United News of Bangladesh

Iran’s paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has attacked a third vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian news agencies reported on Wednesday, in an apparent escalation of maritime tensions. Semi-official outlets including Nour News, Fars and Mehr said the Guard targeted a ship identified as Euphoria, which they claimed later became “stranded” along the Iranian coast. No further details were immediately provided. In a separate report, Iranian state television said two other vessels attacked earlier in the day—MSC Francesca and Epaminodes—are now in the custody of the Revolutionary Guard and are being taken to Iran. According to a statement from the Guard, the ships were accused of operating without authorization, violating maritime regulations, manipulating navigation systems and attempting to leave the Strait covertly, thereby “endangering maritime security.” The seizures mark a significant escalation following earlier US actions against Iranian vessels, as fragile ceasefire talks are underway. The Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping route, had traditionally been considered an international waterway open to all vessels, despite lying between Iranian and Omani territorial waters.

Pakistan has requested the United States to lift its naval blockade on Iranian ports and release a seized Iranian vessel in a bid to revive stalled negotiations, according to sources. The sources said Islamabad conveyed its request to Washington, urging the release of the detained ship and its crew, and received “positive signals” from the US side. However, no timeline has been set for their release. The move comes amid ongoing efforts to de-escalate tensions between the two countries. US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he is extending the ceasefire with Iran at Pakistan’s request while awaiting a “unified proposal” from Tehran, even as US forces continue enforcing the blockade. The announcement came ahead of the scheduled expiry of the truce on Wednesday, with both Washington and Tehran indicating the possibility of renewed hostilities if no agreement is reached. Meanwhile, the White House has postponed Vice President JD Vance’s planned visit to Pakistan for a second round of talks, after Iran signalled reluctance to engage further at this stage. Trump said the ceasefire would remain in effect “until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other.”

A senior Iranian adviser has rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s ceasefire extension, saying it “means ‘nothing’” and is “certainly a ploy to buy time for a surprise strike”. Mahdi Mohammadi, an adviser to Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, made the remarks in a post in Persian on X. He said the continuation of Trump’s “siege” is “no different from bombardment” and must be “met with a military response”. He added: "The time for Iran to take the initiative has come." Tensions remain high as U.S. naval forces continue to enforce a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. American forces also boarded an Iranian-flagged cargo ship on Sunday, after Iran had effectively closed the key shipping route for weeks.  #From BBC

Uncertainty continues over the next steps for possible US-Iran talks after US President Donald Trump said Washington had extended the ceasefire in the conflict at Pakistan’s request, while waiting for what he called a “unified proposal” from Tehran. Iran has not yet responded to Trump’s announcement. Both sides have also warned they could resume fighting if no agreement is reached. In a social media post on Tuesday, Trump said Iran does not want the Strait of Hormuz closed because it relies on the route to export crude oil. He also earlier indicated that the US military would maintain pressure on Iranian ports. The developments come as tensions remain high across the wider region. Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group in Lebanon exchanged fire on Tuesday, despite a recent 10-day ceasefire. Talks in Washington are expected later this week. The conflict has already caused heavy casualties, with thousands killed in Iran and Lebanon and deaths also reported in Israel and Gulf Arab states, along with losses among soldiers and US personnel in the region. In a separate development, Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard opened fire on a container ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, damaging the vessel, according to the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). UKMTO said the incident occurred around 7:55am when a Guard gunboat fired without first contacting the ship. No injuries or environmental damage were reported. Iranian media outlets linked to the Revolutionary Guard confirmed the incident, with one describing the move as enforcement of Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz. The narrow waterway, through which a large share of global oil shipments passes, is widely regarded as an international shipping route despite lying between Iranian and Omani waters. The incident follows recent US actions in the region, including the seizure of an Iranian-linked ship and the boarding of an oil tanker associated with Iran’s oil trade in the Indian Ocean, further heightening tensions.

Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard fired on a container ship in the strategic Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, damaging the vessel and further heightening tensions in the region. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said the incident took place around 7:55am local time, when a Guard gunboat targeted the ship without issuing any warning. The attack damaged the container vessel, but no one on board was injured and there was no environmental damage, according to UKMTO. Iran did not immediately comment on the incident. The development comes amid rising maritime tensions, following recent US actions including the seizure of an Iranian-linked container ship and the boarding of an oil tanker connected to Iran’s oil trade in the Indian Ocean. The latest incident also coincided with stalled efforts for planned ceasefire talks in Pakistan that ultimately did not move forward. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important shipping routes, and any disruption there often raises global concern over energy supplies and security. 

