United News of Bangladesh

The Iranian Foreign Ministry on Friday urged the international community not to join Washington's unilateral sanctions against Iran, condemning them as a violation of international law. In an official statement, the ministry denounced U.S. sanction policies, calling them "in violation of the UN Charter, international humanitarian law and human rights". Tehran accused the United States of weaponizing the dollar to intimidate other nations into adopting "interventionist" policies against Iran. The ministry called on all countries to reject the sanctions and refuse to recognize any impacts or situations resulting from what it termed "these illegal actions". The appeal follows remarks earlier this month by U.S. President Donald Trump, who declared that the United States would launch "the most crushing economic operation ever" against Iran, characterizing the campaign as "economic warfare and isolation on an unprecedented scale". U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent subsequently announced a wave of new sanctions designed to further isolate Iran.

Israeli warplanes launched multiple airstrikes across southern Lebanon on Thursday evening, the Lebanese National News Agency(NNA) reported. Strikes targeted the Wadi Slouqi area in the Bint Jbeil district and Mansouri in the Tyre district, said NNA. In the town of Nabatieh al-Fawqa, Israeli warplanes destroyed a building in the al-Deir neighborhood at around 6:20 p.m., followed by another strike at around 6:30 p.m. near al-Dabsha hill and a third hit on the al-Deir neighborhood at around 9 p.m., according to the agency. NNA also reported a massive explosion by Israeli forces near the hills of Baraachit in the Bint Jbeil district. Earlier in the day, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement that Hezbollah launched two explosive drones toward IDF soldiers operating in the area of the Ali-Taher Ridge within the Security Zone in southern Lebanon. The IDF said it carried out strikes in response, targeting Hezbollah's weapon storage facilities in the Nabatieh area. Also on Thursday, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said that Lebanon and Israel are ultimately responsible for implementing their commitments under UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which remains the key framework for stability in southern Lebanon. In a statement, UNIFIL said the principles underpinning the resolution include respect for the Blue Line, a UN-demarcated borderline between Lebanon and Israel established in 2000, cessation of hostilities, Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory, and the extension of Lebanese state authority over the entire country.  

Qatar and other regional powers are intensifying diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the US-Iran conflict as another tanker attack was reported in the Strait of Hormuz and Tehran rejected fresh US sanctions. Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani visited Tehran on Thursday and met Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to discuss reducing tensions and a proposed Iran-Oman plan to ensure safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Pakistan also said it was continuing diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis. Meanwhile, the UK Maritime Trade Organization reported that an oil tanker was hit by an unidentified projectile in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, catching fire. The crew was safe and no environmental damage was reported. Iranian officials dismissed the latest US sanctions and thanked China for opposing Washington’s measures. In Gaza, Israeli strikes continued despite the US-brokered ceasefire framework. A strike on a tent sheltering displaced Palestinians in southern Gaza killed one person and wounded others, according to health officials. Nickolay Mladenov, head of US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, criticized Israel at the UN over continued attacks, saying Palestinian civilians were still being killed. Israel also ordered two Dutch diplomats to leave the Gaza ceasefire coordination center over the Netherlands’ measures against Israel, including a planned trade ban on products from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. Separately, a Jerusalem court acquitted a man accused of attacking a Catholic nun after accepting his insanity defense. He was ordered to undergo psychiatric hospitalization for up to six years.

