United News of Bangladesh

US Vice President JD Vance is expected to travel to Pakistan on Tuesday morning from Washington for talks related to a possible deal aimed at ending the war with Iran, Axios reported, citing three unnamed sources. The report said Vance’s visit to Islamabad is part of renewed diplomatic efforts to restart negotiations between Washington and Tehran, though neither government has officially confirmed the trip, reports Al Jazeera. The proposed talks come amid continued tensions surrounding the ongoing US-Iran conflict and a fragile ceasefire, with both sides trading accusations over violations and military actions in key strategic areas, including the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, global rights group Amnesty International issued a sharply critical annual report warning of a decline in global human rights standards and describing the leaders of Israel, Russia and the United States as “voracious predators.” The report said the actions of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump are contributing to the erosion of international norms and encouraging similar behaviour by other states. Amnesty said ongoing conflicts, including the war in Gaza, Russia’s war in Ukraine, and the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, reflect a broader breakdown of respect for international law and civilian protection. The organisation’s secretary general Agnes Callamard said global systems built after World War II were facing a “sharp U-turn” amid rising authoritarian practices and impunity. She also noted growing international resistance efforts, including legal cases at the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court, as signs of pushback against widespread violations.

US President Donald Trump offered mixed messages on Monday about the future of the ongoing conflict with Iran, saying he is in no rush to end the war while also expressing optimism that new negotiations could take place soon in Pakistan. With a 14-day ceasefire set to expire on Wednesday, Trump alternated between warning of escalation and signalling openness to a deal. He said “lots of bombs” could go off if no agreement is reached, but also indicated that talks may resume shortly in Islamabad, led by Vice President JD Vance. Iran, however, signalled reluctance to return to negotiations under pressure. Parliament speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said Tehran would not accept talks “under the shadow of threats,” accusing Washington of seeking Iran’s surrender. Tensions have remained high around the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil route. Recent clashes, including a US naval interception of an Iranian vessel and Tehran’s temporary halt of maritime traffic, have further strained the fragile ceasefire. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said US actions were “incompatible with the claim of diplomacy,” while offering no clear indication on whether Iran would rejoin talks after the truce expires. Trump insisted he faces no pressure to end the conflict until Iran meets US demands. “I am under no pressure whatsoever,” he said in a social media post, adding that developments could unfold “relatively quickly.” The US president also pushed back against domestic critics urging a swift resolution, while attempting to reassure markets amid volatility driven by the crisis. Oil prices have surged, with Brent crude rising to over $95 per barrel from about $70 before the conflict began. Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts continue elsewhere in the region. Talks between Israel and Lebanon are expected to resume in Washington, aimed at addressing tensions involving the Iran-backed Hezbollah group. Casualties have continued to mount. Iranian officials say more than 3,300 people have been killed since the conflict began, including hundreds of children. Additional deaths have been reported in Israel, Lebanon and among US forces deployed in the region. The US has maintained a naval blockade on Iran, which Trump said will remain in place until a comprehensive agreement is reached.

Rebuilding war-ravaged Gaza Strip will cost an estimated $71.4 billion over the next 10 years, according to a new report by the United Nations and the European Union with input from the World Bank. The report said $26.3 billion will be needed in the first 18 months to restore essential services, rebuild critical infrastructure and support economic recovery. It estimated damage to physical infrastructure at $35.2 billion, while economic and social losses since the war began following October 7 attacks are put at about $22.7 billion. The report also highlighted the severe humanitarian toll, noting that Gaza’s economy has contracted by 84%, more than 371,000 housing units have been destroyed, over half of the territory’s hospitals are non-functional and nearly all schools have been damaged or destroyed. UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said the next steps involve securing funding and ensuring the necessary humanitarian and security conditions on the ground. “We need both the resources and the right conditions for reconstruction to take place — and we are not there yet,” he told reporters.

