US-Israel-Iran War: Modi-Trump Talks, Strait of Hormuz & $120B War Spend – Live Updates
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump spoke by phone Tuesday, discussing the escalating conflict in the Middle East and the critical need to maintain open passage through the Strait of Hormuz, according to US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor.
The conversation occurred as fears of wider regional disruption mount following a series of escalating exchanges between Iran and the US-Israel alliance, which began on February 28. It marks the first direct engagement between the two leaders since hostilities broke out, re-establishing a diplomatic channel amid intensifying tensions, according to the Tribune India.
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow but vital waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, is a key chokepoint for global oil supplies. A significant portion of the world’s crude oil passes through the strait daily, and any disruption could have severe consequences for global energy markets, particularly for countries heavily reliant on imports like India, which currently imports 85% of its oil, according to the IEA and India’s Ministry of Petroleum.
The discussion between Modi and Trump comes after President Trump announced a pause in planned US military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for five days, citing “exceptionally good and productive conversations” toward a “complete and total resolution” of the conflict. Trump revealed that envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff held talks Sunday with a “respected” Iranian leader, and that Tehran “wants very much to make a deal.”
Despite the heightened tensions, two Indian LPG carriers, Jag Vasant and Pine Gas, successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, carrying a combined 92,612 metric tons of LPG with 60 Indian seafarers onboard. This development is significant as the waterway remains largely closed to most commercial traffic, bolstering India’s domestic energy supplies.
Meanwhile, Iran appointed former IRGC commander Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr as the new secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, replacing Ali Larijani, who was killed in a US-Israeli airstrike. Prime Minister Modi, addressing the Rajya Sabha, reiterated India’s commitment to global peace and dialogue, confirming ongoing engagement with Gulf countries, Iran, Israel, and the United States.
Israeli Police Superintendent Fadida Yaniv confirmed Tuesday that damage to central Tel Aviv was caused by an Iranian warhead containing approximately 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of explosives. While damage to homes and cars was reported, no serious injuries were sustained.
The US has reportedly spent an estimated $120 billion on the conflict since it began, with a current burn rate of approximately $2,500 per second, based on a model derived from the Iraq war, according to editorial simulations. The US Department of Defense’s FY25 budget is $895 billion.