West Asian War Daily Bulletin – March 24, 2026 | Day 25 of Operation Epic Fury

Iran allows Indian and Chinese LPG tankers to cross the Strait of Hormuz. QatarEnergy declares force majeure on long-term LNG contracts. Brent crude falls below $100/bbl, touching $94. Iranian media reports strikes on gas facilities and pipelines hours after Trump’s pause announcement. IAEA calls for maximum restraint following strike near Bushehr nuclear plant.

March 24, 2026

Iran
West Asia

Authors

Today’s Key Developments

This space provides a daily brief tracking key developments in the West Asian conflict.

India

Foreign Policy & Neighbourhood

  • No major India-specific diplomatic developments reported.

Geopolitics

Strait of Hormuz

  • Iran allowed China’s LPG tanker Gas Lucky to cross the Strait of Hormuz.
  • Two Indian LPG carriers, Jag Vasant and Pine Gas, also crossed the Strait of Hormuz.

China

  • Zhai Jun, China’s Special Envoy on the Middle East, said the ongoing war “should never have happened,” urging all parties to immediately halt military operations and calling on the international community to uphold its commitment to peace. Speaking after completing a round of shuttle diplomacy in the region, Zhai noted that the war is now in its fourth week with casualties exceeding 21,000 — surpassing last year’s 12-day conflict in scale, intensity, and duration.
  • Since the conflict began, Foreign Minister Wang Yi has held calls with counterparts in Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, France, Israel, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the United Kingdom.
  • Zhai reiterated that China considers halting military operations an immediate priority and that protection of civilians is a “red line that must not be crossed.” He stressed that the security of international shipping lanes, including the Strait of Hormuz, must be upheld.
  • When asked about the biggest obstacle to a ceasefire, Zhai said, “The one who tied the bell should be the one to untie it,” calling on the US and Israel to cease military action and return to dialogue.

Global Systems

Energy & Supply Chains

  • Iranian media reported that two gas facilities and pipelines were struck by Israeli and US attacks, hours after US President Donald Trump announced a pause on strikes targeting energy infrastructure.
  • Iran reported a strike within the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant enclosure; the attack caused no damage to the nuclear plant itself. The International Atomic Energy Agency called for maximum restraint following the strike.
  • QatarEnergy declared force majeure on some of its long-term LNG supply contracts, affecting customers in Italy, Belgium, South Korea, and China. Last week’s attack on Qatar’s Ras Laffan gas facility has affected 17% of the country’s LNG export capacity, disrupting supplies to Europe and Asia.
  • Brent crude traded below $100 on March 24, falling as low as $94 per barrel.

This bulletin is prepared by the Takshashila West Asia Desk. For queries, contact research@takshashila.org.in.