Palestinian prisoner advocacy organizations and a civil society campaign have accused Israel of withholding the human remains of nearly 800 Palestinians. In a joint statement, the organizations and the Palestinian National Campaign for the Retrieval of Martyrs’ Bodies and Disclosure of the Fate of the Missing alleged that they have identified 799 individuals whose remains are currently being held by Israeli authorities. According to the statement, Israel’s ongoing withholding of these bodies "deprives Palestinian families of knowing the fate of their loved ones, bidding them farewell and burying them". The campaign, a civil society group that also investigates missing persons cases, continues to demand that Israel release the bodies of deceased Palestinians so that their families can lay them to rest. With inputs from  Al Jazeera

Iran’s rial fell to a record low against the U.S. dollar on Monday as Washington prepared to announce additional sanctions aimed at putting further pressure on an economy already weakened by years of sanctions and a U.S. naval blockade. The rial fell to 2.02 million against the U.S. dollar when currency trading opened. Iran’s official Central Bank exchange rate was around 1.5 million rial per dollar, but most Iranians use the market rate for their transactions. The currency had been under pressure even before the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, when the country was already dealing with double-digit inflation and negative economic growth. It has since repeatedly reached new lows as nearly six months of war have further damaged the economy. The rising costs have made everyday necessities increasingly unaffordable for Iranians. Since the war began, rice prices have increased by about 60%, while beef prices have risen more than 150%. The International Monetary Fund expects Iran’s economy to shrink by more than 5%. Despite the economic hardship, there have so far been no clear signs of significant political pressure on Iran’s leadership. Tehran retains an important strategic advantage through its attacks and threats against ships in the Strait of Hormuz, which have brought traffic through the crucial waterway close to a standstill. The disruption has affected the global economy and increased pressure on U.S. President Donald Trump ahead of congressional elections. The conflict has increasingly turned into a struggle over control of the strait, through which about one-fifth of the world’s traded oil passed before the war. Iran is now refusing to fully reopen the waterway unless it is allowed to charge ships. Iran and Oman, which lies on the opposite side of the strait, are reportedly nearing an agreement on a plan to jointly manage the strategic waterway. Oman’s foreign minister is scheduled to visit Iran on Tuesday. Seeking to break the deadlock, the Trump administration said it would announce stronger sanctions on Monday, including secondary sanctions against countries that continue doing business with Iran. “President Trump decimated Iran's economy to a point where the rial has never been weaker and inflation has rarely been higher,” U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent wrote Sunday in an opinion article published by the Financial Times. He said Iran’s government was now relying on “the self-deception of fearful nations” that still believe accommodating aggression could lead to lasting peace. The United Arab Emirates, one of Iran’s major trading partners and its largest source of imports, announced last week that it was suspending all trade with Iran. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei warned Monday that any further escalation would have consequences. “Our hands are not tied,” he told reporters in Tehran. Pakistan, which played a key role in brokering a 60-day ceasefire in June, sent a high-level delegation to Iran on Monday to discuss efforts to end the conflict, the military said. In central Tehran, however, 73-year-old Sadegh Mahmoudi said he saw little prospect of a settlement. He stood in a line of about a dozen people to exchange his remaining savings for U.S. dollars as protection against further declines in the rial. “There is no hope for a deal and peace,” he said.

Iran on Monday warned that it would respond harshly to any new US sanctions, saying further escalation would have consequences. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said Tehran's “hands are not tied” as Washington prepares to announce expanded sanctions, including measures against countries cooperating with the United States. The warning came amid a prolonged standoff over the Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of the world's traded oil passed before the war began nearly six months ago. Iran has demanded an end to the US naval blockade, withdrawal of US forces from the region and compensation for wartime damage in return for reopening the strategic waterway. Meanwhile, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani met a senior Israeli delegation in Jordan in US-mediated talks aimed at easing tensions after Israel struck an air base in northern Syria last week. The discussions focused on reviving negotiations for a future security agreement. Syria demanded the withdrawal of Israeli forces from a buffer zone in southern Syria and reiterated its claim over the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights. Elsewhere, Palestinian American Loui Ridi said he remained unable to move freely in the West Bank village of Qusra after Israeli settlers besieged his home earlier this month. Ridi said settlers continued gathering near his home, while he and relatives had to coordinate movements to obtain basic supplies. The incident has drawn condemnation from Israeli rights groups and foreign officials, including US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.

