Iran Financial News

By Stephanie Kelly and Jeslyn Lerh

Pakistan Air Force has conducted airstrikes on Baluch separatist camps inside Iranian territory. Pakistan has recalled its ambassador from Iran and blocked Tehran's envoy from returning to Islamabad after attack on the "anti-Iranian terrorist groups" in Balochistan. While US has condemned the airstrikes that "violated the sovereign borders" of neighbouring country, India launched a veiled attack on Pakistan over terrorism.

Investing.com-- Oil prices rose slightly in Asian trade on Thursday as severe cold weather appeared to have spurred some disruptions in U.S. production, while military action in the Middle East raged on.

Iran's attack on a terrorist group's headquarters within Pakistan, the conflict takes a significant turn as Pakistan retaliates. The strikes focus on Baloch separatist factions, namely the Balochistan Liberation Front and the Balochistan Liberation Army, intensifying hostilities. Expressing strong disapproval, Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs deemed the violation of sovereignty «completely unacceptable,» emphasizing the existence of communication channels between the nations.

diplomats of Iran and the United States sit down for public — and separate — one-on-one chats while the U.N. chief and leaders of France, Argentina and Spain will deliver speeches as the World Economic Forum's annual meeting saunters into a busy second day on Wednesday. The elite gathering in the Swiss ski resort of Davos takes a turn toward the environmental and climate concerns that have animated plea after plea from U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for the world to come together do take more united action against global warming — after a record-hot year in 2023.

Houthi rebels to a list of terrorist groups, as the militants claimed their second attack this week on a U.S. operated vessel in the Red Sea region. Attacks by the Iran-allied Houthi militia on ships in the region since November have slowed trade between Asia and Europe and alarmed major powers — an escalation of the more than three-month-old war between Israel and Palestinian Hamas militants in Gaza.

Oil prices edged higher on Thursday as OPEC forecast relatively strong growth in global oil demand over the next two years and a cold blast in the U.S. disrupted some oil production. Brent crude futures gained 28 cents to $78.16 a barrel by 0004 GMT, and U.S.

Iran's strikes on the bases of a terrorist group in Pakistan, China has called on both sides to exercise restraint and avoid actions that escalate tensions. While addressing a regular press briefing on Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that China believes that the ties between the two nations should be handled based on basic norms governing international ties underpinned by the principles of the United Nations Charter.

Houthis has said they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians and have threatened to expand attacks to include US ships in response to the American and British strikes. In a sign it remains undeterred, the Houthi movement on Wednesday said it made a "direct hit" with missiles on the US Genco Picardy bulk carrier. This second attack was confirmed by US shipping company Genco, saying that its ship was struck by a projectile while it was travelling through the Gulf of Aden carrying phosphate rock.

Medicine is en route to Gaza after Qatar and France worked out a deal between Israel and Hamas

shipping companies to notify authorities about any vessels with Indian seafarers taking the troubled Red Sea route and will also ensure easier flow of credit to exporters in view of delays and increase in cargo transport costs. New Delhi is also in talks with Iranian authorities to find a diplomatic solution, officials said. A high-level inter-ministerial group chaired by the commerce secretary Sunil Barthwal, which has officials from ministries of external affairs, defence, shipping ministry and finance, met Wednesday to take stock of the situation and undertake measures to shield domestic industry and ships from the crisis. «MEA is negotiating diplomatically with affected countries to find a credible solution soon,» a government official privy to the deliberations told ET. Another official noted that security protocols had been put in place to secure the troubled route with international collaboration. The official said shipping companies have been directed to notify authorities before they venture towards Europe via the troubled Red Sea route. These protocols have been put in place to ensure safety of Indian seafarers irrespective of the flag on the vessel they are on. At the IMG meeting, defence ministry official said surveillance had been intensified in the Arabian Sea and more mechanisms had been put in place. «Since the route is jointly secured by Western nations and India, the shipping companies now need to take a call on how much movement they want to undertake on the Red sea,» the official said on condition of anonymity, while adding that even if shipping companies do not notify, the government was closely monitoring all activity on the route. Focus on credit support The centre wants to ensure

₹5,978 per bbl, having swung between ₹5,868 and ₹6,017 per bbl during the session, against a previous close of ₹6,003 per barrel. Also Read: OPEC Expects Global Oil Demand to Slow in 2025 -Tensions remained high after the US mounted fresh strikes against Iran-aligned Houthi militants in Yemen on Tuesday after a Houthi missile hit a Greek vessel. Analysts say that oil prices may find a ceiling unless production is shut in.

(Reuters) — Business chiefs warned on Wednesday that disruption to shipping in the Red Sea caused by attacks by Houthi militants in Yemen could affect supply chains for months and lead to a shortage of tankers needed to transport fuel.

oil markets will cope with Red Sea disruptions in the short run, although prolonged attacks by the Houthis on ships would lead to a shortage of tankers due to longer voyages and a supply delay, the CEO of Saudi oil giant Aramco said. Amin Nasser told Reuters he expected the oil market to tighten after consumers depleted stocks by 400 million barrels in the last two years, which left OPEC's spare capacity as the main source of additional supply to meet rising demand. Attacks by the Houthis on ships in the Red Sea have forced many companies to divert cargoes around Africa. The Iran-aligned Houthis say they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians during Israel's ongoing war with Gaza. «If it's in the short term, tankers might be available… But if it's longer term, it might be a problem,» Nasser said in an interview on the sidelines of this week's World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort of Davos. «There will be a need for more tankers and are they going to have to take a longer journey». Container vessels have been pausing or diverting from the Red Sea that leads to the Suez Canal, the fastest route from Asia to Europe, where about 12% of world shipping passes.

Yemen, officials said Tuesday, as the Iran-backed rebel group continues to target vessels in the Red Sea.The early morning strikes destroyed four anti-ship missiles that were prepared to launch from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, officials said.The Houthis have not stopped their attacks despite two airstrikes by U.S. and British forces last week that targeted the group’s weapons depots, launching facilities and air defence systems.

The Canadian government is publicly naming 85 Chinese research institutions that “may pose” a threat to national security and sensitive research.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard conducted a bold attack on militant bases in Pakistan's Balochistan province on Tuesday, escalating tensions in an already volatile region. The attack, which involved missiles and drones, targeted the Sunni militant group Jaish al-Adl.

Canadian government unveiled Tuesday restrictions on research funding to prevent the sharing with China, Iran and Russia of advanced technologies developed by Canadian universities, citing national security concerns. It also published a long list of sensitive research it does not want shared, including artificial intelligence, quantum science, robotics, biotechnology, advanced weapons, space and satellite technology, and human-machine integration.

Iran launches strikes on 'terrorist' targets in Iraq, Syria amid escalating regional tensions Describing Iran's attack as "unprovoked violation of its airspace", Pakistan said it “vehemently protest the violation of its sovereignty. It is completely unacceptable and it may have serious consequences". “Pakistan has always said terrorism is a common threat to all countries in the region that requires coordinated action.

Iran-backed Huthi rebels continue despite multiple strikes against them, AFP reported. In an official statement, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said, “US forces struck and destroyed four Huthi anti-ship ballistic missiles.

By Siddharth Cavale