Saturday, March 21, 2026
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Evening news wrap: PM Modi speaks to Iranian president; US, Israel strike Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility again & more

Evening news wrap: PM Modi speaks to Iranian president; US, Israel strike Iran's Natanz nuclear facility again & more

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian and condemned attacks on critical infrastructure, stressing open and secure global shipping lanes.
  • US and Israel launched fresh strikes on Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility, with Tehran confirming the attack but reporting no radioactive leakage.
  • Mumbai Indians gear up for IPL 2026 with Rohit Sharma set to open, while team combinations including Shardul Thakur’s spot, remain under focus.
  • Indian refiners consider resuming Iranian crude imports after a temporary US sanctions waiver, amid supply concerns from Middle East disruptions.
  • Islamabad rejects US concerns over its nuclear arsenal, calling it defensive and indirectly pointing to India while dismissing threat claims.

Here are the top news of the day:

PM Modi speaks to Iran president, condemn attack on ‘critical infrastructure’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian, strongly condemning attacks on critical infrastructure amid the escalating Middle East crisis. He warned that such actions threaten regional stability and disrupt vital global supply chains.The Prime Minister also conveyed greetings on Eid al-Fitr and Nowruz amid the conflict, saying “we expressed hope that this festive season brings peace, stability and prosperity to West Asia.” Read full story

Natanz targeted again: US, Israel strikes Iran’s nuclear site, no radiation leak reported

United States and Israel carried out fresh strikes on Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility, further intensifying the ongoing conflict.

Israel Iran War

Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported that the Natanz facility was targeted in the joint US-Israeli attack.It added that there were no immediate signs of radioactive leakage and residents in the surrounding area were not at risk.Officials described the attack as part of sustained assaults on the country’s infrastructure, noting that Natanz had already been targeted earlier this month during previous rounds of military action. Read full story

IPL 2026: Mumbai Indians eye strong 11, Rohit set to open

Mumbai Indians head into IPL 2026 as strong contenders, banking on a solid core of retained players and recent performances in global tournaments. Mumbai Indians entered the IPL 2026 auction with a purse of Rs 2.75 crore, the lowest among all ten teams.They had 5 spots to fill, including one overseas slot, after retaining a strong core of 20 players. Rohit Sharma remains the heart and soul of Mumbai Indians, having led the franchise to five IPL titles. He is the second-highest run-scorer in IPL history, with 7,046 runs in 272 matches, and will continue to open the innings with his experience and attacking approach. Read full story

Will India resume buying Iranian oil? Refiners eye crude return as US grants waiver

Indian refiners are considering resuming crude oil imports from Iran after the United States granted a temporary waiver on sanctions.Companies are currently awaiting clear guidance from the government and clarity on payment mechanisms before moving ahead with potential deals, Reuters reported.The 30-day waiver comes amid rising concerns over energy security due to disruptions in Middle East oil flows linked to the ongoing conflict. Read full story

Pakistan points to India after US calls Islamabad’s nukes a threat

Pakistan rejected US claims that its nuclear arsenal and missile capabilities pose a threat to America, while highlighting India in its rebuttal.Islamabad insisted its nuclear program is “centred on deterrence” with respect to its neighbour and nuclear-armed India.The Pakistani government also dismissed Israeli envoy to New Delhi Reuven Azar’s description of the country as a “rogue state.”Pakistani authorities defended the country against US intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard’s assertion, saying, “Pakistan categorically rejects the recent assertion by a US official alleging a potential threat from Pakistan’s missile capabilities.” Read full story Go to Source

Hot this week

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Radar systems, Air bases, Infrastructure: The $800 million bill Iran has sent the US

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Topics

Iranian Navy Guided Indian Tanker Through Hormuz On Pre-Approved Route: Report

Iranian officials took details of the ship’s flag, name, origin and destination ports and the nationality of crew members before guiding the vessel. Read More

Ukraine Deploys 230 Anti-Drone Experts To Gulf, Already Shooting Down Iranian Drones

Zelenskyy framed Ukraine’s involvement in the Gulf not as a distant concern but as a direct extension of its own war. Read More

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The off-screen friction between Karisma Kapoor and Raveena Tandon during the filming of Andaz Apna Apna has long been the stuff of Bollywood legend. Read More

Radar systems, Air bases, Infrastructure: The $800 million bill Iran has sent the US

The retaliatory strikes launched by Iran on the US and allies might have caused Washington a damage of about $800 million. This massive damage offers a picture of the steep costs to the US as the conflict drags on in West Asia. Read More

Rohit Shetty House Firing Case: Mumbai Police Arrests 14th Accused From Agra

The investigation into the firing incident outside filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s residence has taken a significant turn, with authorities confirming the arrest of another accused. Read More

Rahul Gandhi Warns Of Inflation Surge Amid Rupee Slide, Rising Fuel Costs

Show Quick Read Key points generated by AI, verified by newsroom Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Saturday cautioned that India could be headed towards a fresh bout of inflation, citing the weakening rupee and rising industrial fuel p Read More

Trump’s Iran war faces backlash as Congress questions mandate, money and mission

Launched without Congress approval, Trump’s Iran war is facing mounting scrutiny as casualties rise, a $200 billion funding request looms, and lawmakers question the absence of clear goals or an exit strategy. Read More

With Hormuz Disrupted, Refiners Turn To These Alternative Crudes At Record Premiums

Labuan crude from Malaysia, Minas from Indonesia and Bach Ho from Vietnam are grades that rarely attract significant attention in global oil markets. Read More

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