil Kumar Gupta, who is the cow protection chief of the Vindhyachal block of the VHP and Bajrang Dal, was cleaning around the ancient Shiva temple in the morning.

Meanwhile, some Muslim men attacked them with bricks, stones, and iron rods. Their 60-year-old mother, Budhni Devi, who arrived after hearing the commotion, was also beaten. Police rushed both injured to the hospital, but due to their critical condition, they were later referred to the district hospital.

Police have registered a case against Angoor Ali, Hasmat Ali, Saddam Ali, and Naushad Ali, among others, and arrested the accused. Given the seriousness of the incident, a police camp has been set up in the village as a precautionary measure.

Anil Gupta said that some Muslims are constantly encroaching on the temple grounds to build houses. He renovated the ancient temple two years ago. Ever since, they have been trying to attack him. Gupta added that Muslims even abuse him when he goes to the temple to clean it.

Communal tensions in Rajasthan’s Tonk

In the Sanghpura neighbourhood of the Old Tonk police station area of ​​Rajasthan’s Tonk city, an incident of violence, stone-pelting occurred on Holi night (4th March). The incident occurred when a Muslim family was returning home after prayers, and a quarrel broke out due to an old rivalry.

Following the incident, tension escalated in the area. Police from three police stations and RAC personnel were deployed to control the situation. DSP Mrityunjay Mishra stated that the situation is currently under control and urged people to ignore rumours.

Ruckus erupts during Holi procession in Rajasthan’s Bundi

After an incident of colour-throwing during a Holi procession in Alod village, Bundi district, Rajasthan, some local Muslims created a ruckus. Muslims alleged that Hindus deliberately threw black paint on the mosque. Upon receiving information, a large police force led by Additional Superintendent of Police Uma Sharma arrived at the scene and brought the situation under control.

The police are reported to have been deployed in the village as a precautionary measure. Previously, during the Ram Navami procession, the Muslims had created a ruckus over the DJ, leading to tensions.

Hindu women were prevented from praying in Gujarat’s Bharuch

In Gujarat’s Bharuch, Muslims created a ruckus and attempted to stop Hindu women who arrived to pray. Various sources state that the disputed mosque was built from the remains of Hindu and Jain temples.

In the viral video of the incident, women are seen praying within the disputed complex, carrying flowers, coconuts, and offerings. Muslims not only protested this but also demanded action. The disputed Jama Masjid is currently under the protection of the Archaeological Survey of India. The Sant Samaj claims that the site was originally the ‘Samali Vihar’ Jain temple and the birthplace of Chakradhar Swami.

Hindus assaulted in Punjab’s Mohali

A dispute erupted during Holi celebrations in the Mataur village market in Sector 70, Mohali, Punjab. Anti-Ambedkarite activist Rajesh Valmiki Chauhan alleged that a group of approximately 15-16 extremists attacked him in the Mataur village market near the mosque.  

Speaking to OpIndia, Rajesh said that he was returning home with his brother when he saw some people creating a ruckus on the road and attacking migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar who were returning home after celebrating Holi.

Rajesh alleged that they were also armed with sticks and rods. He said that when he questioned them and protested the attack, saying that people were only celebrating their festival and such actions were against the law and the Constitution, the situation escalated.

Attack on Holi celebrations in London

A controversy also erupted during a Holika Dahan event held in the Harrow area of ​​London, UK. Organised by the International Siddhashram Shakti Kendra, the event had received permission from the local council. During the event, some Islamic extremists from a nearby mosque disrupted the event.

They destroyed the sound system and began threatening people. Later, they returned with about 20 people and attacked worshippers again. Police arrived at the scene about an hour later and began investigating. Attending the event were prominent figures such as two mayors, the commander of the London Fire Brigade, the portfolio holder of Harrow Council, and the leader of the Labour group.

Despite such widespread civic and political support, extremists fearlessly targeted the event. The Hindu community in Britain is now demanding the same protection and respect as other communities.

