Israel’s parliament on Monday passed a law approving the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of murdering Israelis, the Associated Press reported.

According to AP, the measure that has been harshly condemned by the international community and rights groups as discriminatory and inhumane.

The passage of the bill marked the culmination of a yearslong drive by the far-right to escalate punishment for Palestinians convicted of nationalistic offenses against Israelis, AP reported. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu came to the Knesset to vote for the bill in person.

The law makes the death penalty — by hanging — the default punishment for West Bank Palestinians convicted of nationalistic killings. It also gives Israeli courts the option of imposing the death penalty on Israeli citizens convicted on similar charges — language that legal experts say effectively confines those who can be sentenced to death to Palestinian citizens of Israel and excludes Jewish citizens.

It will not apply retroactively to any prisoners Israel currently holds, including the Hamas-led militants who attacked the country on Oct. 7, 2023, triggering the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. After the final 62-48 vote in favor, lawmakers erupted into cheers and stood up in jubilation. Netanyahu, who remained in his seat, did not immediately react or speak.

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has dropped by more than 95% since the start of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, according to a report by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

“Shipping through Hormuz has collapsed, with transits down by over 95%, disrupting energy and fertilizer flows,” UNCTAD said.

“The Strait of Hormuz is a critical artery for global energy and fertilizer trade, carrying around a quarter of seaborne oil as well as significant volumes of liquefied natural gas and fertilizers. Since the escalation of the conflict, shipping activity through the Strait has fallen dramatically. Daily transits dropped from an average of 103 vessels in the last week of February to single digits within weeks, effectively bringing flows close to a standstill,” the report added, emphasizing that energy prices have surged, with oil and gas rising sharply across regions.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Monday called on the Saudi Arabian government to “eject” U.S. troops from its territory. His comments come days after the Iranian military attacked a U.S. air base in Saudi Arabia.

“Iran respects the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and considers it a brotherly nation. Our operations are aimed at enemy aggressors who have no respect for Arabs or Iranians, nor can provide any security. Just look at what we did to their aerial command. High time to eject U.S. forces,” Araghchi said on X, posting a photo of a damaged U.S. Boeing E-3 Sentry aircraft following an Iranian strike at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.

Last week, an Iranian missile attack on Prince Sultan Air Base in Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia, injured 12 U.S. service members, according to The Wall Street Journal. The paper reported that two service members suffered significant injuries, while 10 were concussed. 

The attack also damaged multiple U.S. refueling aircraft, and several unmanned aerial vehicles were hit. The destruction of the Boeing-made E-3 Sentry, which costs roughly $300 million, marks the first time such an aircraft has been destroyed in combat. The BBC published verified pictures showing the US command and control aircraft destroyed.

The U.S. and Israel launched what they described as a pre-emptive strike against Iran on February 28, claiming that Tehran was developing a nuclear weapon and posed a threat—an allegation Iran has denied. In response, Iran launched counterattacks, firing missiles and drones at Israel, as well as at U.S. assets and other targets across the Middle East.

The U.S. national average retail price of gasoline crossed $4 a gallon for the first time in more than three years on Monday, Reuters reported citing data ‌from price tracking services GasBuddy, as the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran continued to roil global energy markets.

The $4 per gallon milestone was last reached in August 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and represents what some analysts have called a psychological barrier for consumers. Prices for many goods are climbing, including oil used to make gasoline, following Iran’s essential closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key trade chokepoint.

U.S. national average retail gasoline prices have climbed about $1.06 a gallon, or 36%, since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran at the end of February, according to Reuters.

European Union governments should prepare for a prolonged disruption to energy markets as a result of the Iran war, the bloc’s energy chief has told ministers ahead of an emergency meeting on Tuesday, according to Reuters.

In a letter to energy ministers, dated March 30 and seen by Reuters, EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen said governments were “encouraged to make timely preparations in anticipation of a potentially prolonged disruption”.

European gas prices have risen more than 70% since the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran began on February 28.

The bloc’s supplies of crude oil and natural gas have not been hit directly by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, since Europe imports most of those energy sources from suppliers outside of the Middle East, according to the report.

Jorgensen said Brussels was particularly concerned in the short term about Europe’s supply of refined petroleum products such as jet fuel and diesel.

Jorgensen recommended in his letter that governments avoid measures that would limit trade of petroleum products or discourage output at European refineries.

“Member States are ⁠encouraged to defer any non-emergency refinery maintenance,” he said.

EU energy ministers will hold a video call on Tuesday afternoon to coordinate their response to the disruption triggered by the Iran war.

An explosion and fire at a petrochemical plant in Russia’s republic of Tatarstan killed at least two workers and injured dozens more, the facility’s owner said Tuesday, according to the Moscow Times.

The blast occurred at Nizhnekamskneftekhim, Russia’s largest producer of synthetic rubber and plastics, located in the industrial city of Nizhnekamsk, around 170 kilometers (105 miles) east of Kazan.

Sibur, the petrochemical company that owns the plant, said the explosion was likely caused byan “equipment malfunction.”

It said injured workers were receiving medical care and that the facility had been evacuated.

Tatarstan’s prosecutor’s office said it had launched a preliminary investigation and could pursue criminal charges if safety violations are found.

