US President Donald Trump announced the blockade on Sunday after weekend peace talks in Islamabad between the US and Iran failed to reach a deal.

"During the first 24 hours, no ships made it past the US blockade," the US Central Command said on X, adding that six vessels complied with direction from U.S. forces to turn around to re-enter an Iranian port.

The Chinese-owned tanker was among at least eight ships crossing the waterway on Tuesday, the first day of the US blockade.

A US destroyer stopped two oil tankers attempting to leave the Iranian port of Chabahar on the Gulf of Oman on Tuesday, a US official said.

The Rich Starry and its owner, Shanghai Xuanrun Shipping Co, were placed under US sanctions for dealing with Iran. The company could not be reached for immediate comment.

The Rich Starry is a medium-range tanker carrying about 250,000 barrels of methanol that was loaded at the port of Hamriyah in the United Arab Emirates, Kpler data showed.

Another U.S.-sanctioned vessel, the Very Large Crude Carrier Alicia, is entering the Gulf via the strait on Wednesday, LSEG data showed. The empty tanker, capable of carrying 2 million barrels of oil, is heading to Iraq to load a cargo on Thursday, Kpler data showed.

The blockade has created even further uncertainty for shippers, oil companies and war risk insurers. Traffic remains at only a fraction of the 130-plus daily crossings before the U.S. and Israel's war on Iran began on February 28, industry sources said on Tuesday.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

The woman, who has worked at TCS for six years, spoke on a video call to NDTV. She said she was transferred to the Nashik office and then made to work alone on a terrace separate from the main building.

"I was made to work alone on the rooftop, and my phone and bag were confiscated," she told NDTV. "Whenever I came downstairs to use the washroom or for other purposes, my mobile phone, bag, and all personal belongings were confiscated under the pretext of security or other excuses."

"We have seen that many of the young employees who work in the company were being exploited. They were being brainwashed," she added. 

The employee said that young women aged 20 to 25 were being approached as soft targets. "They thought that it would be easy to trap them. If you have any complaints, then you go to your HR. But here, even the HR was scared," she added. "Thank God I survived otherwise, the same thing would have happened to me today." 

Her family is now in deep shock and fear for her safety after the matter became public. The employee also appealed to all working women to unite and speak out against what she called the "dark culture" prevalent in offices. She confirmed that amid the controversy and investigation, all employees at the Nashik office have now been assigned to work from home.

A separate contractual employee at the Nashik office told NDTV: "They used to say, 'Go make Hindu girls your girlfriends and marry them'. They used to say 'convert your religion' and used to talk about their religion. They were also given money. It was ongoing since 2021. The HR madam was also funded."

Police in Nashik are investigating nine complaints of mental and sexual harassment linked to the TCS branch. The complaints were filed by eight women employees and cover the period from February 2022 to March 2026. 

A special investigation team was formed last week. Seven employees have been arrested: Danish Sheikh, Tausif Attar, Raza Memon, Shahrukh Qureshi, Shafi Sheikh, Asif Aftab Ansari, and HR manager Nida Khan. 

Another woman employee connected to the ones mentioned above is currently missing. 

All arrested staff have been suspended by TCS.

One accused repeatedly engaged in a physical relationship with an employee on the false promise of marriage. Police said the accused also touched one of the employees inappropriately and made shameful remarks regarding her personal and marital life. They made obscene remarks regarding her physical appearance.

"When the complainant repeatedly lodged verbal complaints regarding these incidents with the company's head officer, he failed to take cognisance of her complaints regarding the molestation; instead, he effectively abetted their actions," the police said in a statement.

The accused also forced one male employee to perform Namaz and insulted his religion. When women approached the HR manager with complaints, they were threatened with termination. 

Nida Khan has been described as the "lady captain". She allegedly befriended the women, made them comfortable and gradually trained them to offer namaz and wear the hijab, police said. 

The parents of arrested employee Raza Memon rejected the allegations. "He is innocent and is being framed. He is not like this," his mother told NDTV.

"TCS has a long-standing zero-tolerance policy towards harassment and coercion of any form. We have always ensured the highest standards of safety and well-being of our employees at the workplace. As soon as we were made aware of the matter in Nashik, we took swift action," TCS said in a statement. 

The company said the employees under investigation have been suspended pending enquiry. It is cooperating fully with local law enforcement and any further action will follow the conclusion of the investigation.

On Monday, Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran called the allegations "gravely concerning and anguishing". He said a thorough investigation is underway under TCS Chief Operating Officer Arathi Subramanian. 

"This incident is being treated with utmost seriousness. Action has already been initiated against the accused employees, and the company is extending its full cooperation to the ongoing investigations," he said. 

"My first reaction was one of shock. TCS is a great company and I would presume they have good systems to prevent this kind of harassment. It is a breakdown of systems and processes and capture of human resources by communal elements. I read that this person used to grab a woman in front of everybody and the people kept quiet. There's an element of fear. It is something that you cannot believe can happen in any corporate organisation - much, much more than a great company like TCS," Mohandas Pai, chairman of Aarin Capital, told NDTV on Tuesday.

The satellite, known as TEE-01B, was developed and launched by the Chinese firm Earth Eye Company before being taken over by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Aerospace Force.

Earth Eye Company operates under a relatively obscure export model known as "in-orbit delivery," whereby spacecraft launched in China are transferred to overseas buyers only after they have successfully reached orbit.

