United News of Bangladesh

US President Donald Trump shared a video showing massive explosions in Iran, reportedly in the city of Isfahan early Tuesday. The footage shows multiple blasts followed by huge fires illuminating the night sky in orange. Trump did not give further context, but media reports suggest the clip shows a joint US-Israeli strike on a major ammunition depot in Isfahan, home to 2.3 million people and the Badr military airbase. The authenticity of the video has not been independently verified. A US official, cited by The Wall Street Journal, said US forces targeted the depot with 2,000-pound (about 907 kg) bunker-buster bombs. The strike reportedly caused a series of powerful secondary explosions, sending towering fireballs and shockwaves through the area. The attack has raised concerns over further escalation in the second month of the war, even as countries including Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey have sought diplomatic solutions. Reports indicate Iran may have moved roughly 540 kg of highly enriched uranium to an underground facility in Isfahan. The city was also targeted in a previous US strike last year under Operation Midnight Hammer, aimed at its nuclear sites. The strikes came a day after Trump threatened widespread destruction of Iran’s energy infrastructure, nuclear facilities, and water plants if a deal to end the war is not reached “shortly.” He had warned the US would target Iranian energy sites if negotiations with a “new and more reasonable regime” failed and the Strait of Hormuz remained closed. Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have repeatedly accused Iran of nearing nuclear weapons capability, a claim not supported by the UN nuclear watchdog. #From NDTV

Iran has firmly denied holding any negotiations with the United States, dismissing Washington’s claims of ongoing and advancing talks as inaccurate. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said Tehran has consistently maintained that no direct negotiations are taking place, despite repeated assertions from US officials suggesting progress and even partial Iranian acceptance of a set of proposed terms. Iranian officials acknowledged that messages are being exchanged indirectly through intermediaries and that they are aware of a list of 15 proposals attributed to the US. However, Tehran considers these demands unacceptable, describing them as “non-starters” that undermine the country’s sovereignty and national integrity. The proposals reportedly include conditions such as abandoning Iran’s nuclear programme and relinquishing control over the Strait of Hormuz. At the same time, US officials view Iran’s own set of five demands as equally unrealistic, as they include calls for the closure of American military bases in the Gulf region. The sharp differences highlight a deep divide between the two sides, with little sign of convergence. Iranian authorities said their priority remains national defence rather than negotiations. Against this backdrop, Iran has continued its military operations in the region, launching successive waves of missiles and drones targeting Israel and other locations. Iranian officials said the latest assault marked the 87th wave and was carried out by the navy. The announcement appeared aimed at countering remarks by former US President Donald Trump, who had claimed that Iran’s naval capabilities were largely destroyed in the early stages of the conflict. #From Al Jazeera

US President Donald Trump has threatened to target Iran’s civilian energy infrastructure, including power plants, oil wells and Kharg Island, if Tehran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz. In a post on social media, Trump warned of escalating action if a deal is not reached soon. He said significant progress has been made, but cautioned that if an agreement is not reached shortly and the Strait of Hormuz is not immediately reopened for business, the US would end its “stay” in Iran by destroying the country’s electric generating plants, oil wells and Kharg Island. Source- Al Jazeera Trump says US could 'take oil in Iran' and seize Kharg Island

Iran has confirmed that Revolutionary Guards Navy commander Alireza Tangsiri has died from injuries sustained earlier. In a statement carried by the state news agency IRNA, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said Tangsiri succumbed to “the severity of his injuries.” Last week, Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz had claimed that Tangsiri was killed along with other officials in what he described as a “precise and lethal operation” by Israeli forces. #From Al Jazeera