The situation in Iran is “not critical,” and public life continues with no panic among the people, according to Iran’s Ambassador to Armenia, Khalil Shirgholami.

He told Armenpress that more than 3,000 people have been killed across Iran since February 28. The U.S. and Israel launched what they described as a pre-emptive strike against Iran on February 28, claiming that Tehran was developing a nuclear weapon and posed a threat—an allegation Iran has denied. In response, Iran launched counterattacks, firing missiles and drones at Israel, as well as at U.S. assets and other targets across the Middle East.

In an interview with Armenpress, the ambassador praised the humanitarian aid provided by Armenia as a sign of the “warm friendship” between the Armenian and Iranian peoples.

On Monday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi lauded Armenia for its humanitarian support, as the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran entered its second month. Ambassador Shirgholami told Armenpress that Araghchi also spoke by phone with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan to express gratitude to the people and government of Armenia for their support.

“We have received humanitarian aid from both state and private organizations and sent it to Iran. Although the situation in Iran is not critical at the moment, these humanitarian contributions are truly valuable to us. Literally just yesterday, a group of people came to the embassy carrying boxes full of medicine. This beautifully demonstrates, once again, the warm friendship between the Armenian and Iranian peoples,” the ambassador said.

He added that there is no panic in Iran, which reflects the strong will of the people. Public life continues as usual, shops operate without disruptions, and there is no shortage of food or other goods.

“Nevertheless, considering that the war is ongoing, there is still a need for aid—primarily medicine, medical supplies, and orthopedic devices—because many people trapped under rubble have sustained varying degrees of physical injuries. During wartime, everyone requires primary aid,” Shirgholami noted.

He also said that as long as military operations continue, it is difficult to fully assess the damage inflicted upon Iran. The ambassador emphasized that international law stipulates that if one country commits aggression against another, it must be condemned and compensate for the damage caused.

“Our government has developed a mechanism by creating a special website to record individuals affected by military actions and those who have lost property. Everything is documented. Public institutions have also suffered significant damage, including educational and sports complexes and other facilities, which the state must work to restore. But what hurts us the most are the human losses. Since the beginning of the war, more than 3,000 people have already been killed, including women and children. Knowing our people, I am confident that through their strong will, they will work with their government to restore the country,” the ambassador said.

Shirgholami also noted with regret that the Armenian community in Iran has suffered losses. He reported the death of an Iranian-Armenian man, Hovhannes Simonyan, in Isfahan. Many homes and apartments were destroyed by the American-Israeli strikes, he said.

“The government has taken appropriate measures to provide them with housing. In recent days, I have been in constant contact with representatives of the Armenian Apostolic Church Diocese of Iran and with Iranian-Armenian members of the Iranian Parliament, as I am very concerned about the current situation of the Armenian community in Iran. Unfortunately, we have also suffered a tragic loss among our Armenian compatriots. In Isfahan, Hovhannes Simonyan was killed. We have expressed our condolences in this regard. Yesterday, his funeral was held with great honor, attended by representatives of both the Muslim and Christian communities. As ambassador, I also conveyed my personal condolences to the Armenian community and to Hovhannes Simonyan’s family,” Shirgholami said.

Khalil Shirgholami, Iran’s ambassador to Armenia, has emphasized that the border between the two countries is of vital significance.

Speaking to Armenpress amid the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, Shirgholami described the Armenia–Iran border as a “border of peace.”

He said he visited the border crossing point over the weekend.

“I personally visited the border checkpoint over the weekend and held meetings on the Iranian side with the heads of border, security, and customs agencies. We discussed a number of issues, addressing not only current situational problems but also broader key matters related to challenges concerning the land border. The Armenian side, in turn, had raised several concerns related to the same challenges, and we therefore discussed those issues as well. We are confident that there are no serious problems and that all issues will be resolved,” the ambassador said.

He added that he maintains regular contact with border service personnel and noted that no unusual incidents have been recorded during this period.

“There is no disorder or congestion at the border. In recent days, the flow of cargo trucks traveling from Iran to Armenia has decreased, but this is due to Nowruz in Iran. People are celebrating the national holiday with their families,” Shirgholami said.

He also noted that he met with the Governor of Syunik Province, Robert Ghukasyan, holding productive discussions on issues related to both the province and the checkpoint.

“Taking the opportunity, I also inspected on site the progress of construction work on the 32-kilometer Agarak–Kajaran road. As you know, an Iranian company is involved in this project. I was very pleased to see the quality and pace of construction. I hope that in the near future we will attend the signing ceremony of the commissioning agreement for the Kajaran tunnel.

I then visited the Noravan substation, where the third power transmission line is being constructed. We agreed that, after a short pause, work will resume as soon as possible. Unfortunately, due to the war, we were unable to ensure a larger flow of Iranian tourists to Armenia this year,” Shirgholami said.

Armenian Human Rights Defender (Ombudsperson) Anahit Manasyan, during her visit to Geneva, met with Maarit Kohonen Sheriff, Director of the Global Operations Division (D2) at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The parties discussed challenges in the field of human rights protection, ways to overcome them, as well as issues faced by human rights commissioners in carrying out their duties, according to a readout from Manasyan’s office.