According to the report, Iranian commanders tasked it with keeping watch on key American military installations in the region.

As part of the arrangement, the IRGC was also granted access to a network of commercial ground stations run by Emposat, a Beijing-based satellite services provider with operations spanning Asia, Latin America and beyond.

US Bases The Spy Satellite Tracked

The satellite is said to have captured imagery of Saudi Arabia's Prince Sultan Air Base on March 13, 14 and 15. A day later, on March 14, US President Donald Trump acknowledged that American aircraft stationed there had been damaged.

The report adds that TEE-01B also tracked activity around Jordan's Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, sites near the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Manama, Bahrain, and Erbil Airport in Iraq around the same period that the IRGC claimed strikes in those areas.

Its surveillance footprint extended further, covering US-linked facilities such as Camp Buehring and Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti, and Duqm International Airport in Oman. It also monitored civilian infrastructure across the Gulf, including the Khor Fakkan container port and the Qidfa power and desalination complex in the United Arab Emirates, as well as Bahrain's Alba aluminium plant, one of the largest in the world.

"There is no way that any Chinese company could do something like launch a satellite without somebody in the administration giving it the go-ahead," said one former senior Western intelligence official to the publication. "I think it's been very clear for some time that China has been helping the Iranians with intelligence, but trying to keep the hand of government hidden."

The reported use of a Chinese-origin satellite by the IRGC, particularly during a conflict in which Iran has repeatedly launched missiles and drones at neighbouring countries, is likely to raise concerns across the Gulf. The sensitivities are heightened by China's deep economic ties in the region, where it is both the leading trading partner and the biggest buyer of oil.

Separately, earlier reports have suggested that Iran also gained access to Russian satellite intelligence on US and Israeli targets after the US-Israeli bombing campaign in Iran began on February 28.

China's Foreign Ministry has repeatedly denied in recent days that the country is providing any form of military support to Iran.

China has long supported Iran's ballistic missile programme and backed it with dual-use industrial components that can be used for missile production, according to the US government.

The ships had left Chabahar port on the Gulf of Oman and were contacted by the warship via radio communication, the official said. It was unclear whether any further warnings were given.

The disclosure adds further detail to the start of Trump's blockade, which aims to pressure Iran to end its effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a choke point for about 20% ⁠of the world's oil. 

Trump is hoping the blockade will force Iran to accept America's terms for ending a war launched by the US and Israel on February 28, including opening up the Strait of Hormuz. Trump says that was also a condition of a week-old ceasefire with Iran due to expire next week.

Experts are cautious. Noam Raydan at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy said tracking data did show one tanker making a U-turn after the start of the blockade but cautioned that a lot of ships working with Iranian oil go dark.

"We just don't know yet how effective it is. We are still in day two," Raydan said.

The US official said the two tankers were among the six merchant vessels the US Central Command said in a statement earlier on Tuesday had followed orders to "turn around to re-enter an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman."

Central Command said no ships have made it past the blockade since it went into effect on Monday at 10 a.m. in Washington (1400 GMT).

MORE THAN 10,000 TROOPS

The blockade is a massive undertaking involving more than 10,000 US forces, over a dozen warships and dozens of aircraft, the US military says.

The US military says it will support freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, as long as they are not going to or from Iran.

Trump announced the blockade following the breakdown of weekend talks to end ​the war. Oil prices jumped back above $100 a barrel before easing on Tuesday on hopes of further talks.

If Trump's strategy succeeds, he would eliminate Iran's greatest point of leverage in negotiations with the ​US and clear the strait again for global trade. But a blockade, experts say, is an act of war that requires an open-ended commitment of a significant number of ​warships.

It could also trigger fresh retaliation from Tehran and put tremendous strain on an already ​fragile ceasefire.

Iran's threats to shipping have caused global oil prices to skyrocket about 50%. Roughly 5,000 people have died in the hostilities. 

Thousands of US military strikes have severely weakened Iran's military. But analysts say Tehran has emerged from the conflict as a vexing problem for Washington, with a more hard-line leadership and a buried stockpile of highly enriched ⁠uranium.

Raydan said to expect likely Iranian retaliation if the blockade succeeds and lasts for an extended period, noting Iranian threats to strike Gulf states that host US forces and Iran's past attacks on ships.

"We're in the testing period," Raydan said. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

January 2026 - the US moved its knight to Venezuela, captures its rook. Fighter jets - F-22 and F-35 - and elite troops, including the storied Delta Force, infiltrated and kidnapped now ex-president Nicolas Maduro and his wife.

Venezuela has the world's largest proven oil reserves - around 303 billion barrels, according to the US' Energy Information Administration.

February 2026 - the US moved its queen to Iran to capture a second rook. The USS Gerald R Ford delivered F-35 stealth fighters and F/A-18 Super Hornets for precision air strikes. Tomahawks pounded Iranian military and energy infrastructure.

The Strait of Hormuz - shipping 20-25 per cent of global seaborne crude - effectively shut down.

March 2026 - the US moved its bishop to Indonesia to pin the queen. Under a new deal, US military aircraft get increased operational access to Indonesian airspace, potentially enhancing surveillance and control over the Strait of Malacca.

Less than three kilometres wide at its narrowest, the strait funnels between 25 and 30 per cent of all commercial shipping past Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. It is also the world's busiest oil route, handling 22 to 29 per cent of seaborne crude.