Donald Trump has said the United States is working on a new agreement with Iran that he claims will be "far better" than deals reached by previous administrations. In a post on Truth Social, Trump referred to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) signed in 2015 between Iran and world powers including the US, UK, France, China, Russia and Germany. He described the agreement as "one of the Worst Deals ever made having to do with the Security of our Country", adding that it was "a guaranteed Road to a Nuclear Weapon", which "will not, and cannot, happen". Trump, who withdrew the US from the deal during his first term, also claimed that if the agreement had remained in place, nuclear weapons would have been used "on Israel, and all over the Middle East". #From BBC

The United States will host a second round of ambassador-level talks between Israel and Lebanon this Thursday, a State Department official said. "The United States welcomes the productive engagement" which began on 14 April, the official said. "We will continue to facilitate direct, good-faith discussions between the two governments." Israel has been engaged in conflict with the Iran-backed Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. A 10-day ceasefire is currently in place after six weeks of fighting. Last week, Israel and Lebanon held their first diplomatic talks since 1993. Marco Rubio, who mediated, said it was a "historic opportunity" to end Hezbollah's influence. Ahead of the initial talks, Israel said it wanted to disarm all non-state armed groups, referring to Hezbollah, while Lebanon called for a ceasefire and steps to address its humanitarian crisis. The two countries do not have diplomatic relations. #From BBC

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian has said that Iran continues to hold a “deep historical mistrust” toward the United States, while stressing that honoring commitments is essential for any meaningful dialogue. In a post on X, Pezeshkian said, “In addition to the deep historical distrust in Iran toward the background of the U.S. government’s behavior and performance, the non-constructive and contradictory approach of U.S. officials in recent days carries a bitter message: they seek Iran’s surrender.” He added, “The people of Iran will not bow to coercion.”  #From Al Jazeera

Emmanuel Macron has urged both the United States and Iran to ease tensions following heightened concerns over the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking at a joint press conference with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Macron stressed the need for diplomacy to resolve the situation. “Our position remains unchanged. Issues must be resolved through dialogue. All sides need to de-escalate,” he said. The French president also noted that France was not directly targeted during recent incidents in the strategic waterway. Iran had fired what were described as warning shots at ships on Saturday, including a container vessel operated by French shipping company CMA CGM.  #From Al Jazeera

US President Donald Trump has indicated his willingness to engage in dialogue with Iran as a US delegation, led by Vice President JD Vance, is set to arrive in Islamabad for talks. According to journalist Kimberly Halkett, reporting from Islamabad, Trump made the remarks during a conversation with a reporter, which was later relayed to others present. Although Trump is not part of the travelling delegation, he said he remains open to meeting Iran’s leaders. US seizes Iranian ship Touska ahead of Pakistan talks, tensions rise Addressing questions over Iran’s possible participation amid tensions over the continued US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and the seizure of an Iranian merchant vessel, Trump said, “I would assume at this point nobody is playing games.” His comments suggest that Washington expects Iran to take part in the upcoming talks despite the ongoing disputes. Source- Al Jazeera

The United States military seized an Iranian container vessel, Touska, near the Gulf in the early hours of Monday, sharply escalating tensions just hours before Washington is set to dispatch negotiators to Pakistan for talks aimed at ending the ongoing conflict. According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM) and former President Donald Trump, the vessel was targeted after it allegedly refused to comply with US instructions to withdraw from its intended route through the Strait of Hormuz. The US has been enforcing a naval blockade in the area since last Monday. Iran says no plans yet to attend US talks Iran condemned the incident, describing the attack and seizure as an act of “piracy,” and warned of retaliation. Within hours of the development, Tehran announced that it would not send its negotiators to Islamabad for the planned talks with the United States. The seizure of the Iranian ship is seen as a significant development with potential implications for ongoing diplomatic efforts and regional stability. Source: Al Jazeera

Houthis said they are on high alert to respond to any potential attacks against Yemen, according to a senior official. Major-General Mohammed al-Atifi, defence minister of the Houthi-led government, said the group is prepared to confront “any aggression against the Yemeni people.” In a statement, he said the latest phase of the conflict involving what he described as the “Zionist and American enemy” demonstrated unity among allied fronts and highlighted the effectiveness of military operations carried out by the so-called axis of resistance. The Houthis formally joined the US-Israel war involving Iran in late March, launching multiple long-range ballistic missile and drone attacks targeting Israel, opening a new front in the conflict. The group has vowed to continue its attacks until the war ends, using its arsenal to strike sensitive military sites and warning that operations could expand to maritime traffic in the Red Sea. Source- Al Jazeera