United News of Bangladesh

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman urged US President Donald Trump not to escalate the conflict with Iran during a phone conversation on Saturday, as Trump considers launching new military strikes against Tehran, according to a person familiar with the discussion. The call, first reported by media, came amid growing concerns in Riyadh that US attacks on Iran’s energy facilities or other critical infrastructure could trigger retaliatory strikes against Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states’ energy assets. The source, who was not authorized to speak publicly, said the crown prince sought clarification from Trump about the military options under consideration. Trump warns of continued military action against Iran A White House official confirmed the leaders spoke but declined to disclose details of the conversation. Earlier this week, Saudi Arabia joined the United States in strikes targeting logistics and weapons facilities used by Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, while continuing to advocate renewed US-Iran negotiations to end the five-month conflict. The crown prince also sent Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman to Washington for separate meetings with Trump and Vice President JD Vance on Iran strategy. Trump has vowed retaliation after Iran’s failed attack on a US base in Jordan. The State Department on Saturday issued security alerts for Americans in 10 Middle Eastern countries, warning of possible flight disruptions and heightened regional risks as tensions continue to rise.

US President Donald Trump has threatened further military strikes against Iran as Washington presses for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, amid escalating tensions across the Middle East. Speaking at Camp David on Friday, Trump said the US would continue striking Iran "very hard" until it could no longer sustain the conflict. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt accused Tehran of violating a truce memorandum, attacking commercial ships and killing US troops, warning that Iran would continue to face consequences. Trump announces Hamas disarmament agreement, but challenges remain The US State Department also issued heightened security alerts for Americans in 10 regional countries, citing risks of flight disruptions and airspace closures. On Saturday, Kuwait said its forces responded to fresh Iranian drone attacks targeting key facilities, though no casualties were reported. Separately, two tanker-related incidents occurred in the Strait of Hormuz off Oman, with one vessel sustaining engine room damage after being hit by a projectile. In Gaza, Israeli strikes killed at least four people after Hamas announced it was willing to disarm under a US-brokered ceasefire framework. Israel said it targeted Hamas positions and weapons storage sites. Egypt welcomed Hamas's response, while Israeli far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir rejected the proposal. Elsewhere, Yemen's Houthi rebels diverted Saudi shipping, Israel destroyed an alleged Hezbollah tunnel network in southern Lebanon, and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun criticised the operation ahead of planned talks in Rome. An Israeli army officer was also wounded during operations in southern Lebanon.

Hamas said Friday it has agreed to a phased roadmap to disarm, a significant step that could help end the war in Gaza if Israel also fulfills key conditions, including ending hostilities and withdrawing its forces from the Palestinian territory. Senior Hamas official Bassem Naim confirmed the agreement on X, while a Hamas official and a regional official told media the group's commitment is contingent on Israeli concessions. Israel has not commented on the deal announced earlier by U.S. President Donald Trump, nine months after a U.S.-brokered 20-point ceasefire plan was signed. The agreement calls for Hamas to surrender weapons, dismantle tunnels, facilitate an Israeli troop withdrawal, establish a new Palestinian technocratic government, deploy an International Stabilization Force (ISF) and begin Gaza's reconstruction. Police weapons would be transferred to the U.S.-backed National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, while heavy weapons and tunnels would be decommissioned in phases linked to Israel's withdrawal. Israel, however, has insisted it will not withdraw from areas under its control until Hamas is fully disarmed. U.S., Turkish, Egyptian and Qatari mediators are guaranteeing the deal, though Israel is not a signatory. Officials said the disarmament process could take 200-350 days. The war began after Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023 attack that killed about 1,200 people, while Gaza's Health Ministry says Israel's offensive has killed more than 73,000 Palestinians.

The US military said early Thursday that it had completed what it called “a heavy wave of strikes against Iran” in response to an earlier Iranian missile attack on a US base in Jordan. US Central Command said in a social media post that over a two-hour period, US forces struck “dozens” of targets linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, including military command centers, missile and drone facilities, and coastal surveillance and defence sites. The US military launched the retaliatory strikes on Iranian targets Wednesday following Tehran’s attack on American forces in Jordan. The strikes came after the US, together with Saudi Arabia, attacked Iran-backed militias in neighbouring Iraq, killing at least 20 fighters and six Iranian advisers. The latest strikes came hours after US President Donald Trump vowed to hit Iran “very hard” after Tehran targeted a base in Jordan that hosts US troops. Iranian state media reported that two people were injured in attacks on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. Explosions were also reported in Khuzestan province in southwestern Iran. Meanwhile, drone strikes set fire to two natural gas vessels at Egypt’s Damietta port, according to British maritime security firm Ambrey. It was not immediately clear who was behind the attacks on a US-owned floating storage facility and a Greek-owned tanker. No injuries were reported.