Image generated by AI

'Chokepoint calculus'

Experts have said this suggests US President Donald Trump has a plan, though most critics might disagree. The plan is likely to achieve strategic superiority over China by squeezing oil supply lines, rather than a direct, possibly military, face-off.

The idea - to choke sanctioned crude oil shipping lines to Beijing via an escalating ladder of energy denial. Venezuela was the test, Iran amplified the calculus, and Malacca, potentially, seals it.

Tactical execution in Venezuela was clean. The US now controls 300+ billion barrels.

How Iran Sucker-Punched Trump Into 'Escalation Trap' 'Hellhole'

But Iran was not Venezuela and launched counter-strikes - asymmetric warfare kept US forces off-balance and the 'mosaic doctrine' maintained resistance despite early decapitation strikes that included Supreme Leader Ali Ayatollah Khamenei.

Image generated by AI

From one perspective, the Hormuz blockade actually worked in the US' favour; Trump has repeatedly said the US, as the world's largest oil producer and backed by his 'drill, baby, drill' policy, doesn't need the oil coming through the strait.

China, he has pointed out, does, though he vastly overestimated that reliance.

'Five Straits' Trap: How Hormuz Blockade Exposes Global Oil Flow Risk Issue

But most of Asia and Europe does rely on Hormuz-shipped crude, and a blockade put pressure on Trump to find a clean off-ramp and restore global energy supply. Trump projected a swift end to the fighting to placate runaway Brent crude prices but that has not happened so far.

And Tehran's blockade has remained intact while China continued to pick up sanctioned crude.

But the US' blockade now adds a double-bluff layer that increases regional uncertainty and threat of spiralling conflict if China-flagged tankers are attacked.

China Defence Minister Admiral Jong Jun has already warned the US to "not interfere in our affairs", possibly setting up the military confrontation Trump hoped to avoid.

Any end to the fighting now will likely include, as US negotiators made it clear last week, the control over the Hormuz that Iran has demanded, i.e., the right to impose 'tolls' that would offer any collector the de facto ability to prevent passage to certain tankers or ships.

The Malacca move has just begun, but it is what underscores the idea that the United States is trying to build a crude oil supply-based coercive architecture around China.

The passage is jointly managed by Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia, and the deal with Jakarta gives Washington access to airspace over the strait - critical to establish a chokepoint.

Image generated by AI

The Strait of Malacca handles nearly a third of the world's seaborne crude oil trade and is even more important to China than the Hormuz because it ships around 80 per cent of its crude.

Beijing knows this, hence the 'Malacca dilemma' red flag raised by Hu Jintao in 2003.

The answer included Venezuela, Iran, and Russia as diversified sources, and the building of overland pipelines - through central Asia, Russia, and Pakistan, to offset marine interference.

China's counters

Before the early-January Caracas raid, China was the largest buyer of sanctioned Venezuelan crude, picking up 50 to 80 per cent of its estimated 921,000 barrels a day output.

A majority went to 'teapot refineries', i.e., small-scale units in the Shandong region that act as geopolitical cushions, refining the cheaply bought crude to generate vital buffer stocks.

After the US raids, China twitched.

Shadow fleets - tankers with sanctioned oil that bypass checks by masking final destination or by disabling AIS tracking aids to run dark - scrambled to find new routes after the US launched 'Operation Southern Spear' to identify and seize them.

But Beijing recovered. It had stocked up on Venezuelan crude in end-2025 and millions of barrels more had already left; markets analyst Kpler said around 43 million were in transit.

And Beijing learned. Russian crude imports shot up over Jan-Feb 2026 to 40.9 per cent year-on-year, while Iran-origin crude fell by roughly 13 per cent over the same time.

Pre-Iran war, China shipped 45-50 per cent - around 5.4 million barrels daily Q1 2025 - via the Hormuz, almost as much as the next three - India, South Korea, and Japan - buyers combined.

The blockade forced smaller Asian nations to act as Brent crude skyrocketed past the US$110 a barrel red line and fuel prices soared; Myanmar regulated sale of new cars, Thailand told people to work from home, and the Philippines announced a full emergency.

But vast buffer stocks and years of policy measures that have reduced China's vulnerability to energy shocks, such as the administration's push on electric vehicles, kicked in.

In 2025 EVs consumed roughly the same amount of oil China imports from Saudi Arabia, the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air said. And the country's coal-powered electricity grid remained insulated, and has even been switching to renewable or clean energy sources.

Malacca a checkmate move?

No, though it will further churn global shipping.

China has three levers it can pull if the US tries to weaponise Malacca.

The first is, of course, to re-route crude supply overland. The infrastructure is either already in place or is being built. It will be some time, certainly, before it can deliver enough to offset loss from seaborne supply line. But a prescient Beijing has been working this for several years.

It also has, experts suggest, the world's largest emergency oil reserves at over 1.3 billion barrels, which gives it plenty of room to play a wait-and-see game or absorb the US' squeeze for now.

US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping. Photo: AFP (File Photo)

The second is to expand an already significant hold over the world's shadow tanker fleet, which will, in the case of Malacca, potentially drop the region into a zone of legal ambiguity has linked maritime security risks, particularly in an area where piracy is already a major concern.

