United News of Bangladesh

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Friday said Tehran has no trust in the United States, citing what he described as Washington’s tendency to change its position frequently. “We have no trust in Americans. This is the main obstacle to any diplomatic effort,” he told a group of journalists after the BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting in the Indian capital, New Delhi. He said Iran has sufficient reasons for its lack of trust, while the United States, in his view, has no grounds to distrust Iran. Vessel seized off UAE coast, believed to be heading toward Iran Araghchi further claimed that after about 40 days of conflict, when the United States became “hopeless” of achieving its objectives in what he termed aggression against Iran, Washington proposed negotiations. Referring to regional tensions, he said certain “warmongers” are seeking to draw the United States into another conflict, expressing hope that “wisdom and diplomacy will prevail” and lead to a negotiated solution. On the issue of the Strait of Hormuz, the Iranian foreign minister said Tehran wants it to remain fully open. “As far as we are concerned, the Strait of Hormuz is open and all vessels can pass, except those of countries that are fighting with us,” he said. Blaming US actions for instability in the region, Araghchi noted that the strategic waterway lies within the territorial waters of Iran and Oman, and stressed that its management should be handled by the two countries. He added that consultations are underway to ensure effective administration of the Strait of Hormuz in the future, guaranteeing safe passage for all vessels.

A vessel anchored off the eastern coast of the United Arab Emirates has been seized by unidentified individuals and is believed to be heading toward Iranian territorial waters, the British military said on Thursday. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said it received reports that the ship was boarded by unauthorized personnel while anchored about 38 nautical miles northeast of the UAE port of Fujairah, near the Strait of Hormuz. UKMTO did not identify the vessel and said an investigation is underway. No group has claimed responsibility for the seizure. The incident comes as US President Donald Trump is meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, where discussions are expected to focus on the war involving Iran and its impact on global trade and the economy. The seizure was reported hours after Israel said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had made a private visit to the UAE during the conflict, although Emirati authorities denied that any such visit took place. The UAE established diplomatic relations with Israel in 2020. Iran has repeatedly criticized the agreement and has accused Israel of maintaining a military and intelligence presence in the Gulf state. Fujairah is a key oil export terminal and the UAE’s main port outside the Persian Gulf. The area has faced repeated attacks during the conflict with Iran. Iran has seized several vessels since the war began. Last week, Iranian naval forces detained an oil tanker identified as the Ocean Koi, alleging it was involved in disrupting Iranian oil exports, according to the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency. Iranian authorities said the tanker was carrying Iranian oil in the Gulf of Oman when it was boarded and taken to Iran’s southern coast. The United States imposed sanctions on the Ocean Koi in February, saying it was part of a “shadow fleet” used to transport Iranian oil.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Araghchi has claimed that Kuwait carried out an “unlawful attack” on an Iranian vessel and detained four Iranian citizens in the Persian Gulf. Araghchi said, “Kuwait has unlawfully attacked an Iranian boat and detained four of our citizens in the Persian Gulf.” He further stated that the incident took place near an island allegedly used by the United States to launch attacks against Iran, describing it as a “clear attempt to sow discord.” Iran signals tighter control over Strait of Hormuz amid regional concerns His remarks came after Kuwait on Tuesday announced that it had arrested four individuals it accused of being members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), alleging they attempted to infiltrate Bubiyan Island by sea and injured a Kuwaiti soldier during the operation. In a statement posted on X, Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior said the operation was carried out on May 1. It added that naval officers were arrested aboard a fishing vessel “specially chartered to carry out hostile actions against Kuwait.” The ministry further said the detainees admitted during interrogation that they had been assigned by the IRGC to carry out infiltration activities. With inputs from Al Jazeera

Iranian officials have not yet issued a detailed response to recent comments made by Qatar and Türkiye, while maintaining that they do not view the strategic waterway as being used as a “weapon of war,” according to available reports. The stance of Tehran reflects its broader position on the Strait of Hormuz, a key global maritime passage. Iranian officials have indicated that efforts are underway to expand their operational reach to strengthen control over the route. At the same time, they have emphasized that commercial vessels are being allowed to pass safely through the corridor under designated arrangements set by the IRGC Navy. They further said that shipping traffic is required to coordinate with IRGC naval authorities while transiting the area, underscoring continued oversight of maritime movement through the strait. #From Al Jazeera

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has called on Pakistan to step up its mediation efforts between the United States and Iran, including initiatives aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Xinhua News Agency. Wang made the appeal during a phone conversation with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar. During the call, Dar briefed Wang on Islamabad’s recent diplomatic engagement efforts to facilitate dialogue between Washington and Tehran. He also expressed appreciation for China’s continued support and called for closer coordination between the two countries, Xinhua reported. Wang praised Pakistan’s role in facilitating talks and helping extend a temporary ceasefire. He said Islamabad’s efforts were important for regional stability and urged it to maintain momentum in supporting peace initiatives. The Chinese foreign minister also reiterated Beijing’s backing for Pakistan’s mediation efforts, saying China would continue to support and contribute to diplomatic initiatives aimed at easing tensions in the region. #From Al Jazeera