Senior Syrian and Israeli delegations met in Jordan on Sunday for US-mediated discussions aimed at easing tensions and reviving negotiations on a possible security agreement, Syria’s state news agency SANA reported, citing a diplomatic source. The Syrian delegation was led by Foreign Affairs Chief Asaad al-Shaibani and included the heads of the country’s general and military intelligence services. Israel also sent a senior delegation to the meeting, according to the source. The talks in Jordan came amid heightened tensions following recent Israeli strikes on Syrian territory and growing instability in southern Syria. The meeting was intended to promote stability in Syria and the broader region. According to the diplomatic source, the discussions centered on practical measures to stop Israeli attacks, arrests and other targeting operations, while exploring ways to resume negotiations on a security agreement that could eventually pave the way for a broader deal. The Syrian delegation emphasized that Syria is a sovereign country with the right to rebuild and strengthen its national military and choose its alliances and partnerships based on its national interests. Damascus made clear that it would reject any agreement or mechanism that limits those sovereign rights, the source said. The Syrian side also reiterated its position that the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights is Syrian territory. However, it said discussions on the territory’s final status and a broader settlement of the issue would be premature at this stage. For now, Damascus identified the withdrawal of Israeli forces to the positions they held before Dec. 8, 2024, and the complete restoration and implementation of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement as its immediate priorities. The talks also included efforts to reduce differences between Türkiye and Israel and prevent tensions between the two regional powers from affecting Syrian territory, according to the source. The Syrian delegation stressed that any future security arrangements must respect Syria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and sovereign rights, while both sides explored practical measures to ease tensions and resume negotiations. Israel carried out a strike on the Abu al-Duhur military airport in northwestern Syria on Tuesday, claiming that Damascus was preparing to allow Turkish forces to deploy there. Syria and Türkiye rejected the Israeli allegation.

Military officials from Uganda and Burundi visited Israel last week for talks on deploying troops to Gaza as part of an international security force proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, officials said. A Board of Peace official told The media that Ugandan officials accompanied a Burundian military delegation during the visit. Uganda is now working to finalize details of its participation after its parliament approved the deployment of troops earlier this month. No agreement has been reached with Burundi, but the official said discussions with the country were expected to move forward. The official, who spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to discuss negotiations with potential troop-contributing countries, said the talks involved an exchange of significant information and that Burundian representatives showed interest in the mission. A senior Burundian military official said three other high-ranking officers accompanied the delegation to Israel and indicated that Burundi appeared interested in joining the force. The official also spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly. It remains unclear how many troops Uganda or Burundi could provide or what incentives they might receive. Military spokespersons in both countries did not respond to requests for comment. International force faces delaysIf Burundi joins, it would become the latest country to commit personnel to the proposed Gaza force. Morocco, Kosovo, Kazakhstan and Albania have already pledged troops. Uganda has committed about 1,200 personnel, while Morocco has offered up to 500. Kosovo, Kazakhstan and Albania have collectively pledged about 80 troops. Indonesia had earlier announced plans to send 8,000 troops, the largest proposed contribution, but suspended the deployment after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran. The proposed force is expected to comprise about 20,000 personnel and be commanded by U.S. Maj. Gen. Jasper Jeffers. Current commitments remain well below that target. Trump announced last month an agreement calling for Hamas to disarm and Israel to withdraw its forces from Gaza. Under the plan, the International Stabilization Force would operate in parts of Gaza administered by an incoming technocratic committee, while Israeli troops would pull back. The force would be tasked with monitoring the ceasefire, training Palestinian police and helping ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid. The Gaza ceasefire, which took effect last October, has faced repeated obstacles over disagreements about an Israeli withdrawal and Hamas’ disarmament. Earlier this month, a U.S. delegation held lengthy talks with Hamas’ leadership before meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an effort to advance the agreement. Hamas has accepted the latest U.S. proposal, while Netanyahu has rejected it, saying Israel will not withdraw from the roughly 60% of Gaza currently under its control until Hamas is fully disarmed. Even after Netanyahu met with the U.S. delegation, which included negotiator Jared Kushner, Israeli officials made no firm commitment to a withdrawal. Uganda, Burundi bring Somalia experiencePaul D. Williams, director of the security policy studies program at George Washington University, said Uganda and Burundi have extensive peacekeeping experience from years of deployments in Somalia as part of an African Union mission fighting the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab militant group. Their governments have demonstrated a willingness to sustain significant casualties without pulling their forces out, Williams said. He also noted that as the Somalia mission winds down, both countries may seek additional financial and logistical support for their militaries. “Deploying to Gaza with U.S. support is one way to do that,” Williams said. A Ugandan military officer familiar with preparations for the mission said troops were being selected for possible deployment to Gaza. The officer spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to discuss the plans publicly.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made it clear that Gaza and Israel will not return to the situation prior to Oct. 7, 2023-the day Hamas-led fighters attacked southern Israel and Israel began its genocidal war on Gaza. In a statement published by his office, Netanyahu warned that he will intensify military attacks on areas in Gaza where operations are being carried out against Israeli forces. He also said that Israel will order the forced displacement of Palestinians from territories in Gaza used to launch drones, balloons and kites. "We warn Hamas that if the launches toward Israel do not cease immediately, the [Israeli army] will intensify its operations against those responsible," Netanyahu said. With inputs from Al Jazeera