Hindus have been targeted during festivals in the past as well

This isn’t the first time there’s been an attempt to incite tension around a Hindu festival. In previous years, violence targeting Hindus during Holi has been widespread. Sometimes threats are used, and sometimes Hindus celebrating Holi are directly attacked.

Nuh in Haryana has been in the news several times in the past few years due to reports of tension and communal violence. Incidents of unrest have occurred here, particularly during religious processions, forcing the administration to take steps such as curfews, internet shutdowns, and heavy police deployments.

Uttar Pradesh police have filed an FIR  against nine YouTubers and social media influencers for spreading false and misleading information on social media about Mathura’s world-famous Lathmar and Laddumar Holi. These individuals circulated controversial video clips from last year, linking them to Holi in 2026.

Similarly, an attempt was made to disrupt the atmosphere during Holi in 2025. On February 22, 2025,  reports emerged from the Baradari police station area of ​​Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, that some Islamic fundamentalists had threatened Hindu youths with corpses if they celebrated Holi. When the matter came to light, the police investigated and took action against Ayaan, Salman, Aman, and Rehan, among others.

Hindu students at Aligarh Muslim University requested permission to celebrate Holi, but the administration flatly refused, stating that they would not change the rules and that those who wanted to celebrate Holi should stay in the hostels. However, later reports emerged that after much effort, Hindu students were granted permission to play Holi. 

The examples above are just a glimpse of a few incidents, but the reality is far more disturbing. Despite there being a pattern of Muslims attacking Hindus using one excuse or another during Hindu festivals, several such incidents do not even make to media headlines, let alone a nationwide outrage and policymakers taking concrete action.

Regardless of what the US claims, India has continued purchasing Russian oil: Read how ‘wherever we find it cheap’ has been India’s consistent policy

Rukma Rathore
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Regardless of what the US claims, India has continued purchasing Russian oil: Read how ‘wherever we find it cheap’ has been India’s consistent policy

On 6th March (Indian Time), the United States gave a 30-day window to New Delhi to buy crude oil from Russian tankers already in the sea, as the Iran-Israel conflict has disrupted the international supply chains. The official order pertains exclusively to the shipments that are presently at sea. The statement further conveyed that it does not include the permission to obtain any such purchases from the heavily-sanctioned Iran.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent lauded President Donald Trump for making a significant decision to tackle the impending threat to global energy supply without offering any advantages to Russia. “His energy agenda has resulted in oil and gas production reaching the highest levels ever recorded. To enable oil to keep flowing into the global market, the Treasury Department is issuing a temporary 30-day waiver to allow Indian refiners to purchase Russian oil,” he wrote.

“Allow” was the most important word in that message. The Trump Administration has insisted that it is “allowing” India a waiver to make essential crude oil purchases from Russian tankers. To add to their boasting, Bessent even presented it as some wise benevolence from his President Donald Trump.

Bessent then tacitly told India to acquire oil from America by invoking the close ties between the two nations. He added, “This deliberately short-term measure will not provide significant financial benefit to the Russian government as it only authorises transactions involving oil already stranded at sea. India is an essential partner of the United States, and we fully anticipate that New Delhi will ramp up purchases of US oil. This stop-gap measure will alleviate pressure caused by Iran’s attempt to take global energy hostage.”

Nearly 40% of India’s oil imports come from the Gulf with a large amount being shipped through the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz which is currently controlled by Iran. The Modi government earlier announced that the country is in a very comfortable position with regard to energy security and is assessing its energy situation twice a day. The stock position is likewise comfortable with daily replenishments. Furthermore, India is also communicating with other sources to ensure an uninterrupted flow of oil.

