Iran warns world tourism sites ‘not safe’ for Israeli, U.S. officials; says it is still building missiles nearly three weeks into war
The Hindu
Iran warns that global tourist sites are unsafe for Israeli and U.S. officials, while continuing missile development amid ongoing conflict.
Iran threatened to target recreational and tourist sites worldwide and insisted it was still building missiles. Friday's (March 20, 2026) show of defiance came nearly three weeks into U.S.-Israeli strikes that have killed a slew of Tehran's top leaders and hammered its weapons and energy industries.
Iran fired on Israel and energy sites in neighbouring Gulf Arab nations as many in the region marked one of the holiest days on the Muslim calendar. Iranians were also marking the Persian New Year, known as Nowruz, a normally festive holiday that is more subdued this year.
Iran-Israel war LIVE
With little information coming out of Iran, it was not clear how much damage its arms, nuclear or energy facilities have sustained since the war began February 28 or even who was truly in charge of the country. But Iran has showed it is still capable of attacks that are choking off oil supplies and denting the global economy, raising food and fuel prices far beyond West Asia.
The U.S. and Israel have offered shifting rationales for the war, from hoping to foment an uprising that topples Iran's leadership to eliminating its nuclear and missile programs. There have been no public signs of any such uprising, and it's not clear what capabilities Iran retains or how the war might end.
Iran's top military spokesman warned on Friday (March 20, 2026) that “parks, recreational areas and tourist destinations” worldwide won't be safe for Tehran's enemies.
Vietnam accelerates its shift to ethanol fuel as rising energy prices from the Iran war impact its economy.
Teenagers sue Musk's xAI, alleging its image-generator created explicit images of them as minors, sparking concerns over AI safety.
Shorts News:Watch: Netanyahu: Israel ‘acted alone’ in Iranian gas field attack
Indonesian billionaire Michael Bambang Hartono, co-founder of Djarum Group, has died at 86, leaving a significant legacy.
European nations, Japan, and Canada unite to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz and stabilize energy markets.
Some of the estimated 20 billion yuan ($2.9 billion) worth of equipment, including screen-printing production lines, will require export approval from Chinese regulators, according to the people. It wasn't immediately clear how much of the equipment would require approval or how long it would take.
Three men, including a Super Micro VP, charged with smuggling U.S. AI technology to China, threatening national security.
Trump compares U.S. strikes on Iran to Pearl Harbor in meeting with Japan's PM, highlighting the element of surprise.
Iran-Israel war: Follow the latest updates from The Hindu on the West Asia conflict on March 20, 2026
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupts a vital artery of the global economy, triggering price increases and turmoil in energy markets; as supply shocks reshape the geopolitics of energy, countries like India, the U.S., and Russia recalibrate strategies amid shifting oil flows and rising dependence
EU lawmakers advance U.S. trade deal legislation, overcoming delays and adding safeguards amid concerns over compliance from the Trump administration.
Pro-Iran Iraqi group pauses U.S. embassy attacks for five days, imposing conditions amid ongoing regional tensions and strikes.
Russia condemns the Israeli airstrike injuring RT journalists in Lebanon, calling it deliberate amid ongoing regional conflict.