United News of Bangladesh

A senior Iranian official has warned that Tehran will not allow the United States to “overreach” in ongoing negotiations or in any ceasefire process, while vowing a strong response to any future attacks. Mohsen Rezaee, a member of Iran’s Expediency Discernment Council and former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said any aggression against Iran would be met with a forceful military response. “The response to every shot and aggression will be a barrage of missiles and drones,” Rezaee wrote in a post on X. “History will not turn back, and the aggressor will be swiftly punished.” Rezaee also stressed that Iran would not permit Washington to exert excessive influence in either diplomatic negotiations or efforts related to a ceasefire. “Neither in negotiations nor in the ceasefire process will we allow America to overreach,” he added. The remarks come amid heightened regional tensions and continuing diplomatic efforts involving Iran, the United States and other regional actors. Rezaee’s comments reflect Tehran’s firm stance on safeguarding its interests while warning against any perceived external pressure or military escalation. Source: Al Jazeera

The US military said it carried out what it described as “self-defense” strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran launched missiles towards Kuwait and Bahrain, according to a statement from the US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM). In a post shared on X, CENTCOM said US forces also “successfully defeated multiple Iranian ballistic missiles and drones”. The command said the strikes were launched after Iran “launched several ballistic missiles towards regional neighbours” and that the missiles “all failed to hit their intended targets”. “Two Iranian missiles fired at Kuwait fell short or broke apart en route, and three missiles launched at Bahrain were immediately intercepted by US and Bahrain air defense forces,” CENTCOM said. Air raid sirens were heard earlier in both Bahrain and Kuwait amid the heightened tensions in the region. Meanwhile, Iran’s Mehr News Agency reported that explosions were heard in Qeshm city, adding that authorities were investigating the incident.

Hezbollah on Tuesday said it carried out 13 separate attacks on Israeli forces in southern Lebanon, targeting troop concentrations, military vehicles and command centres as fighting continued in the border region. In a statement, the Iran-backed group said its fighters used rockets, artillery shells, guided missiles and attack drones in operations aimed at Israeli positions and advancing troops across several areas of southern Lebanon. According to Hezbollah, its fighters targeted a number of Israeli Merkava tanks and detonated an explosive device against a military vehicle in the Haddatha and al-Balou’ areas. The group claimed the attack forced Israeli troops to stop their advance and retreat under the cover of Israeli air strikes. Hezbollah also said it launched attacks on Israeli forces stationed near the historic Beaufort Castle and in the town of Biyyada. The group claimed that guided missiles and rocket barrages hit an Israeli command post and armoured units in those locations. The claims could not be independently verified. Israeli authorities did not immediately comment on the reported attacks. #From Al Jazeera

Iran’s Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator in talks with the United States, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, has warned that Tehran could halt its dialogue with Washington if Israel continues its military operations in Lebanon. In a statement posted on X following a phone conversation with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Monday, Ghalibaf said he had stressed Iran’s position regarding the ongoing conflict. He said that if what he described as the “crimes of the Zionist regime” in Lebanon continue, Iran would not only suspend the negotiation process but would also take a firm stand against Israel. Ghalibaf reaffirmed Iran’s support for Lebanon and the resistance movement, expressing solidarity between the Iranian and Lebanese people. His remarks came amid heightened tensions in the region as Israeli military operations in Lebanon continue and diplomatic efforts involving Iran and the United States remain under way. Source: Al Jazeera

US President Donald Trump on Monday has said he urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to pull Israeli troops back from Lebanon’s capital Beirut and also held talks with Hezbollah representatives, claiming the group had agreed to stop firing at Israeli forces. In response, Netanyahu told Trump that Israel would continue strikes on Beirut if Hezbollah keeps launching attacks against Israeli cities and civilians, according to a statement from the Israeli prime minister’s office. The statement added that Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon would proceed as planned. Meanwhile, Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, warned that Tehran could take a tougher stance if Israeli attacks on Lebanon continue. During talks with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Ghalibaf said Iran would not only suspend its negotiation process with the United States but could also enter into direct confrontation with Israel if the conflict escalates further. Despite the warning from Tehran, Trump said negotiations between the United States and Iran were continuing rapidly. On the ground, hostilities persisted in Lebanon. The country’s National News Agency reported ongoing Israeli air strikes in southern Lebanon late Monday, with reports of casualties. According to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, Israeli military operations in Lebanon since March have killed 3,433 people and injured 10,395 others. Source: Al Jazeera

During a visit to Pakistan’s capital, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas praised Islamabad for helping prevent a “return to full-blown war on several occasions”. “There is now a 10-year diplomatic opening to extend the ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz,” Kallas said at a joint press conference with Pakistan’s foreign minister. She also reiterated earlier remarks that any agreement must be followed by deeper talks on Iran’s nuclear programme. “I see a concrete role for the EU in helping to make any eventual agreement durable.” #From Al Jazeera

Trump said he does not care if negotiations with Iran come to an end. “I don’t care if they’re over, honestly. I really don’t care. I couldn’t care less,” he told CNBC. Trump also said he is not concerned about rising oil prices. “I think the oil will be dropping like a rock in the very near distance.” #From Al Jazeera

The US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) said it has redirected 121 commercial vessels and “disabled” five others as part of its ongoing blockade of Iranian ports. Recent updates from CENTCOM showed that US forces redirected three vessels in the past day and 13 over the past week.  #From Al Jazeera

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei on Monday morning has said there are currently no discussions with the United States regarding the details of Tehran's nuclear programme, stressing that ending the ongoing conflict remains the country's immediate priority . Speaking at a weekly news conference, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Iran would decide independently when it is necessary to address issues related to its nuclear activities. US military targets Iranian sites in Goruk city and Qeshm Island “We know when it is necessary to act on nuclear matters,” Baghaei said, adding that “no negotiations have taken place on the details of the nuclear file.” He noted that Iran’s primary focus at present is bringing the war to an end. Baghaei also accused the United States of violating the ceasefire and warned that Tehran would take any measures it considers necessary to safeguard the country's national security. His remarks came after the US military said it had carried out attacks on Iranian radar and drone facilities in the city of Goruk and on Qeshm Island over the weekend. The United States described the operation as “self-defence strikes.” With inputs from Al Jazeera

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has strongly condemned the entry of  Israeli settlers into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound under the protection of Israeli police, describing the incident as a “provocation.” In a statement, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the settlers’ actions, including raising the Israeli flag at the compound on Sunday, constituted a violation of the site's historical and legal status quo. The compound is regarded as one of the holiest places in Islam. US military targets Iranian sites in Goruk city and Qeshm Island The ministry also reaffirmed support for Jordan’s role as the custodian of the mosque and backed measures taken by Amman to safeguard religious sites. The UAE called on Israeli authorities to take responsibility for stopping what it described as escalatory actions and urged efforts to prevent further tensions in the region. It also appealed to the international community to intensify efforts toward achieving a two-state solution, saying such a framework would help fulfill Palestinian aspirations for an independent state. The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, is governed by a longstanding status quo arrangement under which Muslims are permitted to pray at the site, while non-Muslims may visit but are not allowed to worship there. With inputs from Al Jazeera.