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has defended a memorandum of understanding with the United States as the best way to end the current deadlock in the nearly six-month-old war, while Tehran’s new security chief warned neighboring countries against supporting further US sanctions on Iran. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir is scheduled to visit Tehran on Monday to discuss bilateral cooperation and regional peace efforts, Iranian state media reported. In the occupied West Bank, a Palestinian man said an Israeli settler beat him outside his home, while the Israeli military said it was pursuing a suspect following a separate stabbing incident. Pezeshkian, in remarks published by state-run IRNA on Sunday, described the recent US-Iran memorandum as the best available option for moving the country beyond a situation of “neither war nor peace.” He said members of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council considered the memorandum the best agreement possible based on national dignity, wisdom and interests. “There is not a single provision in this agreement that amounts to capitulation,” Pezeshkian said, adding that Iran would follow policies set by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The memorandum, signed by US President Donald Trump in June, set a 60-day deadline for ending the war and reaching an agreement over Iran’s nuclear programme. The deadline expired last week, but Washington and Tehran remain divided, particularly over reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil and other shipping. Pezeshkian said Iran would not surrender to its adversaries but stressed that the prolonged standoff was damaging the economy and discouraging investment. “Capital and money are extremely sensitive to risk,” he said, stressing the need to remove risks from the country. Iran’s economy has been under growing pressure from US sanctions and a naval blockade that has made it difficult for Tehran to export oil, its main source of revenue. Pakistan’s Munir will lead an official delegation to Tehran on Monday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said, adding that the visit would focus on strengthening bilateral ties and Pakistan’s efforts to promote peace and security in the region. The announcement followed a phone conversation between Munir and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Pakistan has previously undertaken several mediation efforts aimed at ending the Iran war. Separately, Mohsen Rezaei, the newly appointed head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, issued a stronger warning to neighboring countries against joining the latest US campaign to pressure Tehran economically. “If (Trump) wants to do something, we will retaliate in a seismic manner,” Rezaei said in an interview broadcast by Iranian state television on Saturday. Rezaei, appointed earlier this month as part of senior leadership changes seen as strengthening Tehran’s hard-line stance, said Iran could target oil-shipping routes outside the Strait of Hormuz if neighboring countries joined what he called the economic war against Iran. He warned that countries supporting the US campaign would be treated as enemies and that Iran would target their interests. Trump has vowed to impose an “unprecedented” level of economic pressure and isolation on Iran as Tehran has faced US sanctions for years.