Finally, and most importantly, Beijing could exert pressure on any one, or all, of Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore to drive a wedge, either between the three or between them and the US. The tried-and-tested infrastructure financing method - which yielded Beijing critical access to ports in Sri Lanka, that allow it to keep an eye on India, for example, will be used.

Beijing could also amp up maritime security rhetoric in the region, which will unsettle smaller nations and force Trump into a balancing act - pressure Malacca or soothe allies.

So what's the end game?

This is chess at the highest level of global geopolitics and security.

But there is no definite end game. China can, has, and will, redefine trade and oil flows - using 'dark' tankers or pipelines or diplomacy - to counter any American move.

What this probably is a game of 'who blinks first'. If the aim is to squeeze Chinese oil seaborne oil supply lines dry, the question is - how far is Washington prepared to go to achieve that aim.

For India

The evolving dynamics around Malacca place India in a position of relevance.

Located close to its western side, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands provide Delhi with a natural vantage point over maritime traffic in the region and military infrastructure, including an air base at Campbell Bay, allows it to monitor key shipping lanes.

US Eyeing Malacca After Hormuz? Why It Matters To India

And regional infrastructure initiatives further bolster maritime capabilities, strengthening India's presence and offering the US a trusted military and diplomatic ally that can continue to balance China's influence in the region.

Punjab Police officers and personnel deployed for the 37-year-old Chadha's security have been asked to report to headquarters immediately, the sources added.

The move is the latest amid AAP's growing and bitter rift with its Punjab MP.

Shortly after AAP's move, the Ministry of Home Affairs stepped in, offering security cover to the AAP MP.

According to sources, the Home Ministry will provide 'Z' category security to the AAP MP in Delhi and Punjab, while he will have a 'Y' category security in the rest of the country.

Accusing Chadha of shying away from raising his voice against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Centre in Parliament and instead engaging in "soft PR", the AAP removed him as its deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha on April 2.

A combative Chadha dismissed the party's allegations as "lies" and said that he went to Parliament to raise people's issues and not to create ruckus.

Raghav Chadha is the second Rajya Sabha MP of AAP, after Swati Maliwal, to have fallen out with the party leadership.

Once considered a close confidant of Arvind Kejriwal and among the youngest MPs in the country, Chadha played a key role in party affairs, particularly in Punjab and during the AAP's tenure in Delhi.

In the past few months, Raghav Chadha has been vociferous in raising issues of public interest and those pertaining to their sufferings.

Earlier, in a video message, Raghav Chadha said he has "been silenced, not defeated".
 

US Central Command has released audio recordings of its naval forces enforcing the blockade. 

"Do not attempt to breach the blockade. Vessels will be boarded for interdiction and seizure transiting to or from an Iranian port. Turn around and prepare to be boarded. If you do not comply with this blockade, we will use force. The whole of the United States Navy is ready to force compliance. Out," the CENTCOM audio said.

U.S. naval vessels are on patrol in the Gulf of Oman as CENTCOM continues to execute a U.S. blockade on ships entering and departing Iranian ports. U.S. forces are present, vigilant, and ready to ensure compliance. pic.twitter.com/dnHR2oz0ZN

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 15, 2026

In a separate post, CENTCOM said around 5,000 "Sailors and Marines" from the USS Strike Carrier Group Abraham Lincoln are executing operations to block ships.

"Thousands of US service members, including 5,000 Sailors and Marines from the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, are executing the mission to blockade ships entering and departing Iranian ports.  of USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) conducting flight operations in the Arabian Sea," the post read. 

Thousands of U.S. service members, including 5,000 Sailors and Marines from the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, are executing the mission to blockade ships entering and departing Iranian ports. 📽 of USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) conducting flight operations in the Arabian… pic.twitter.com/Q07nAosJyq

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 15, 2026

Iran has rejected the US move outright, with its Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei saying the country is "not 'blockadable'" and warned that the blockade violates a fragile ceasefire and could trigger a proportional response from Iranian armed forces.

"Firstly, Iran is not 'blockadable'," he said. "Secondly, if you fail to reach a result through a diplomatic process, resorting to other means of pressure will certainly not lead to any result and you will not succeed. The Islamic Republic of Iran and its armed forces are carefully monitoring developments and will respond proportionally wherever necessary."

Baghaei also addressed European proposals for an international coalition, possibly under UN auspices, to secure navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, including mine-sweeping operations.

"The security of the Strait of Hormuz has been ensured by Iran for decades. Iran has been the guardian of this waterway's security," he said. "The only reason security and safety in this waterway were disrupted during the past 40 days was the US-Zionist-imposed war."

He rejected any foreign intervention, saying any move or interference in regional affairs would only complicate the situation further. Baghaei stressed that Iran, as a coastal state and with the help of regional countries, was fully capable of providing security for the strait, provided that American aggression and interference in the region came to an end. 

Maritime tracking data show that shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been sharply reduced as the US blockade takes effect. The waterway normally carries about a fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas, but traffic has been almost halted since US and Israeli strikes on Iran sparked the war on February 28.

"There is a lot of, of course, mistrust between Iran and the United States of America. You are not going to solve that problem overnight," Vance said during a Turning Point USA event.

Iranian negotiators wanted to make a deal, he said. "I feel very good about where we are," Vance added.

Talks to end the Iran war could resume in Pakistan over the next two days, President Donald Trump said on Tuesday, after the collapse of weekend negotiations prompted Washington to impose a blockade on Iranian ports.