Iran’s parliament speaker has warned that the country’s forces are “waiting for American soldiers” after the United States deployed an additional 3,500 troops to the Middle East. Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Iran would respond strongly if US troops entered its territory, warning that Iranian forces would “rain fire” on them. US Central Command said the newly arrived personnel  including sailors and marines  are part of a unit led by the warship USS ‘Tripoli’, which carries assault and transport capabilities. The deployment comes amid reports that the Pentagon is preparing for possible weeks-long ground operations in Iran. However, US officials have not confirmed whether ground troops will actually be sent. In comments carried by Iranian state media, Ghalibaf accused the US of sending mixed signals, saying Washington talks about negotiations publicly while secretly planning a ground attack. US President Donald Trump has also given unclear messages about the conflict. In recent days, he said the war could end soon, but also indicated he is considering further action against Iran, including targeting energy facilities. US media earlier reported that the administration may seek about $200 billion in emergency funding from Congress for ongoing military operations, suggesting the campaign could continue. Speaking at the White House last week, Trump said he was not planning to send ground troops, but added, “If I were, I certainly wouldn’t tell you.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US could achieve its objectives without deploying ground forces, but noted that the president must be ready for “multiple contingencies.” According to US officials cited by the Washington Post, any potential ground operation would likely involve limited raids by regular troops and Special Operations forces, rather than a full-scale invasion. Axios also reported that the Pentagon is considering options for a decisive strike on Iran, which could include both ground forces and an expanded bombing campaign. The US has already increased its military presence in the region, deploying bombers, fighter jets, aircraft carriers and missile defence systems. Meanwhile, the US Navy’s advanced aircraft carrier USS ‘Gerald R Ford’ arrived in Croatia on Saturday for repairs after a fire onboard injured several sailors and caused significant damage. It remains unclear whether diplomatic efforts are underway. Iran has denied holding direct talks with the US, although Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said messages have been exchanged through intermediaries, but stressed these do not amount to negotiations. Source: BBC

US President Donald Trump has said he could consider taking control of Iran’s oil resources, including the strategic fuel hub of Kharg Island, according to an interview with the Financial Times. “To be honest with you, my favourite thing is to take the oil in Iran but some stupid people back in the US say: ‘Why are you doing that?’ But they’re stupid people,” Trump said. He indicated that such a move might involve occupying Kharg Island, adding: “Maybe we take Kharg Island, maybe we don’t. We have a lot of options.” He also noted that any such step would likely require a continued US presence on the island. Responding to a question about Iran’s defensive capabilities there, Trump said: “I don’t think they have any defence. We could take it very easily.” His remarks come as an additional 3,500 US troops have been deployed to the Middle East amid growing concerns that further escalation could put American forces at risk of Iranian retaliation. Trump also said indirect negotiations between Washington and Tehran, conducted through Pakistani “emissaries,” were making progress, though he did not confirm whether a ceasefire agreement was imminent. “A deal could be made fairly quickly,” he added.  #From BBC

US President Donald Trump has said the United States believes it has effectively achieved “regime change” in Iran, pointing to the killing of key figures during the recent conflict. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump echoed remarks he made earlier, saying, “You could really say we have regime change because they have been killed.” He further elaborated: “But we've had regime change if you look already because the one regime was decimated, destroyed, they're all dead. The next regime is mostly dead, and the third regime we're dealing with different people than anybody's dealt with before, it's a whole different group of people, so I would consider that regime change, and frankly they've been very reasonable.” Trump added: “So I think we've had regime change, I mean you can't do much better than that.” Describing the earlier leadership, he said: “The regime that was really bad, really evil ... the second was appointed, and they're all gone, they're all dead, other than one who may have a little life in him,” referring to Iranian leaders killed during the month-long war. He also said he believes Iran may reach an agreement with Washington, stating: “I think we'll make a deal with them, pretty sure, but it's possible we won't.” At the same time, Trump highlighted uncertainty in dealing with Tehran, adding: “You never know with Iran, because we negotiate with them and then we have to blow them up.” #From BBC

Several Gulf countries, including Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, reported missile and drone activity targeting their airspace on Sunday, amid rising regional tensions. Kuwait’s defence ministry said it detected 14 ballistic missiles and 12 drones entering its airspace. Some of the projectiles struck a military camp, injuring 10 armed forces personnel. In Qatar, the defence ministry said its air defence systems identified and intercepted several drones launched from Iran, preventing any damage. Earlier, the UAE said its air defence systems were actively responding to incoming threats after 16 ballistic missiles and 42 drones were launched from Iran toward its territory. Authorities in the three countries said their defence systems were able to intercept most of the threats, though the incidents underline growing security concerns in the region. #From BBC