The USA has no right to “allow” India to do anything. India buys oil wherever it is available cheaply

Interestingly, the fresh move from America has transpired following a series of unsuccessful pressure strategies, including an extra 25% tariff raising the total figure to 50% and forcing India to abandon Russian oil in the name of “funding the war in Ukraine.” On the other hand, New Delhi has repeatedly emphasised that its decisions are based on its sovereignty and interests, thereby refusing to succumb to the challenge.

The acquisition of oil from Moscow has fluctuated monthly due to various factors, but it was never “stopped” despite the assertions from Washington. In fact, India has been in constant touch with Russian vendors as an alternative to fulfil its energy needs following the shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz.

Image via Reuters

A recent infographic shared by Reuters even made it quite clear. India’s oil purchase from Russia definitely increased after the start of the Russia-Ukraine war. But it wasn’t because India “wanted to fund a war”. India had nothing to do with that war. India bought Russian oil because Russian oil was offered cheap. And purchasing oil to meet national needs was a greater priority for the government of India than appeasing some NATO leaders and European media.

As shown in the Reuters infographic above, India’s Russian oil purchase declined slightly after October 2025, but it never “stopped”, as the USA would like to claim.

Therefore, this self-aggrandisement by the US is merely another attempt to claim hollow superiority while pretending to portray itself as a benevolent superpower, which is directly in contrast to reality.

Russian oil cargoes return to India even before the US waiver

India had already begun sourcing Russian oil from tankers in the sea to compensate for the loss of crude from the Middle East as tensions continue to mount in the region, even before the Trump administration’s so-called “permission” came. A considerable portion of the more than 10 million barrels that have previously been secured was likely taken before the latest declaration from the US, based on a piece on Bloomberg.

Sources in the Government of India have already stated that Russia was one of the top suppliers of energy to India in February. 1.04 million barrels of crude per day was imported by India in February.

The ship-tracking data of Bloomberg revealed that there are approximately 15 million barrels of Russian crude on tankers in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal while another 7 million are sitting close to Singapore. Within a week, all of them could end up in Indian ports. Furthermore, others are travelling toward the subcontinent via the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean Sea.

Tankers with Russian oil commenced altering their routes to indicate Indian ports even before the “we are allowing” notice came from the White House. According to Kpler, at least 18 vessels holding Urals are demonstrating that they are progressing to India. Sumit Ritolia, an analyst ​at the company, mentioned that the development could “potentially push volumes back above 2 million barrels a day in the near term.”

According to a source, the Suezmax tanker Odune, which was carrying roughly a million barrels was spotted at the eastern Paradip port on 4th March to deliver it to the state refiner Indian Oil Corporation Limited, reported Reuters.

Additionally, IOC is expected to receive about 700,000 barrels of Russian oil from the Spring Fortune in the port of Vadinar in western India on 7th March (Saturday). An IOC source disclosed that the company is accelerating the procurement from Russia which comprises the containers placed on ships that are cruising around India.

An insider cited by the media house stated that approximately 9.5 million barrels of Russian crude are floating close to Indian waters and might arrive in a matter of weeks. Another Indian refiner has also shown interest in using this oil. Ritolia expressed, “Should Middle Eastern inflows tighten, Indian refiners could ​pivot back toward Russian grades relatively quickly.”

He observed that there are roughly 30 million barrels of Russian oil available and loaded on ships in the Singapore Strait, the Arabian Sea region and the Indian Ocean, including amounts in floating storage.

An analysis of tracking by Kpler and Vortexa informed that two tankers bringing a combined 1.4 million barrels of Urals crude are going to discharge in Indian ports this week after initially suggesting that they were bound farther east, according to a separate report in Bloomberg.

On 5th March, Matari, an Aframax with almost 700,000 barrels was scheduled to reach Vadinar. With over 730,000 barrels of Urals on board, Indri, another Suezmax in the Arabian Sea which was headed to Singapore, made a sudden detour north into India this week. Last year, the United Kingdom and the European Union slapped sanctions on all three ships.

