United News of Bangladesh

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is travelling to the Gulf on Wednesday to meet regional leaders and discuss diplomatic efforts aimed at supporting and upholding a newly reached ceasefire, according to Downing Street. The visit comes as the UK steps up engagement with countries on the front line of the recent tensions, with Starmer expected to express full support for the ceasefire agreement and stress the need for it to evolve into a lasting settlement. Starmer welcomed the development, saying the UK would continue working with partners to stabilise the situation. "I welcome the ceasefire agreement reached overnight, which will bring a moment of relief to the region and the world," he said. "Together with our partners we must do all we can to support and sustain this ceasefire, turn it into a lasting agreement and re-open the Strait of Hormuz." During his meetings, the prime minister is expected to reiterate the UK’s unwavering support for a long-term diplomatic resolution and underline the importance of ensuring the ceasefire leads to a durable peace. Talks will also focus on securing the permanent reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy route, with the UK continuing to play a leading role in international efforts on the issue. #From BBC

In a statement Wednesday morning, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said it supports Trump’s decision to suspend strikes against Iran for two weeks, but that it doesn’t include the war with Hezbollah in Lebanon. It said the ceasefire is subject to Iran immediately opening the Strait of Hormuz and stopping all attacks on the U.S., Israel and countries in the region. The statement said Israel also supports U.S. efforts to ensure Iran no longer poses a nuclear or missile threat.

US President Donald Trump pulled back on his threats to launch devastating strikes on Iran in the early hours of Wednesday, swerving to deescalate the war less than two hours before the deadline he set for Tehran to capitulate or face a major escalation. Trump said he was holding off on his threatened attacks on Iranian bridges, power plants and other civilian targets, subject to Tehran agreeing to a two-week ceasefire and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the waterway through which a fifth of the world’s oil is shipped during peacetime. He also said Iran has proposed a “workable” 10-point peace plan that could help end the war launched by the US and Israel in February. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said it has accepted a two-week ceasefire and that it would negotiate with the United States in Islamabad beginning Friday.Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said passage through the strait would be allowed for the next two weeks under Iranian military management. It wasn’t immediately clear whether that meant Iran would loosen its chokehold on the waterway. In a post on his social media site, Trump said that he would suspend attacks on Iran for two weeks provided Tehran agreed “to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING” of the strait. Iran’s demands for ending the war include control of the strait, the withdrawal of U.S. combat forces from the region, the lifting of sanctions and the release of its frozen assets. The demands indicate an effort to remake both the geopolitical order in the Middle East and the global oil trade. Even as the ceasefire was announced, missile alerts continued in the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait early Wednesday, hinting at the chaos surrounding the diplomatic moves. The US military has halted all offensive operations against Iran but continues defensive actions, said an official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe sensitive military operations.Since the war began, Trump has repeatedly backed off deadlines just before they expire. In doing so again Tuesday, Trump said he had come to the decision “based on conversations” with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Gen. Asim Munir, Pakistan’s powerful army chief. Sharif, in a post on X hours earlier, urged Trump to extend his deadline by two weeks to allow diplomacy to advance. He used the same post to ask Iran to open the strait for two weeks. The president said in his social media post that Iran has presented “a workable basis on which to negotiate.” “Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two week period will allow the Agreement to be finalized and consummated,” Trump said. Israel has also agreed to the terms of the two-week ceasefire agreement, according to a White House official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. And Sharif said the ceasefire extends to Israel and Hezbollah halting fighting in Lebanon. But there are concerns in Israel about the agreement, according to a person familiar with the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to speak to the media. The person said Israel would like to achieve more. Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium is still buried at enrichment sites. The program had been one of the main issues cited by both Israel and the US in launching the war. Late Tuesday, Pakistan’s prime minister urged Trump to extend his deadline by two weeks to allow diplomacy to advance. In a post on X, Shehbaz Sharif, whose country has been leading negotiations, also asked Iran to open up for two weeks the Strait of Hormuz. Before the deadline, airstrikes hit two bridges and a train station, and the US hit military infrastructure on Kharg Island, a key hub for Iranian oil production. Intense airstrikes pounded Tehran, including in residential neighborhoods. In the past, such strikes have targeted Iranian government and security officials. The Israeli military said it attacked an Iranian petrochemical site in Shiraz, the second day in a row it hit such a facility. The military later said it also struck bridges in several cities that were being used by Iranian forces to transport weapons and military equipment. A US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military operations, described the strikes on Kharg Island as hitting targets previously struck and not directed at oil infrastructure. Saudi Arabia said it intercepted seven ballistic missiles and four drones launched by Iran. Iran also fired on Israel. More than 1,900 people have been killed in Iran since the war began, but the government has not updated the toll for days. In Lebanon, where Israel is fighting Iran-backed Hezbollah militants, more than 1,500 people have been killed. and more than 1 million people have been displaced. Eleven Israeli soldiers have died there. In Gulf Arab states and the occupied West Bank, more than two dozen people have died, while 23 have been reported dead in Israel, and 13 US service members have been killed.At least 3 Bangladeshi expatriates in the Gulf countries have also died in the attacks.  Oil prices plunged, with the West Texas Intermediate contract for May delivery falling more than 16% to $94.47 per barrel in late trading. International benchmark Brent for June delivery lost more than 15% to settle at $92.21 per barrel.