Pakistan has expressed willingness to host potential talks between Iran and the United States, saying both sides have shown confidence in Islamabad’s role as a facilitator. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Pakistan would be “honoured” to arrange and support meaningful dialogue between Tehran and Washington in the coming days. However, he did not confirm whether either country has formally agreed to participate. Dar made the remarks after the first day of meetings in Islamabad involving the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt. He said the discussions focused on ways to achieve an early and lasting end to ongoing regional conflicts, and thanked the participating countries for backing Pakistan’s peace efforts. The minister also said he spoke with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, both of whom expressed support for the initiative. Separately, following a meeting between Pakistan’s prime minister and Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, Islamabad issued a statement reaffirming its strong ties with Riyadh, saying Pakistan would “stand shoulder to shoulder” with the kingdom and appreciated what it described as Saudi Arabia’s “remarkable restraint.” #From BBC

A top Iranian official warned the U.S. against a ground invasion, saying its troops would be set “on fire,” as regional diplomats met Sunday in Pakistan in hopes of opening direct U.S.-Iran talks and ending the monthlong war. Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, said Iranian forces were “waiting for the arrival of American troops on the ground to set them on fire and punish their regional partners forever,” according to Iranian state media. He also dismissed the talks as a cover after some 2,500 U.S. Marines trained in amphibious landings arrived in the Middle East. The war has threatened global supplies of oil, natural gas and fertilizer and disrupted air travel. Iran’s grip on the strategic Strait of Hormuz has shaken markets and prices, and now the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels ' entry into the war could threaten shipping on another crucial waterway, the Bab el-Mandeb strait to the Red Sea. “We don’t know at what moment our homes could be targeted,” said Razzak Saghir al-Mousawi, 71, describing relentless airstrikes as Iranians crossing into Iraq urged the United States to end the war. “I am definitely afraid.” More than 3,000 people have been killed in the war that began with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran that triggered Iranian attacks on Israel and neighboring Gulf Arab states. Meanwhile, Israel has invaded Lebanon while targeting the Iranian-backed Hezbollah. The war continues on the digital front as well. Pakistan hosts ministers from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt Pakistan said the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt met in Islamabad without U.S. or Israeli participation, days after the U.S. offered Iran a 15-point “action list” as a framework for a possible peace deal. The ministers are expected to meet again Monday. Egypt’s Badr Abdelatty said the meetings are aimed at opening a “direct dialogue” between the U.S. and Iran, which have largely communicated through mediators. Both this war and last year's 12-day war began during rounds of indirect talks. Iranian officials have rejected the U.S. framework and publicly dismissed the idea of negotiating under pressure. But Press TV, the English-language arm of Iran’s state broadcaster, reported last week that Tehran had drafted its own five-point proposal that reportedly called for a halt to killing Iranian officials, guarantees against future attacks, reparations and Iran’s “exercise of sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.” Iran has eased some restrictions on commercial ships in the strait, agreeing late Saturday to allow 20 more Pakistani-flagged vessels to pass through. It "sends a clear signal that Iran remains open for business with the world, provided the United States abandons coercion,” said Asif Durrani, Pakistan’s former ambassador to Iran. An adviser to the United Arab Emirates, Anwar Gargash, called for any settlement to the war to include “clear guarantees” that Iranian attacks on neighbors will not be repeated. Gargash said Iran's government has become “the main threat” to Persian Gulf security and called for compensation for attacks on civilian infrastructure. Iran threatens retaliatory strikes on Israeli and US universities Iran on Sunday warned of escalation after Israeli airstrikes hit several universities, including ones that Israel claimed were used for nuclear research and development. Concerns over Iran's nuclear program are at the heart of tensions. The paramilitary Revolutionary Guard warned that Iran would consider Israeli universities and branches of U.S. universities in the region “legitimate targets” unless offered safety assurances for Iranian universities, state media reported. U.S. colleges have campuses in Qatar and the UAE, including Georgetown, New York and Northwestern universities. “If the U.S. government wants its universities in the region spared, it should condemn the bombardment" of Iranian universities by midday Monday, the Guard said in a statement. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said Saturday that dozens of universities and research centers have been hit, among them the Iran University of Science and Technology and Isfahan University of Technology. Both sides in the war have threatened to attack civilian facilities, which critics have warned could be a war crime. Death toll continues to climb Iranian authorities say more than 1,900 people have been killed in the Islamic Republic, while 19 have been reported dead in Israel. In Lebanon, officials said more than 1,100 people have been killed. In Iraq, where Iranian-supported militia groups have entered the conflict, 80 members of the security forces have died. In Gulf states, 20 people have been killed. Four have been killed in the occupied West Bank.