A fragile two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran still has a week to run. Vance was involved in the talks last weekend in Pakistan.

Here Are The LIVE Updates of US-Israel Iran War, Ceasefire, Peace Talks

Mediators between the warring sides are seeking technical talks to overcome the most contentious issues preventing an agreement that would extend beyond next week, when an initial truce will expire, said the person, who asked not to be identified discussing sensitive matters. Those include the reopening of Hormuz and the future of Iran's nuclear program.

Tensions remain particularly high over Hormuz, a critical waterway for oil and gas that's been effectively shuttered since the start of the war almost seven weeks ago. The US has set up a naval blockade to cut off Iranian shipments, while Tehran is keeping the strait closed off to other vessels. 

The standoff has reduced transit to a trickle, exacerbating an energy supply crisis that threatens a major blow to the world economy. 

Fighting between the US and Iran has been on hold since about April 8, shortly after a two-week ceasefire was announced by US President Donald Trump the previous evening. An initial round of peace talks was held in Pakistan last weekend, though participants including US Vice President JD Vance departed without a deal.  

Pakistan's military said a delegation from the country arrived in Iran on Wednesday, with Islamabad continuing to mediate the exchange of messages between the two sides. 

Iran sees a prolonging of the US blockade as "a prelude to a breach of the ceasefire," said Ali Abdollahi, the commander of Iran's joint military headquarters, according to state TV. Iran's armed forces "will not permit any exports or imports to continue in the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman or the Red Sea" if the blockade continues, he said.

Oil prices remain elevated, though Brent crude pared gains to trade at just over $95 barrel on Wednesday. That's about 33% higher than before the start of the war. US stocks were near a record high, as optimism around a potential peace deal boosted financial markets.

While Israel joined the US in halting attacks on Iran last week, its military kept up attacks against Tehran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, a move that has complicated the broader push for peace.

Talks between Israel and Beirut began Tuesday in Washington to address the parallel conflict, which has killed more than 2,000 people and displaced a million more, according to Lebanese authorities. 

Discussions are taking place about a potential ceasefire, Israel's state-owned Kan News reported Wednesday, citing an unnamed official, adding that a decision hasn't been made. The US had been pressing Israel to agree to a truce, Israel's Channel 12 reported, with Iran claiming the ongoing campaign is a breach of the ceasefire. 

Trump Fluctutations 

Trump on Tuesday told Fox Business the war is "close to over." The US leader has vacillated throughout the conflict between declaring it all but won and threatening a major escalation, and many questions remain about the issues that drove the US and Israel to start their bombardment of the Islamic Republic. 

Chief among those is the future of Iran's nuclear program. Israel maintains Tehran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium must be removed, while Trump told the New York Post he's unhappy about reports that the US proposed a two-decade moratorium on enrichment, saying Iran can never be allowed to have nuclear weapons. 

The whereabouts of Iran's uranium has been unknown since the US and Israel bombed the country's nuclear facilities in June last year, and International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors have been barred access since then.

Iran has always said it isn't pursuing a weapons program. The country's right to peaceful use of nuclear energy "cannot be revoked," Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baghaei told reporters on Wednesday. However, the level and type of enrichment is "negotiable," he added. 

Another key issue is the standoff over Hormuz, through which about a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas was shipped before the war. Iran has kept the chokepoint closed to all but its own crude since the start of the fighting, triggering a global supply crisis, and has said it wants to maintain control even after the conflict is over. 

The US began a naval blockade of Hormuz on Monday to curb the Islamic Republic's oil exports, and the US military says it's been fully implemented. More than a dozen vessels are being used to enforce it.

The navy has been impeding traffic outside the strait in the Gulf of Oman and appears to have forced some carriers, including the US-sanctioned Rich Starry, to make a U-turn back toward the Persian Gulf. An Iraq-bound supertanker sailed through the waterway on its second attempt, making it the first crude carrier to head west through the conduit since the US blockade began.

An Iranian supertanker sailed through the strait into Iranian waters despite the blockade, Iran's semi-official Fars news agency reported, without identifying the vessel. The passage wasn't confirmed by the US.

The Trump administration will allow a waiver that temporarily authorizes the purchase of certain Iranian crude oil to expire this weekend, the Treasury Department said. A similar waiver for Russian crude, part of efforts to ease global energy shocks from the war, lapsed last week.

While crude oil has come off wartime highs, US gasoline and diesel prices remain at their highest seasonal levels ever, a pain point for consumers ahead of summer travel. 

Iran's missile attacks have caused extensive damage to Gulf energy infrastructure and the Hormuz closure has disrupted oil and gas supplies beyond the region, issues that could take some time to iron out. 

That's triggered fears of a global inflation crisis. Surging prices of products such as jet fuel and gasoline are already squeezing consumers, the International Energy Agency said Tuesday. There are also growing concerns about disruption of other Gulf supplies besides energy - in particular fertilizer, where shortages could hurt food output and raise prices. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

In videos from the ground, a JCB is seen demolishing an iron staircase constructed outside the house to access the first floor. A team from the Achalpur Municipal Council carried out the operation against the illegal structure at the accused's residence.

BJP MLA Pravin Tayade was present to oversee the administration's action.

The municipal corporation had reportedly already issued a notice to Ayaz's family regarding the encroachment. A heavy police force has been deployed outside the premises.