Iran has reiterated its rejection of a temporary ceasefire, insisting on a permanent end to the conflict with guarantees to prevent future war, as tensions rise ahead of a deadline set by US President Donald Trump. Iran’s representative to the United Nations said Tehran would not accept a short-term truce and instead seeks a lasting peace with verifiable assurances. The position reflects Iran’s consistent stance amid the ongoing crisis, reports Al Jazeera. Responding to Trump’s warning that a “whole civilisation will die,” Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson said the strength of a “civilised nation” would ultimately prevail over the logic of brute force. Diplomatic sources say the gap between the two sides remains wide, making any agreement difficult and protracted. Meanwhile, the White House has denied reports that it is considering the use of nuclear weapons against Iran, even as Trump maintained strong rhetoric, warning Tehran to strike a deal or face a massive assault. The US president had earlier set a deadline of 8pm Eastern Time (local time 6:00 AM in Bangladesh), demanding Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz—a vital route for global energy supplies—or risk attacks on key infrastructure. Trump warns ‘whole civilization’ could die, says Iran still has time to act Vice President JD Vance said the US could use tools “not yet decided,” sparking speculation, though the White House dismissed claims that nuclear options were implied. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said only the president knows the final course of action. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) warned it would retaliate strongly if civilian infrastructure is targeted, raising fears of wider regional consequences. At the UN Security Council, Iran’s Ambassador Amir-Saeid Iravani criticised a draft resolution on the Strait of Hormuz as “biased and indefensible,” saying it misrepresents Iran as the aggressor while ignoring the root causes. He maintained that Iran’s actions were in self-defence. Adding to concerns, a nuclear expert warned that any strike on Iran’s Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant could trigger a disaster comparable to Chernobyl or Hiroshima, with long-term environmental and humanitarian consequences across the Gulf region.

The White House on Tuesday denied having any plans to use nuclear weapons against Iran, as a deadline set by President Donald Trump for Tehran to comply with US demands approached. The clarification came amid heightened tensions after Trump warned that a “whole civilisation will die tonight” if Iran failed to reach a deal, raising fears of possible nuclear escalation, reports Al Jazeera. US Vice President JD Vance said Washington still has options it has “not yet decided to use,” prompting speculation, though the White House dismissed claims that nuclear weapons were under consideration. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said only the president knows what actions may follow. The ultimatum requires Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face major attacks on key infrastructure. Legal experts have warned that targeting civilian facilities could constitute war crimes. Iran has responded defiantly. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned it would retaliate strongly against any attack on civilian targets, saying its response could extend “beyond the region.” The developments come as US and Israeli strikes on Iranian military infrastructure, including Kharg Island, intensify, while Iran and its allies continue counterattacks across the region.

Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) warned that any U.S. attack on civilian targets would trigger a response “beyond the region.” In a statement released on its official news outlet Sepah News, the IRGC said, “We will not hesitate to retaliate vile aggressions against civilian facilities.” The warning comes amid rising tensions between Tehran and Washington, following recent U.S. strikes on Iran’s Kharg Island and threats of further military action.

The United States launched strikes on military targets on Iran’s Kharg Island, a key oil hub, just hours before a deadline set by President Donald Trump, a White House official said Tuesday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity. The attacks come amid escalating tensions, with Trump warning that a “whole civilization will die tonight” if Iran did not comply with his demands. Earlier in the conflict, the U.S. targeted Kharg Island’s air defenses, radar installations, airport, and hovercraft base, according to satellite analyses by the Institute for the Study of War and the American Enterprise Institute’s Critical Threats Project. Semiofficial Iranian news agency Mehr reported several explosions on the island but provided no further details. The strikes coincided with disruptions to Iran’s railway network, which thousands of civilians rely on to flee toward the Turkish border after air travel was suspended due to the war. Israeli military officials also warned citizens to avoid train travel for safety reasons. Speaking from Budapest, U.S. Vice President JD Vance expressed confidence that Iran would respond to Washington by the 8 p.m. ET deadline, saying the U.S. has already defeated Iran militarily and can inflict greater economic costs than Tehran can impose.

Three gunmen opened fire at police outside a building housing the Israeli Consulate in Istanbul on Tuesday, triggering a firefight that left one attacker dead, Turkish officials said. The two others were wounded and arrested. Istanbul Governor Davut Gul said two police officers sustained minor injuries during the clash. The attackers were armed with long-barreled weapons. Turkey’s Interior Minister Mustafa Cifti said on X that the assailants had traveled from Izmit, about 100 kilometers east of Istanbul, in a rented car. One attacker was linked to a group described as “exploiting religion,” though the ministry did not name the organization. The two wounded attackers, identified as brothers Onur C. and Enes C., are under interrogation. Onur C. has a previous criminal record related to drugs, according to authorities. Video footage showed one assailant carrying an assault rifle and taking cover behind a bus while exchanging fire with police. A police officer was temporarily hit but managed to seek cover behind a tree. The consulate is located in a high-rise in Levent, Istanbul’s main business district. No Israeli diplomats were present, as Israel withdrew staff earlier due to security concerns amid deteriorating Turkey-Israel relations during the Gaza conflict. Turkish Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said three prosecutors, including a deputy chief prosecutor, have been assigned to lead the investigation. Police blocked roads and forensic teams examined the scene. U.S. Ambassador Tom Barrack condemned the attack, praising Turkish authorities for their “swift and decisive response,” while Israel’s Foreign Ministry also lauded Turkish security forces for preventing further casualties.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday warned that “a whole civilization” could be destroyed, while urging Iran to agree to a deal ahead of his looming deadline. The warning came about 12 hours before a deadline set by Trump for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face severe military strikes. In a post on his social media platform, Trump wrote, “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again,” adding, “I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will.” Despite the stark warning, Trump signaled there was still a chance to avoid escalation, saying that “maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen.” The comments come amid heightened tensions between the United States and Iran, with fears growing over possible military action if no agreement is reached.

Saudi Arabia’s only road link to Bahrain has reopened after being temporarily shut due to Iranian air strikes. Authorities had earlier closed the King Fahd Causeway as a precaution during attacks on nearby energy facilities, citing concerns over falling debris. The reopening was announced about five hours later, with officials confirming via social media that vehicle movement had resumed. The causeway, spanning 15.5 miles, serves as the sole road connection between the two Gulf countries. #From BBC