United News of Bangladesh

US President Donald Trump said he has instructed American envoys not to travel to Pakistan for further Iran talks, shortly after Iran’s top diplomat left Islamabad on Saturday evening. Speaking to Fox News, Trump said, “They can call us anytime they want,” according to Reuters. The White House had earlier stated on Friday that US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would travel to Pakistan’s capital to revive ceasefire negotiations with Iran. Two Pakistani officials told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak to the media, that Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi departed Islamabad on Saturday evening. Iran vows to react if U.S. continues "blockade, banditry" in region During his visit, Araghchi met Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, discussing Iran’s “red lines” for negotiations. He said Tehran would continue engaging with Pakistan’s mediation efforts “until a result is achieved,” while insisting that any talks with the US would remain indirect. Iran has repeatedly expressed mistrust of Washington after failed nuclear negotiations last year and earlier this year, which were followed by US and Israeli strikes. Ahead of the expected talks, Islamabad was placed under tight security. Pakistan has been trying to bring both sides back to negotiations after Trump extended the ceasefire. The White House earlier confirmed Witkoff and Kushner would meet Araghchi, but Iran insisted Pakistan would relay messages. Previous high-level talks and Geneva negotiations ended without agreement. Tensions around the Strait of Hormuz continue to disrupt global energy supplies, with Brent crude nearly 50% higher than pre-war levels. Iran has attacked ships, while the US maintains a blockade. Germany is sending minesweepers to the Mediterranean amid the crisis.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has arrived in Islamabad as part of a three-country tour amid ongoing diplomatic efforts involving the United States and Pakistan, while conflicting statements have emerged over planned Iran-US talks. The White House said US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will travel to Islamabad for talks with Iran. However, an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said “no meeting is planned to take place between Iran and the US”, adding that Tehran’s “observations would be conveyed by Pakistan”. Commercial flights resume at Tehran airport after two months Pakistani mediators remain “cautiously optimistic” about the prospects of Iran-US engagement following Araghchi’s arrival in the Pakistani capital, says report. The Iranian side has maintained that no trilateral meeting with the United States is scheduled, rejecting the US version of events. Tehran has also insisted that a key sticking point remains the demand for the complete opening of the Strait of Hormuz and an end to what it describes as a US blockade, while Washington has not indicated any willingness to lift restrictions. Despite the disagreement, Pakistani officials said the ongoing presence of all sides reflects progress in behind-the-scenes diplomacy. They described the process as “relentless diplomacy” involving continuous engagement from multiple parties. According to diplomatic sources, in the past 24 hours Pakistan has held separate discussions not only with Iran but also with Russia. Officials said Moscow is expected to be another stop on the Iranian foreign minister’s tour after leaving Pakistan. While the situation remains at a stalemate, mediators in Islamabad believe continued shuttle diplomacy could help keep dialogue efforts alive between Tehran and Washington. Source- Al Jazeera

Commercial flight operations have resumed at Imam Khomeini International Airport for the first time since the outbreak of war between Iran and the United States and Israel about two months ago. Iran’s state-run television said Saturday that flights from the airport are now operating to destinations including Istanbul in Turkey, Muscat in Oman and Medina in Saudi Arabia. Flight-tracking platform Flightradar24 showed at least three Istanbul-bound flights departing the airport in the morning, confirming the partial restoration of international air connectivity. Iran had earlier reopened parts of its airspace this month during a temporary ceasefire with the United States, allowing limited aviation activity to resume. Authorities have not yet announced when full-scale international flight operations will be completely restored.

An unexploded GBU “bunker buster” bomb dropped during recent US-Israeli attacks has been successfully neutralised in Iran’s Yazd province, according to local authorities. Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported that the bomb was buried about 13 metres underground beneath a residential area after failing to detonate. A deputy provincial governor for security in Yazd Province said the ordnance had struck the area during the conflict but remained lodged deep beneath the surface, posing a significant risk to residents, reports Al Jazeera. He added that the high-risk disposal operation was carried out jointly by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and local law enforcement bomb disposal units. Authorities did not report any casualties, and the situation is now under control following the successful removal of the device.

Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and parts of the Gaza Strip began voting on Saturday in municipal elections, the first since Israel’s war on Gaza began in October 2023. According to the Ramallah-based Central Elections Commission, nearly 1.5 million voters are registered in the West Bank, while about 70,000 people are eligible to vote in the Deir el-Balah area of the Gaza Strip, reports Al Jazeera. Polling stations opened at 7am (04:00 GMT), marking a significant political event amid ongoing conflict. The elections are being held as many residents in Gaza continue to face severe humanitarian challenges, struggling to meet basic needs due to continued Israeli military operations. Since the start of the war, at least 72,568 people have been killed and more than 172,338 injured in Gaza, according to available figures. The vote is the first electoral exercise among Palestinians since the outbreak of the war, taking place under difficult security and humanitarian conditions.