All About Maharashtra Sexual Assault Case

The police on Saturday (April 11) arrested 19-year-old Mohammad Ayaz for allegedly luring girls into a "love trap," taking them to Mumbai and Pune, and filming 350 obscene videos.

The videos were then allegedly used to blackmail the girls and force them into prostitution. Some pictures and videos featuring Ayaz went viral on social media, leading to his arrest, according to a report by the news agency PTI. A complaint by a BJP MP also prompted police action.

The minors were systematically targeted through WhatsApp and Snapchat groups, according to a memorandum submitted by Rajya Sabha MP Anil Bonde to the Superintendent of Police (Rural) Vishal Anand.

Ayaz Is An Ex-Associate Of AIMIM

Mohammad Ayaz had allegedly served as an office-bearer of the AIMIM earlier. In videos and photographs shared by him on his social media, he appears to be receiving a letter from the MIM's Amravati president, Haji Irfan Khan, and recording social media reels at the party's rallies. Several such videos were deleted from his account after the case came to the fore.

AIMIM has distanced itself from the accused. Sayyed Mujeeb, District President of AIMIM in Amravati categorically said that "Mohammed Ayaz has no affiliation with the party."

"During the Achalpur Gram Panchayat elections, he was entrusted with the responsibility of managing the party's social media accounts. However, as he failed to perform his duties effectively, we issued a formal letter and expelled him from the party immediately after the elections concluded. The accused is neither a party worker nor an office-bearer of the AIMIM," Mujeeb said.

Police Action So Far

Police on Tuesday (April 14) arrested Ayaz and produced him before a court. He was remanded to seven days of police custody.

Police have arrested three more suspects, including one Uzer Khan. Ayaz and Uzer have confessed to their crimes.

The police have also seized Ayaz's mobile phone and are examining it for evidence. The investigators are also probing whether the accused shared those videos within his circle. 

(With inputs from Sanjay Tiwari)

Israel's top general, however, has approved plans for continuing strikes in Lebanon.

Eyal Zamir, Israeli military chief, said that the US and Israeli strikes have crippled Iranian defensive capabilities.

"Now we must not allow them any achievements on the nuclear issue, in Hormuz and in the other matters on the table. We know how to scramble them for an immediate, powerful strike," he said.

"We are capturing and clearing key areas and removing threats from the northern settlements," he said on Israel's Lebanon campaign.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week agreed to hold direct talks with Lebanon but rejected the possibility of a ceasefire.

Iran-US Conflict 

Two days after the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran, the Tehran-backed militant group, Hezbollah, fired missiles across the border. The Israeli military responded with an intense bombing campaign and ground invasion. Per authorities in Lebanon, over 2,000 people have been killed in Israel's strikes.

Since the US attack, Iran has been controlling the Strait of Hormuz, a maritime chokepoint vital for the world's energy supplies from the Middle East. Tehran has announced that it will exact a toll for allowing safe passage to merchant ships. The US, which has effected a blockade at the Strait, has warned that it will interdict in international waters any vessel that pays a toll to Iran.

Iran, the US and Israel held peace talks in Pakistan last week. It was inconclusive.

US President Donald Trump later said that the peace talks in Islamabad failed because of Tehran's insistence on holding on to its nuclear ambitions. He claimed Iran told the US negotiators that it had laid mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz, making it impossible for merchant vessels to cross the chokepoint.

Lebanon-Israel talks

Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun offered direct negotiations with Israel - the first in decades - in exchange for a cessation of hostilities.

Last week, Netanyahu accepted the invitation to direct talks following the announcement of an interim truce between Iran and the United States.

At the peace meeting, Iran reportedly demanded that the ceasefire include the cessation of hostilities in Lebanon. Israel, however, dismissed the demand.

The direct talks between Lebanon and Israel kicked off on Tuesday, as the nations' ambassadors to the United States met in Washington.

Lebanon wants the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, the release of Lebanese prisoners held in Israel, the return of the displaced, and reconstruction.

Israel has structured the engagement as peace talks, focusing on disarming Hezbollah.

According to police sources, the complainants have spoken of a well-oiled network involving senior staff members and an HR manager. The probe has revealed that the accused were part of a training team and had detailed information about new joinees. They would choose 'targets' who were financially weak, had family issues, and needed money, the investigation has found.

During the training, derogatory remarks would be made about Hindu gods and goddesses. When the 'target' would be upset, HR manager Nida Khan, also among the accused, would reach out to them and gradually win their trust. Over time, the investigators say, the 'target' would be pushed to change his/her lifestyle and dressing habits. One of the 'targets', they added, was influenced so much that she quarrelled with her family and removed all photos of Hindu gods from her home. Seven people have been taken into custody in this case. These include Asif Ansari, Shafi Shaikh, Shahrukh Qureshi, Raza Memon and Tausif Attar.

How Cops Cracked Case

According to police sources, an undercover operation was executed to unravel the conspiracy. Women constables disguised as housekeeping staff entered the office premises. Housekeeping services are outsourced, and an external agency hires staff. So sending in women cops in disguise was a safe move that did not alert the accused, the sources said. Some male cops were also on the premises in disguise. The undercover operation was carried out to confirm the shocking allegations, police sources said.

A WhatsApp Planning Group

The investigators have also found a WhatsApp group that the accused used to discuss the 'targets', the sources said. The accused discussed radical religious subjects and the company's internal politics. The Special Investigation Team probing the matter is also looking at the chilling allegations of sexual harassment and assault that have come to the fore.