The stop-start conflict between the United States and Iran appears to have entered a new phase, with Saudi Arabia publicly joining military action against Tehran-backed proxies as diplomatic efforts to end the war once again falter amid deepening mistrust between the two longtime adversaries. Despite several days of relative calm, both sides carried out military strikes over the past 24 hours, raising fears of a return to full-scale fighting and further regional escalation. At the same time, it remains unclear whether either Washington or Tehran has a clear strategy for ending the conflict. While President Donald Trump and his allies have recently claimed that Iran is eager to return to negotiations, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister said Tuesday that Tehran had made no request to resume diplomatic talks for more than two weeks. After an attempted attack on a US base in Jordan was thwarted, Trump returned to threatening Iran on Wednesday while keeping open the possibility of further negotiations. "They've already apologized, but, you know, we got to smack them a little bit," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. "It's our turn, and we'll see if we get there with an agreement at some point. But we're going to hit them very hard." Hours later, the US military said it had launched "a powerful response to yesterday's attempted Iranian attacks on U.S. forces based in the Middle East" in a social media post. It did not immediately provide details about the targets. The latest developments reflect a pattern seen repeatedly over the past several months, with Trump alternating between saying a deal to end the war and address Iran's nuclear programme was close and issuing threats aimed at forcing Tehran to accept US demands. The stakes are particularly high for Trump and his Republican Party as the unpopular conflict has disrupted the global economy only months before the crucial November midterm elections. Renewed fighting has also resulted in more US military casualties and raised concerns that Washington is depleting stocks of key air defence systems needed to protect its troops and allies. Saudi Arabia enters conflict as Israel steps back Iran said it fired ballistic missiles at Jordan's Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, a key US military facility in the region, over the past day. Trump said the missiles were intercepted. Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, joined the United States in striking several logistics and weapons facilities used by Iranian-backed militias in Iraq. The first publicly announced joint US-Saudi strikes came after drone attacks targeted Saudi Arabia, further complicating a conflict that now involves nearly every country in the region. A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military operations, said the two attacks were not linked. Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman was at the White House on Wednesday, where he separately met Trump and Vice President JD Vance, according to a person familiar with the matter who was not authorised to speak publicly. Drone attacks also caused fires on two natural gas vessels at a port in Egypt, a close US ally and regional mediator. Egypt has so far been among the few Middle Eastern countries spared direct military action during the war. If the attack is confirmed to have been carried out by Iran or its allies, it would represent a significant expansion of the conflict. The US-Saudi strikes came hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu left his first meeting with Trump since the two countries launched their war against Iran on Feb. 28. An Israeli official briefed on Tuesday's White House meeting said Netanyahu assured Trump that the United States, rather than Israel, was leading the policy toward Iran. The comment appeared aimed at countering suggestions that Netanyahu was increasingly out of step with Washington over the way forward. However, Israeli officials have privately expressed concern that Trump is seeking to keep the conflict at a low level as the midterm elections approach, according to a person familiar with internal discussions within Netanyahu's government. Both the person and the Israeli official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the matter publicly. The person said Israeli officials are also increasingly concerned about Trump's sensitivity to rising oil prices as the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed to global energy shipments. They are also worried about growing concerns within the US administration over the rapid use of critical missile interceptors. The recent fighting with Iran has further reduced US stocks of Patriot and THAAD interceptors, which were already limited, potentially increasing risks to American troops if hostilities resume, according to an analysis released this week by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington-based think tank. Gen Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has also warned Trump that the condition of US munitions stocks could affect military operations against Iran, another US official said. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive conversations, said Caine delivered the message as part of his regular responsibility to provide Trump with military advice and options. Failed diplomacy clouds prospects for US-Iran talks The Trump administration currently appears to have no clear strategy for restarting negotiations with Iran over ending the conflict. Although some mediators have been working to revive talks or establish conditions for their resumption, the administration is not actively pursuing negotiations at present, a senior US official said. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, said recent developments in the region indicate that a return to direct diplomacy is not imminent. Analysts say the uncertainty and lack of a clear strategy are rooted in deepening mistrust between Washington and Tehran, particularly after an interim ceasefire proposal agreed in mid-June collapsed in recent weeks. Ali Vaez, Iran project director at the International Crisis Group, said senior Iranian officials had been nearly unanimous in approving the memorandum of understanding with the United States. "But now none of them believe that Trump is a reliable negotiating partner," he said. "The problem, I think, is that Trump also has now the same impression about the Iranians." The repeated cycle of negotiations, breakdowns and military strikes is not entirely unexpected. US-Iran relations since the 1979 Islamic Revolution have been marked by failed negotiations, false starts and military actions that stopped short of full-scale war, although the two countries are now engaged in a much more serious conflict. Despite its shortcomings, the 2015 nuclear agreement reached with Iran under the Obama administration was the first major agreement between the two countries since the Algiers Accords in 1981, which ended the US hostage crisis and established a framework for resolving other disputes, including the unfreezing of Iranian assets held by the United States since the Islamic Revolution. However, both sides accused each other of violating the terms of the agreements from the outset. Disputes over alleged violations of the Algiers Accords contributed to a period of intense hostility, including US support for Saddam Hussein's Iraq during the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war. Relations improved somewhat after the 2015 nuclear deal, but Trump's decision to withdraw from the agreement in 2018 during his first term, his "maximum pressure" sanctions campaign against Tehran and the US killing of Iran's top military commander Qassem Soleimani in early 2020 pushed relations to new lows.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday vowed a strong military response against Iran following ballistic missile attacks targeting American forces in the Middle East a day earlier. "We'll be hitting them hard," Trump said in an interview with media. "They're going to get a beating." Despite the warning, Trump said his administration would continue to allow Iranian officials to participate in ongoing negotiations. Iraqi president condemns Saudi-US strikes on PMF as sovereignty violation The US president also said he was considering issuing additional warnings to Iran-backed groups operating across the region. Earlier, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said US and Saudi fighter jets carried out strikes on several logistics and weapons facilities in eastern Iraq on Tuesday night. The operation came in response to more than 30 drone attacks allegedly directed by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) over the previous 72 hours. Meanwhile, the Iraqi presidency strongly condemned the US-Saudi airstrikes targeting the country's paramilitary Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), describing them as "unacceptable aggression" and a "flagrant violation of Iraq's sovereignty."