Two US officials who died in a vehicle crash after returning from an anti-drug operation in northern Mexico over the weekend were working for the CIA, according to a US official and two other people familiar with the matter. Two Mexican investigators were also killed in the crash. Mexican authorities said the convoy had been returning after a mission targeting drug laboratories run by criminal groups. However, differing accounts from US and Mexican officials have raised questions over the exact nature of the operation. The CIA link was confirmed Tuesday by sources familiar with the incident, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of intelligence matters. The Washington Post had earlier reported that the officials were CIA personnel. The incident comes amid confusion and conflicting statements from both governments about US involvement in the raid in Chihuahua state, where drug labs were reportedly destroyed. The lack of clarity has renewed debate over how deeply the United States is involved in security operations inside Mexico, especially as pressure grows from US President Donald Trump’s administration for stronger action against drug cartels. Trump has taken a tougher stance on Latin America, including military operations in the region and repeated offers of direct US action against Mexican cartels, which Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has rejected as unnecessary. US Ambassador to Mexico Ron Johnson initially described the deceased officials as embassy personnel. The US Embassy later said they were supporting efforts by Chihuahua state authorities but did not confirm their identities or agency ties. Mexican officials first suggested cooperation with US forces in the operation but later softened their statements after the matter drew political attention in Mexico. President Sheinbaum said she was not aware of any formal joint operation involving US agencies and Mexican forces, although she acknowledged that some level of coordination had taken place between local and US authorities. The controversy highlights the sensitive nature of US intelligence activity in Mexico, where cooperation against drug cartels often clashes with concerns over national sovereignty. Security analysts say covert US operations in Mexico have become more common in recent years, particularly under the Trump administration’s intensified anti-drug strategy, though both governments often avoid publicly acknowledging them.

Taiwan’s president has postponed a planned visit to Africa after three countries withdrew permission for his aircraft to use their airspace following reported pressure from China, his office said Tuesday. President Lai Ching-te was scheduled to travel to Eswatini, Taiwan’s only remaining diplomatic ally in Africa, from April 22 to 26. However, authorities in Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar cancelled the overflight permits along his route at short notice. A presidential spokesperson in Taipei said the decision came after “strong pressure” from Beijing, including alleged economic coercion. He accused China of interfering in other countries’ internal affairs and undermining regional stability. China, which considers Taiwan its territory, responded by welcoming the move, saying it supports the “one-China principle” and is consistent with international law. Beijing regularly urges countries with which it has diplomatic ties to avoid official relations with Taipei. In recent years, it has stepped up efforts to reduce Taiwan’s remaining allies through aid and investment offers. Taiwan now has formal diplomatic relations with only 12 countries, mostly small nations in Latin America, the Caribbean and the Pacific. Eswatini, however, said it regretted that President Lai could not make the visit but stressed that its ties with Taiwan remain unchanged. The governments of Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar did not immediately comment on the issue. China’s diplomatic push has already led several countries, including Honduras, Nicaragua and Nauru, to switch recognition from Taiwan to Beijing in recent years. The last Taiwanese presidential visit to Eswatini took place in 2023.

The White House has confirmed that U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s planned visit to Pakistan for peace negotiations has been cancelled. Vance had been scheduled to travel to Islamabad for a second time this month, with his arrival expected on Wednesday, as part of efforts to finalise a deal with Iranian officials. "Any further updates on in-person meetings will be announced by the White House," an administration official said. The decision follows President Donald Trump’s announcement that he agreed to extend the U.S.-Iran ceasefire indefinitely. #From BBC

U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he is extending the ceasefire with Iran at Pakistan’s request while waiting for a “unified proposal” from Tehran, even as U.S. forces continue blocking Iranian ports. The announcement came as uncertainty deepened ahead of the truce’s scheduled expiry on Wednesday. Washington and Tehran have both indicated they could return to fighting if no agreement is reached. The White House has also postponed Vice President JD Vance’s planned visit to Pakistan for a second round of talks, after Iran signaled reluctance to engage further for now. Trump said the ceasefire would remain in place “until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other.” Earlier, an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Tehran has yet to decide whether to join negotiations in Pakistan and would only participate if it sees a realistic chance of progress. Since the conflict began, at least 3,375 people have been killed in Iran and more than 2,290 in Lebanon. Death tolls also include 23 in Israel and over a dozen in Gulf Arab states, along with 15 Israeli soldiers in Lebanon and 13 U.S. service members across the region. Later Tuesday, Trump struck a combative tone in a post on his Truth Social platform after extending the ceasefire without a clear timeline for talks. He argued that Iran wants the Strait of Hormuz to remain open to export oil, warning that allowing this without a deal would undermine any future agreement. It remains unclear when or how negotiations in Islamabad might resume.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said that Iran has been “trapped by false promises,” while commenting on ongoing US-Iran negotiations, according to Russia’s TASS news agency. Lavrov said Moscow views the US-Iran talks as involving “threats and pledges” rather than concrete facts. “We also see Iran’s position, which quite rightly argues that they have already found themselves trapped by false promises, including that very Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action,” he said, referring to the 2015 nuclear deal signed under former US President Barack Obama that limited Iran’s nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. US ready for war again if Iran deal fails, Trump warns The Russian foreign minister also said Moscow is analysing developments surrounding possible new talks in Pakistan, noting that “the situation can make an about-face 10 times within 24 hours.” “If the current efforts of the Iranian and American negotiators, which we support, result in something like the 2015 agreement, I think it would be a great success,” Lavrov added. Source- Al Jazeera