What's Happening

• Sonali Raut recalled how she was experienced when it came to doing such bold shoots, while Ranveer Singh, being relatively new, was shy.
• Sonali told Filmibeat, "I know Ranveer very differently. I did a pose with him, and after a few years, he did the same pose with Vaani Kapoor. Ranveer, at that time, was very sweet, very friendly and very nice. He was not like (imitates him) 'Yeah', full of energy, no. Actually, he was very shy because again, it was a bikini shoot."
• She continued, "It was very bold. It was glamorous. He said, 'This is my first shoot like that, like very glamorous, and with a girl who's wearing a bikini.' Yeah, he was so cautious. He was chewing gum, he was wearing perfume... I was chill, and even the photographer was like, 'Sonali, don't make him conscious because you are okay, but he's a little nervous. Please make him comfortable.'"

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sonali Raut (@isonaliraut)

• Sonali Raut reiterated how she remembers him as a very sweet and nervous person on set compared to his vivacious energy now. Furthermore, she added, "You know, Sonali, it's my first shoot. You know, I'm wearing clothes." She mentioned, "I said, 'Yeah, you are wearing clothes, what are you nervous about?' Then he repeated this pose (with Vaani Kapoor)."

Dhurandhar 2 Storm

Aditya Dhar's Dhurandhar: The Revenge, led by Ranveer Singh, has rewritten box office history. Ranveer Singh's latest film has become a blockbuster for the ages.

After 26 days, India gross collections stand at Rs 1,311.68 crore, with net collections at Rs 1,095.67 crore. Overseas, the film collected Rs 1.00 crore on Day 27, taking its total overseas gross to Rs 416.25 crore. This pushes the worldwide gross to Rs 1,727.93 crore.

Dhurandhar minted Rs 1,307.35 crore, and the worldwide collections of Dhurandhar 2 stand at Rs 1,712 crore as of now. Combined, the franchise totals Rs 3,019.35 crore, cementing its position as the first Indian franchise to cross the Rs 3,000 crore mark.

About Dhurandhar 2

The sequel to Dhurandhar follows the rise of Ranveer Singh's Hamza Ali Mazari as Sher-e-Baloch and the undisputed king of Lyari. It also traces his journey from becoming Jaskirat Singh Rangi to Hamza, the man who intrudes into Pakistan as a spy to avenge the terrorist attacks in the nation.

The spy-action thriller also brings back the talented supporting cast, including Arjun Rampal, R Madhavan, Sanjay Dutt, Rakesh Bedi, Danish Pandor, and Sara Arjun.

ALSO READ | Ranveer Singh Chanted 'Om', Listened To Punjabi Hip Hop While Playing Hamza In Dhurandhar 2

Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Lucknow Super Giants, IPL 2026 Highlights | RCB vs LSG | IPL 2026

The Republican leader also claimed in the post that China had agreed not to supply weapons to Iran, which is an assertion that sits uneasily alongside recent reporting. CNN has reported that Beijing is preparing to deliver air defence systems to Tehran, while the Financial Times has revealed that Iran has been using Chinese spy satellites to locate and target US military bases.

"China is very happy that I am permanently opening the Strait of Hormuz. I am doing it for them, also - And the World. This situation will never happen again. They have agreed not to send weapons to Iran", Trump wrote.

However, China's Foreign Ministry has repeatedly denied in recent days that the country is providing any form of military support to Iran.

China has long supported Iran's ballistic missile programme and backed it with dual-use industrial components that can be used for missile production, according to the US government.

Continuing the post, Trump stated that Chinese President Xi Jinping will give him a "big, fat, hug" during his visit to Beijing in May.

"President Xi will give me a big, fat, hug when I get there in a few weeks. We are working together smartly, and very well! Doesn't that beat fighting??? BUT REMEMBER, we are very good at fighting, if we have to - far better than anyone else!!!", Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Trump will visit China for a state visit with Xi on May 14 and 15, and Xi will visit Washington for a reciprocal visit at a later date. Trump's last trip to China, in 2017, was the most recent by a US president. Trump's visit will be the leaders' first in-person talks since an October meeting in South Korea, where they agreed on a trade truce.

China Condemns US Blockade Of Iran Ports

On Tuesday, China accused the United States of "dangerous and irresponsible" behaviour over its blockade of Iranian ports, with Xi vowing Beijing would play a "constructive role" in promoting peace in the Middle East.

"The US increased military deployments and took a targeted blockade action, which will only exacerbate tensions and undermine the already fragile ceasefire agreement and further jeopardise safety of passage through the Strait (of Hormuz)," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a news conference.

"This is dangerous and irresponsible behaviour," he added.

In the video, his father is seen reading the offer letter, a moment viewers described as "dignified" and "deeply felt". While the clip is still gaining traction, it highlights the fact that success isn't always about loud reactions. 

"People will see this moment. They won't see the years behind it," the text on the video read. 

Watch the video here:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Shailendra Yadav | Tech | Fitness | Lifestyle | Mindset (@thessyadav_)

Social Media Reaction

"This is my only dream, too. Fathers are the face of God. Congratulations to you," one user wrote in the comment section. 

"Very proud moment for dads when their kids reach a great height," another user wrote. 

"Congratulations Puttar Inke liye jo bola jaye kam hai," a third user wrote.  