The European Union has warned that any new agreement with Iran could be weaker than the 2015 nuclear deal if ongoing US-Iran talks proceed without the involvement of nuclear experts. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Friday that excluding technical experts from negotiations would undermine the strength of any potential deal. “If the talks are only about the nuclear and there are no nuclear experts around the table, then we will end up with an agreement that is weaker than the JCPOA was,” she said. Kallas made the remarks as EU leaders gathered in Nicosia, Cyprus to discuss the economic and security implications of the ongoing Middle East conflict. The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was a landmark agreement between Iran and world powers including the United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia, China, Germany and the EU. Under the deal, Tehran agreed to limit its nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. However, the United States withdrew from the agreement during the first term of former President Donald Trump. Kallas also said EU leaders emphasised that freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz is “non-negotiable” and called for increased EU military presence in the region. The warning comes amid renewed diplomatic efforts and rising tensions in the Middle East, with uncertainty surrounding the future of US-Iran negotiations.

More than 40 container ships are still stranded in the Middle East Gulf as major shipping companies continue to suspend operations due to the ongoing conflict involving Iran, according to a shipping industry report. Shipping journal Lloyd’s List said at least 43 vessels from the world’s 10 largest container carriers remain stuck in the region reported AL Jazeera Top global operators, including CMA CGM, COSCO, Hapag-Lloyd and MSC, have halted services in the area since the conflict began in late February. The disruption has caused major delays and increased costs for global trade, the report said. Some vessels from these companies managed to leave the region safely, but two ships belonging to MSC were seized by Iranian authorities, according to Lloyd’s List.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to arrive in Islamabad on Friday night with a small delegation in a move seen as a step towards the possible resumption of direct US-Iran talks aimed at easing escalating tensions. Senior officials in Islamabad confirmed the development to international media following a series of phone calls between Araghchi and Pakistani leaders on Friday, reports Al Jazeera. However, Iran’s state news agency IRNA said the visit is primarily bilateral and focused on talks with Pakistani officials, not direct negotiations with the United States. After his Islamabad visit, Araghchi is expected to travel to Moscow and Muscat. A Pakistani official said there was a “high likelihood of a breakthrough” in efforts to restart stalled US-Iran dialogue, despite rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and recent naval confrontations. The development comes after earlier expectations that a US delegation led by Vice President JD Vance would travel to Islamabad for talks. However, Iran reportedly refused to return to negotiations, citing a naval blockade imposed by US President Donald Trump on April 13. Since then, both sides have exchanged maritime actions in the Strait of Hormuz, further complicating diplomatic efforts, while talks have remained uncertain. Araghchi held separate phone conversations on Friday with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, as well as Pakistan’s military leadership, according to media reports. Pakistan has been playing a mediating role in facilitating dialogue between Washington and Tehran, with officials saying the US remains prepared for renewed talks despite delays. The proposed discussions involve key issues including Iran’s nuclear programme, US sanctions, and the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, heightened security measures and repeated road closures in Islamabad have disrupted daily life, as the capital hosts diplomatic activity linked to the stalled negotiations. Residents have reported repeated interruptions to court services, education, transport and business activities due to security restrictions linked to the high-level diplomatic engagements. Pakistan’s role as a mediator comes amid its own economic challenges, including IMF-backed reforms, rising fuel prices and power shortages. Despite uncertainty, officials and observers say diplomatic efforts continue behind the scenes, though a firm date for renewed US-Iran talks has not yet been confirmed.

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Friday held a telephone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, emphasising the need for continued dialogue and engagement to promote regional peace and stability. According to a statement from Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, the two leaders exchanged views on the prevailing regional situation, including the ceasefire and Islamabad’s ongoing diplomatic efforts in the context of US-Iran engagement. Araghchi appreciated Pakistan’s consistent and constructive role in facilitating diplomatic initiatives, the statement said. Both sides agreed to remain in close contact over the evolving situation.

The United States Department of Defense has rejected media reports suggesting that reopening the Strait of Hormuz could take up to six months, accusing news outlets of misrepresenting classified information. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell, speaking to the BBC, said claims that clearing mines from the vital waterway would take months were not accurate. “One assessment does not mean the assessment is plausible, and a six-month closure of the Strait of Hormuz is an impossibility and completely unacceptable to the Secretary,” he said. Parnell also criticised reports based on leaked classified briefings, calling them misleading. “The media cherry-picking leaked information, much of which is false, from a classified, closed briefing is dishonest journalism,” he added. The Strait of Hormuz remains a key global energy route amid heightened tensions in the region, with ongoing disputes involving the United States and Iran over maritime security and oil transport.