Iraqi President Nizar Amedi has strongly condemned the Saudi-US strikes targeting the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) in Iraq, describing the attacks as a serious breach of the country's sovereignty. In a statement, Amedi called the deadly strikes "unacceptable" and said they constituted a "blatant violation of Iraq's sovereignty," accusing the attackers of targeting the country's official security institutions in violation of international law and the United Nations Charter. Jordan intercepts Iranian missiles as US, Saudi forces strike militia targets in Iraq The Iraqi president stressed that Iraq's territory must not be used as a launchpad or battlefield for attacks against neighbouring countries or as a venue for resolving regional or international conflicts. He also called on all parties to respect Iraq's sovereignty and avoid any actions that could threaten the country's security and stability. With inputs from Al Jazeera

Jordan said its air defense systems intercepted and destroyed five missiles fired from Iran early Wednesday, hours after the United States said it had repelled an Iranian missile attack targeting American forces in the Middle East, ending a brief lull in hostilities. Jordan's military confirmed the interceptions, while Iran's state-run IRNA news agency quoted the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as saying its Aerospace Force had launched ballistic missiles targeting Jordan's Muwaffaq Salti Air Base and the headquarters of the US military's Central Command in the country. The renewed exchange of attacks rattled global energy markets, with Brent crude, the international benchmark, rising 3.1 percent to $84.58 per barrel. Earlier, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces remained on high alert and had joined Saudi forces in carrying out strikes against sites in Iraq allegedly used by Iran-backed militias to launch recent attacks. The United States warned that any further attacks on American troops or Saudi Arabia's energy infrastructure could trigger additional military action. In Baghdad, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi convened an emergency meeting of the National Security Council to assess the situation following the strikes. The latest escalation follows a short period of relative calm between Washington and Tehran, during which neither side reported attacks for about three days after weeks of heightened tensions centered on the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway through which roughly one-fifth of the world's traded oil passes. The renewed violence adds to mounting pressure on US President Donald Trump after weeks of conflict in the region. Four American service members have been killed in recent fighting, while the Pentagon has sought additional funding from Congress to cover the growing costs of military operations.