The internet has been celebrating similar moments recently. In one widely shared post, IIT BHU graduate Shivanshu Ranjan texted his father, "Job lag gaya, Amazon me" after securing a pre-placement SDE-1 offer. His father responded with one word - "ok". 

In a separate incident, a Reddit user shared how his father cried on hearing his job offer, saying, "Beta, itna toh hamara life saving hai (Son, this is as much as our life savings)".

Another moment was shared on social media by a techie whose parents reacted to his first salary with awe: "Ye bahut sare paise hain (That is a lot of money)". 

Anushka Sharma Disappointed when Virat Kohli dismiss at 49 runs pic.twitter.com/cyYgIUND3M

— Learn-Survive (@pandu291190) April 15, 2026

Anushka Sharma started crying after Virat Kohli Missed his Slow Half Century pic.twitter.com/6g8PXGiq4a

— Anshul Rathaur (@anshul_rathaur_) April 15, 2026

Actor and Kohli's wife Anushka Sharma was present at the stadium and appeared disappointed to see him depart.

Talking about the match, pacer Rasikh Salam Dar (4/24) returned with a four-wicket haul as Royal Challengers Bengaluru produced a clinical performance to notch up a five-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants in an IPL match on Wednesday.

Sent in to bat, LSG never found momentum, with Mitchell Marsh (40 off 32) and Ayush Badoni (38 off 24) being the only notable contributors as they were bowled out for 146 - their lowest total of the season.

Apart from Rasikh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3/27) and Krunal Pandya (2/38) also chipped in, while Josh Hazlewood picked up one wicket.

In reply, opener Virat Kohli (49) set up the chase, while skipper Rajat Patidar (27) and Jitesh Sharma (23) also contributed with quick runs as RCB overhauled the target, reaching 149 for 5 in 15.1 overs.

Prince Yadav (3/32) and Avesh Khan (2/23) shared the wickets for LSG.

Brief scores:

Lucknow Super Giants: 146 all out in 20 overs (Mitchell Marsh 40, Ayush Badoni 38; Rasikh Salam Dar 4/24, Bhuvneshwar Kumar 3/27, Krunal Pandya 2/38).

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 149 for 5 in 15.1 overs (Virat Kohli 49; Prince Yadav 3/32)

Alvaro Arbeloa's Real Madrid, on the other hand, enter the tie following a frustrating 1-1 draw at home against relegation-threatened Girona. Striker Kylian Mbappe is available for selection despite receiving a blow to the face in that match, as Los Blancos aim to overturn the deficit in Munich.

Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid LIVE Streaming, UEFA Champions League Quarterfinal LIVE Telecast: Check Where and How to Watch

When will the Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid, UEFA Champions League match take place?

The Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid, UEFA Champions League match will take place on Thursday, April 16 (IST).

Where will the Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid, UEFA Champions League match be held?

The Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid, UEFA Champions League match will be held at the Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany.

What time will the Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid, UEFA Champions League match start?

The Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid, UEFA Champions League match will start at 12:30 AM IST.

Which TV channels will show the live telecast of the Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid, UEFA Champions League match?

The Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid, UEFA Champions League match will be televised on Sony Sports Network.

Where to follow the live streaming of the Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid, UEFA Champions League match?

The Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid, UEFA Champions League match will be live streamed on the SonyLiv app and website.

(All details are as per information provided by the broadcaster)

Farhan has now opened up about his duel with Bumrah. "Speaking about Bumrah, I don't think there was only Bumrah in that (Indian) team. All of them were some of the best bowlers, like Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav. So it's not that there was only Bumrah. But I started with Bumrah. You get confidence as a player when you hit a good player for a six," Farhan said on ESPNCricinfo.

"If you look at him, he gave me a tough time in the beginning. He was bowling slower ones, yorkers and bouncers. He swings the ball, bowls outswing and inswing. It's natural that it's very difficult to play him. So you have to find your way. And when you cross that phase, the rest of the bowlers seem easy to you, I think."

Farhan had made a controversial gesture after a half-century against Indisn. The batter mimicked firing an AK-47 rifle with his bat.

This bizarre celebration from the Pakistan batter fumed the Indian fans as they took to X (formerly Twitter) and slammed Farhan. He was reprimanded by the match referee for the gesture.

Khaleel felt discomfort in his leg during the game against the Knight Riders, which saw him halt mid-run-up a couple of times. The left-arm pacer decided against pushing through and left the field for treatment, with Gurjapneet Singh finishing his over.

Shastri, closely analysing the match, was pleased to see Khaleel and CSK decide against wasting time, unlike RCB during their recent game against the Mumbai Indians (MI), which lasted four and a half hours.

"Rather than calling the physio and wasting ten minutes only to do the same thing, he has decided to walk off," Shastri said on air as Khaleel left the pitch, allowing the game to progress. During the RCB vs MI match, RCB's Rasikh Dar received treatment on the field three different times over the course of a single over, as the management decided against opting for a solution similar to the Khaleel-Gurjapneet swap.

Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar, who was commentating on the RCB vs MI match, was also left furious by the time-wasting.

"Just go off the field, get treatment, and then come back... This is the third time the physio has come in. Are we going to see the same thing over and over again?" a frustrated Gavaskar said on air during that match. Shastri echoed Gavaskar's sentiments on Tuesday as Khaleel and CSK showed IPL how such injury issues should be managed.