Mumbai: Among the mourners who assembled at the iconic Masjid-e-Iranian at Dongri on Sunday to condole the killing of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Syed Ali Khamenei was a little girl. She offered her gold earrings to Abdul Majid Hakeem Ilahi, the representative of Iran’s supreme leader in India, as a way to help the war-hit country.“I was touched. I cried at the girl’s gesture, her pure heart and intention,” said Illahi, who attended condolences at the mosque, Islam Gymkhana near Marine Lines, and Habib Esmail Hospital in Dongri held by Habib Group of Trusts and Mumbai Aman Committee. Ilahi, who has visited Mumbai multiple times, said he was overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity of the people in the city which, he stressed, is not just “a financial centre but a cultural centre too”. “If I am not dressed like this (without headgear and black robe), many people think I am an Indian.” A close friend of Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, Khamenei’s son, Ilahi described the new Iranian supreme leader as “a simple man who lives in a rented house”. “Once I travelled to Mecca with him and we went to buy shirts. He said he did not have $20 to pay for a shirt and bought a shirt that cost $10. When the shopkeeper found that he was the son of Iran’s supreme leader, he started shouting in disbelief,” recalled Ilahi. He recalled that Khamenei loved India a lot. “Before I came to India, he told me to read up on the history of India and the historical and civilisational relationship India and Iran have. Out of 75 books he wrote, his first book was on India.” When PM Narendra Modi met him, said Ilahi, the meet was scheduled for only 15-20 minutes, but it went on for over an hour as Khamenei discussed India’s rich history and its multicultural society where communities live in harmony. He said Khamenei revered many Indian writers and statesmen, especially Jawaharlal Nehru, who wrote “some wonderful books”. Javed Shroff, chairman, Habib Group of Trusts, said, “War was imposed on Iran, but it must end as war brings disaster.” He told TOI he will send medical help and a team of medical professionals to Iran on humanitarian grounds after consulting Ilahi. Former Navy chief Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat presented a piece of gold sent by his wife, advocate Niloufer Bhagwat.

Indian stock markets will remain closed on Tuesday, March 31, for Mahavir Jayanti and again on Friday, April 3, for Good Friday, giving investors a holiday-shortened trading week.Trading on the NSE and BSE will be suspended on both days across segments, including equity, equity derivatives, currency derivatives, securities lending and borrowing (SLB) and other market-linked instruments. The week will therefore have only three full trading sessions on Dalal Street.

Two market holidays next week

The National Stock Exchange of India and BSE have both listed March 31 and April 3 as official trading holidays for Mahavir Jayanti and Good Friday, respectively.The timing is also notable because March 31 marks the end of the financial year 2025-26, which means the holiday will fall on the final day of the fiscal year.

MCX open only in evening on Mahavir Jayanti, fully shut on Good Friday

Commodity traders will see a slightly different schedule.The Multi Commodity Exchange of India (MCX) will remain closed during the morning session (9 am to 5 pm) on Mahavir Jayanti, but trading will resume in the evening session from 5 pm to 11:30 pm.On Good Friday, however, MCX will remain shut for both the morning and evening sessions, in line with several global markets that also close for the occasion.The National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX), meanwhile, will remain closed in both sessions on these holidays.There are 16 stock market holidays scheduled for 2026. With the two next week, several more closures are still lined up across the rest of the year.The next market holiday after Good Friday will be Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Jayanti on April 14, followed by Maharashtra Day on May 1 and Bakri Id on May 28, as per the report.

The TOI correspondent from Washington: What began as a “little excursion” into Iran – as described by President Trump –- is now edging toward a full-scale invasion of the country, with U.S officials signaling the start of a broader military campaign, including the potential seizure of Kharg Island—Tehran’s most critical oil export hub.In carefully calibrated leaks over the weekend, U.S. officials revealed preparations for a “final blow” against Iran, including movement of thousands of American troops into the region. While the administration has stopped short of confirming a full-scale invasion, the scale and tempo of troop movements suggest a widening conflict over the next few days – unless the leaks constitute a monumental bluff or psy-ops to spook Iran. According to the U.S Central Command, more than 3,500 additional U.S. troops have already been deployed to the Middle East, including roughly 2,500 Marines aboard the USS Tripoli (LHA-7), a modern amphibious assault ship capable of launching F-35 stealth fighters and Osprey aircraft. The vessel, formerly based in Japan, now serves as the flagship of a Marine Expeditionary Unit positioned within range of the Persian Gulf.The Pentagon has also moved elements of the 82nd Airborne Division and is reportedly considering deploying up to 10,000 additional troops. Amphibious assets, including the USS Boxer (LHD-4), are en route, underscoring the administration’s effort to build “maximum optionality,” as officials repeatedly describe it.Administration officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, are sending mixed signals about the maneuvers, seemingly unsure of the President’s thinking. Rubio said the United States could achieve its objectives “without any ground troops,” but added that President Trump must be prepared for multiple contingencies. “It’s the job of the Pentagon to make preparations in order to give the Commander in Chief maximum optionality,” White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said, emphasizing that no final decision has been made.Yet the focus of planning—Kharg Island—reveals much about Washington’s strategic intent. Located just off Iran’s coast in the Persian Gulf, the island handles the vast majority of Iran’s oil exports, much of it directed towards China. Seizing or neutralizing it would strike directly at the country’s economic lifeline and potentially give the United States leverage over global energy flows.Defense analysts say the objective of seizing Kharg is not territorial conquest in the traditional sense, but about choking off Teheran’s revenues, controlling maritime routes, and denying Iran the ability to threaten shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Roughly a fifth of the world’s oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz, and any disruption has immediate ripple effects. Already, the conflict has driven up fuel prices, disrupted commercial aviation, and rattled global markets.By targeting Iran’s infrastructure, Washington could reshape global energy markets and indirectly pressure major buyers such as China, which relies heavily on Iranian oil. Some analysts argue the move is tied to a wider strategy aimed at constraining Beijing’s strategic options, including its posture toward Taiwan.Military experts concede that any attempt to seize Kharg Island would be complex and risky. Unlike inland targets, the island is exposed, making it vulnerable to Iranian missile strikes, drone attacks, and naval harassment. Holding it would require sustained air superiority and naval protection, as well as a steady flow of reinforcements and supplies. Experts also warn that even a limited operation could escalate quickly. Iran, despite what U.S. and Israeli officials describe as a degraded military capacity, has continued to strike back. Low-level but persistent attacks on American assets in the region—targeting aircraft, missile defense systems, and naval units—have kept tensions high and demonstrated Tehran’s ability to impose costs. Tehran has also warned of a “punitive response” if its territory is seized. Analysts point to the country’s history, including its protracted war with Iraq in the 1980s, as evidence of its willingness to absorb heavy losses while sustaining a fight.Still, critics argue the administration is courting a wider war without a clear endgame. Over the weekend, nationwide “No Kings” rallies — the third such demonstrations since Trump took office for a second term — revealed growing opposition to the war across the U.S., including in MAGA circles which embraced the President’s promise not to get into needless foreign wars. President Trump, for his part, continues to essay erratic statements, sometimes insisting there will be “no deal” with Iran short of “unconditional surrender” and at other times saying the “War is almost over” amid an expanding military buildup. While officials – many of them unsure of the President’s motivation — maintain that diplomacy remains possible, the steady buildup of forces suggests the Pentagon is preparing for a scenario in which talks fail.