India shapes policy prioritising its own interests, not ‘permission’ from White House

The aforementioned data has clarified that the US claims of granting a time period to India are nothing more than a desperate effort to give credit where it is undeserved. New Delhi neither sought to be allowed nor expected any such gesture because it was actively pursuing its sovereign energy interests in light of the ongoing tensions.

Moreover, the utter inconsequentiality of these allegations, responses or tactics has been regularly proved as they never impact any decision made by the Modi government. Last month, the centre reaffirmed that it would keep importing crude oil from where it was affordable and of the highest quality.

Indian oil corporations would function, taking into account non-sanctioned sources and the geopolitical environment. This was shared by the senior representatives of the Ministries of Commerce and External Affairs with the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, headed by Congress leader and Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor.

A similar episode unfolded when India countered the US assertion that it had agreed to “stop taking oil” from Russia. “National interests will be the guiding factor for us in our choices for energy procurement,” stated Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on February 9. He pointed out that sufficient availability, reasonable pricing and supply reliability are the main reasons which are behind the country’s buying policy.

According to the foreign secretary, India’s “foremost priority” is to protect Indian the interests of its citizens and guarantee that they get adequate energy at the correct price through dependable and secure outlets.

“Our import policy insofar as energy is concerned is therefore driven entirely by these objectives. We are neither dependent on any single source for this, nor do we intend to be. And it is natural for the mix of sources to vary from time to time, depending on objective market conditions,” the official remarked.

He added, “Our approach is to maintain multiple sources of supply and diversify them as appropriate to ensure stability. Therefore, I would say that the more diversified we are in this area, the more secure we are.” The powerful rebuttal occurred after Trump alleged that India would not acquire Russian oil and slashed the 25% tariff during an announcement of the trade arrangement framework between the two countries.

As if on cue, the Indian government sources have once again asserted that Russian crude will keep flowing to India. “Today, we have more energy sources than what is stuck in the Straits of Hormuz. We are in a comfortable position in Crude oil, Oil products and LPG. In terms of our current stock, we are in a comfortable position. We are going to ramp up our supplies from other parts of the geographies and make up for our supply crunch from the Straits of Hormuz”, GOI has stated.

“We have been buying crude oil from Russia since 2022. In 2022, we were importing 0.2 per cent of total imports from Russia. In February, we imported 20% of our total crude oil imports from Russia. In February, India imported 1.04 mn barrel per day from Russia,” the Indian government has stated.

Trump needs to appease his MAGA fan base, India does not

The Trump administration possesses a peculiar tendency to congratulate or commend itself without reason, leading to self-embarrassment following persistent counters from India.

Meanwhile, New Delhi has continuously worked to protect its own interests, unbothered by these antics which are largely unacknowledged by the Modi government. It has become a routine between the two parties, where Washington introduces an outrageous decree or complaint, only to be ignored or politely rejected by New Delhi.

Likewise, the present White House administration seems to have made “boastful grandstanding” a habit of sorts. Be it “stopping 8 global wars” or controlling the whole world’s economy through their sanctions, Trump’s claims and their actual impact on the ground often don’t align. The multipolar world does not get remote-controlled by sanctions and tariffs.

A sovereign nation’s policy works on sovereign interests. Sanctions or tariffs are just geopolitical hiccups that need occasional recalibration and working through. Be it crude oil, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), rare earths or any other commodity, the current global order is an intricate mesh of supply chains and logistical mechanics.

No single nation can control it all by bullying or throwing tantrums. India has navigated this complex grid for decades, and it will continue to do so. Moreover, the claims made by the Trump administration are to please their domestic MAGA fanbase.

The Indian government does not work like that. Through the Russia-Ukraine war, the Gaza-Israel conflict and multiple scenarios over the years, the Ministry of External Affairs in India has kept its communications strictly official and respectful of international laws and national priorities.

Unlike the Trump administration, the Indian MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) does not need to play a social media game to underline its priorities. They know what to do and where to prove their points.

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