The US military said Tuesday it intercepted a barrage of Iranian missiles targeting American forces in the Middle East and, along with Saudi forces, struck sites in Iraq used by Iran-backed militias to launch attacks in recent days. US Central Command said all Iranian missiles fired at American forces were intercepted and that US troops “remain vigilant and at a high state of readiness.” The United States also warned that further attacks on its troops or Saudi Arabia’s energy infrastructure could trigger additional military action. The latest strikes ended a brief lull in fighting between the United States and Iran after weeks of tensions over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a key Persian Gulf waterway through which about 20% of the world’s traded oil normally passes. There was no immediate response from Tehran to the US military’s statement or the strikes. The renewed fighting came as President Donald Trump faced growing pressure over the conflict. Four US troops have been killed in recent weeks, while the Pentagon has sought additional funding from an increasingly skeptical Congress to cover the war’s rising costs. High gasoline prices linked to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have also raised concerns for Republicans ahead of November’s midterm elections. The US House narrowly passed a resolution last week calling for an end to military action against Iran. Trump has repeatedly backed away from threats to target bridges, power plants and other infrastructure in Iran. But speaking to Fox News Channel on Tuesday, he said Iran knows he will “finish the job” if its leaders fail to reach a deal to end the war. US, Saudi forces strike Iraq sites Iran launched its ballistic missiles before US and Saudi forces carried out strikes in Iraq, according to a US official who said the two operations were not connected. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive military operations. US and Saudi fighter aircraft struck several logistics and weapons sites in eastern Iraq in response to more than 30 drone attacks directed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) over the previous 72 hours, US Central Command said. The command warned that the IRGC and its Iran-backed groups must stop the attacks to avoid further US military action. Saudi Arabia’s Defense Ministry confirmed the strikes, saying the kingdom does not seek escalation but would respond to any aggression. Saudi Arabia also said its air defenses intercepted and destroyed several drones launched by Iran-backed militias in Iraq for a second straight day. The drones had targeted petroleum facilities in the kingdom’s eastern region. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi ordered security agencies to investigate after Saudi Arabia accused Iran-backed groups of carrying out a similar attack Monday. The Iraqi military said it was committed to preventing its territory from being used as a route or launching point for attacks against friendly countries. The Iraqi militias denied involvement. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed armed groups, called Saudi Arabia’s allegations “fabrications” and suggested that Yemen’s Houthi rebels could have carried out Monday’s attacks. Houthis target Saudi tanker The Houthis claimed they fired missiles at the Saudi oil tanker NCC Ghazal, forcing it to turn back. Last week, they announced a blockade of Saudi shipping, raising concerns over another key waterway, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait leading to the Red Sea. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center said a tanker reported hearing explosions while sailing in the southern Red Sea. It did not identify the vessel but said the ship and its crew were safe. The Houthis also fired on at least one Saudi tanker in the Red Sea last week. Iran and the United States had paused their fighting over the weekend, although tensions remained high. Officials said mediators had made progress toward bringing the two sides back to negotiations. Iran said Tuesday that earlier US strikes had destroyed an airport and a marine control tower and damaged 12 bridges and two tunnels, among other infrastructure. Iran had effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz after the war began by firing at or threatening freighters and tankers off its coast. After an interim ceasefire deal was signed in June, a struggle for control of the waterway followed. Trump meets Netanyahu The latest strikes came on the same day Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Trump at the White House for the first time since the two countries launched the war against Iran on Feb. 28. Israel has largely stayed out of the latest fighting with Iran. Netanyahu called the meeting “excellent,” while Trump described it as “very good” and said “many important subjects were discussed.” Meanwhile, concerns have grown over the US military’s ability to intercept Iranian missiles as lawmakers, military officials and experts warn that the country’s stockpile of missile interceptors is declining. Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s chief spokesperson, rejected those concerns, saying the US military “has everything it needs to execute at the time and place of the president’s choosing.”

Iran on Tuesday hanged two men convicted in a case of killing four police officers during January protests, state media reported. A report by Mizanonline.ir, affiliated to the country’s judiciary, identified the two as Abolfazl Sepahi Badjani and Amir Hossein Safari Hosseinabadi, saying they also set a police station on fire and damaged public properties in the central city of Isfahan, some 400 kilometers (250 miles) south of the capital, Tehran. The two men are the latest executed from among the tens of thousands who were arrested during a January crackdown on nationwide protests. Rights groups say more could face death sentences. The protests that began late December and extended to January faced a heavy crackdown by security forces. Earlier in July Iran hanged two other men in the same case. Iran put the death toll of the protests at more than 3,000. Right groups activists put the number at more than 7,000.