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

Iranian man, Romanian woman held after attempt to enter UK nuclear base amid Middle East tensions

Two foreign nationals were arrested after allegedly attempting to enter a high-security UK naval base that houses Britain’s nuclear-armed submarines, raising fresh security concerns amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. Read More

H-1B visa registration for fiscal year 2027 ends: What’s next?

As the H-1B registration period for this season came to an end on March 19, 2026, the second phase of the process begins. The USCIS will conduct the selection process, with lottery notifications expected by March 31, 2026. Read More

‘We’ll bomb Delhi, Mumbai if US targets our nukes’: Pakistan’s former envoy to India

Basit, who served as Islamabad’s top diplomat in New Delhi from 2014 to 2017 framed India as Pakistan’s “default” target in a worst-case scenario where the US targets its nuclear assets. Read More

Mojtaba Khamenei Breaks Nowruz Tradition With No Public Address, Raises Questions For CIA, Mossad

The CIA and Mossad were closely watching during Nowruz to see whether Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, would uphold his father’s tradition of a New Year’s address. Read More

No Eid Prayers At Al-Aqsa For First Time Since 1967 Six-Day War As Police Block Worshippers

Eid al Fitr tensions in Jerusalem as Muslim worshippers clash with Israeli police over rare Al Aqsa Mosque closure amid war with Iran and missile debris nearby. Read More

Topics

Iranian man, Romanian woman held after attempt to enter UK nuclear base amid Middle East tensions

Two foreign nationals were arrested after allegedly attempting to enter a high-security UK naval base that houses Britain’s nuclear-armed submarines, raising fresh security concerns amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. Read More

H-1B visa registration for fiscal year 2027 ends: What’s next?

As the H-1B registration period for this season came to an end on March 19, 2026, the second phase of the process begins. The USCIS will conduct the selection process, with lottery notifications expected by March 31, 2026. Read More

‘We’ll bomb Delhi, Mumbai if US targets our nukes’: Pakistan’s former envoy to India

Basit, who served as Islamabad’s top diplomat in New Delhi from 2014 to 2017 framed India as Pakistan’s “default” target in a worst-case scenario where the US targets its nuclear assets. Read More

Mojtaba Khamenei Breaks Nowruz Tradition With No Public Address, Raises Questions For CIA, Mossad

The CIA and Mossad were closely watching during Nowruz to see whether Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, would uphold his father’s tradition of a New Year’s address. Read More

No Eid Prayers At Al-Aqsa For First Time Since 1967 Six-Day War As Police Block Worshippers

Eid al Fitr tensions in Jerusalem as Muslim worshippers clash with Israeli police over rare Al Aqsa Mosque closure amid war with Iran and missile debris nearby. Read More

Over 20 Countries Pledge Support For Safe Passage Through Strait Of Hormuz

In a joint statement, 22 nations- mostly European but also including the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain- condemned Iran’s actions in the Persian Gulf in unambiguous terms. Read More

Can You Indulge In Chocolate During Navratri?

The answer isn’t a simple yes or no, it’s all about the ingredients and how strictly you follow the traditional rules. Read More

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