The US-Israeli war on Iran has cost the United States approximately $29 billion so far, according to a senior Pentagon official. Jules Hurst, who is performing comptroller duties, told US lawmakers that the total includes updated costs for equipment repair and replacement as well as operational expenses. He said the figure marks an increase of $4 billion from an estimate provided late last month. Iran war raises fears of bunker fuel shortage, higher shipping costs The conflict of US-Israeli war on Iran spread across the Middle East after the United States and Israel launched wide-ranging strikes on Iran, killing the country’s supreme leader on February 28. Iran retaliated by launching attacks on Israel and US-allied states in the Gulf region. The fighting escalated rapidly and extended to Lebanon, with casualties and damage mounting on all sides. The United States and Iran later agreed to a conditional two-week ceasefire starting on April 7. Source: Al Jazeera

Israel is setting up a military production facility to manufacture a large number of suicide drones in response to the growing threat posed by Hezbollah’s explosive unmanned aircraft, according to Israel Army Radio. The report said Hezbollah’s attack drones have created a major challenge for Israeli forces operating in southern Lebanon and along the country’s northern border. Army Radio said the drones have killed a number of Israeli soldiers and civilians in the area since the start of the ceasefire. Hezbollah has increasingly used fibre-optic drones that are difficult to detect and cannot be disrupted by electronic jamming. According to the report, these relatively low-cost drones have recently penetrated Israel’s advanced air defence systems and tested the effectiveness of its sophisticated radar network. The move to establish a dedicated production facility reflects Israel’s efforts to strengthen its drone capabilities amid ongoing tensions with Hezbollah along the Lebanon border.  #From Al Jazeera

US President Donald Trump on Monday said the ceasefire with Iran is “on life support,” rejecting Tehran’s latest proposal to end the conflict and describing it as “totally unacceptable.” Speaking at an unrelated White House event, Trump also termed Iran’s response to a US-backed peace plan as “stupid” and “unbelievably weak,” though he noted that a diplomatic resolution remains “very possible.” Iranian officials, however, pushed back against Washington’s position. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the US had made “unreasonable demands,” while Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that Tehran is prepared to respond to “any aggression.” Ghalibaf said the US should accept Iran’s proposal, cautioning that any alternative approach would be “inconclusive” and could impose greater costs on American taxpayers if delays continue. Amid the diplomatic tensions, the US and the UK have imposed new sanctions targeting Iranian individuals and entities. Meanwhile, violence continues elsewhere in the region. Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon reportedly killed four people in Nabatieh, including a 78-year-old woman and her 11-year-old grandson. The Israeli military says it is targeting positions linked to Hezbollah, which in turn claimed to have carried out 20 attacks against Israel. UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher expressed concern over the escalating impact on civilians, citing more than 100 Israeli strikes within 24 hours. With tensions persisting on multiple fronts, the already fragile ceasefire between Washington and Tehran appears increasingly uncertain. Source: Al Jazeera  

US President Donald Trump on Monday said the Iran ceasefire is on “life support” after he rejected Tehran’s latest proposal aimed at ending the ongoing conflict. Officials said Iran’s proposal included limited concessions on its disputed nuclear programme, but Trump dismissed it as “garbage” and said he did not even finish reading it. Speaking at an unrelated White House event, Trump said the ceasefire was “unbelievably weak” and described its current condition as being on “life support.” “I would call it the weakest right now after reading that piece of garbage they sent us,” he said, adding, “I didn’t even finish reading it.” The stalled negotiations and recent exchanges of fire have raised concerns of renewed conflict in the Middle East, potentially deepening a global energy crisis linked to the war. The situation has also kept tensions high over control of the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil route. Trump said he would consider suspending the federal tax on gasoline to help Americans cope with rising fuel prices, though such a move would require approval from Congress. He is expected to raise the issue during a planned visit to China this week, where he is likely to urge President Xi Jinping to put pressure on Iran, China being the largest buyer of Iranian crude oil. Meanwhile, diplomatic gaps remain wide between the two sides. Trump has demanded a major rollback of Iran’s nuclear activities, while Tehran is seeking a more limited agreement that would ease restrictions and reopen key trade routes ahead of further talks. According to regional officials quoted by The Associated Press, Iran has proposed diluting part of its highly enriched uranium and transferring the rest to a third country, with Russia previously offering to host it. However, Trump has insisted that all nuclear material be removed completely and is reportedly unlikely to accept Iran’s broader conditions, including formal arrangements over maritime control and compensation demands.

US President Donald Trump has said that the United States is closely monitoring Iranian enriched uranium reportedly buried under rubble, adding that the US Space Force is handling the issue. In an interview with independent journalist Sharyl Attkisson, recorded last week and aired on Sunday, Trump warned that if anyone attempts to approach the material, the United States would detect it and “blow them up.” He also claimed that US forces would need only two more weeks to strike “every single target” in Iran, which he described as already “militarily defeated.” Netanyahu says Iran war is ‘not over’; Trump rejects Tehran proposal “We could go in for two more weeks and do every single target. We have certain targets that we wanted to… And we’ve done probably 70 percent of them, but we have other targets that we could conceivably hit,” Trump said. Meanwhile, Iran’s latest response to a US-proposed text aimed at ending the war was sent on Sunday to mediator Pakistan, according to Iran’s official news agency IRNA. The report said the proposed framework suggests that negotiations at this stage would focus on ending the regional conflict. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said Iran must “make it clear” that it does not seek nuclear weapons, a condition Washington considers essential for any peace agreement.