United News of Bangladesh

At least 250 students and teachers have been killed and around 600 educational institutions targeted since the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran, an official said. Hossein Sadeghi, head of the Information and Public Relations Center at Iran’s Education Ministry, told IRNA that another 184 students and teachers were injured in the attacks. In the capital Tehran, 16 students and five teachers lost their lives, while eight students and five educators were wounded, he added. Iran ready to confront possible arrival of US troops: Parliament Speaker Sadeghi also said that about 200 administrative, cultural and educational facilities have been damaged since February 28. Source- Al Jazeera

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has said Iranian forces are fully prepared to confront any arrival of US troops. Speaking to the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), Ghalibaf criticized US President Donald Trump for expressing interest in negotiations while allegedly planning a ground offensive against Iran, reports Al Jazeera. “The enemy is publicly talking about negotiations while secretly preparing for a ground attack,” he said, warning that Iranian forces are ready to confront US soldiers if they enter the country. Earlier, US media reported that the Pentagon is preparing for weeks-long ground operations in Iran. The report followed an announcement by the US military that around 3,500 troops from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit have been deployed to the Middle East.

US Senator Bernie Sanders on Saturday criticized the ongoing war in Iran as a “violation of international law” while addressing the flagship “No Kings” rally in St. Paul, Minnesota. Speaking to thousands of protesters, Sanders pledged to oppose President Donald Trump’s request for an additional $200 billion in military spending for the US-Israeli war in Iran, reports Al Jazeera. “Let us be honest. The American people were lied to about the war in Vietnam, we were lied to about the war in Iraq, and we are being lied to today about the war in Iran,” Sanders said. Thousands join ‘No Kings’ rallies against Iran war, Trump across US, Europe The progressive Democrat reminded the crowd that Trump had campaigned on a promise to end “forever wars.” “One sovereign nation cannot simply go about attacking another sovereign nation for any reason it chooses,” he added. The remarks come amid the US midterm election season, where Trump’s Republican Party faces voter scrutiny over foreign policy and military engagement.

Iran-backed Houthi rebels have entered the ongoing Middle East war, raising fresh concerns over global shipping and energy supplies as the conflict enters its second month. The Houthis claimed they launched two missiles toward Israel on Saturday, targeting what they described as sensitive military sites. Their involvement has heightened fears that attacks could again disrupt shipping routes through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a key passage for about 12% of global trade. The war has already disrupted oil and gas supplies, triggered fertilizer shortages, and affected air travel. Iran’s control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz has further shaken global markets. Meanwhile, the United States and Israel have continued strikes on Iran, which has responded with missile and drone attacks on Israel and Gulf countries. Witnesses reported heavy airstrikes in Tehran late Saturday. The U.S. says it has hit more than 11,000 targets in Iran so far. In a possible sign of limited relief, Iran agreed to allow humanitarian aid and agricultural shipments through the Hormuz Strait following a UN request. However, U.S. President Donald Trump has set an April 6 deadline for Tehran to fully reopen the waterway. The conflict is also intensifying militarily. Around 2,500 U.S. Marines have arrived in the region, along with additional airborne troops. More than two dozen American personnel were recently wounded in Iranian attacks on a Saudi air base. Diplomatic efforts are underway, with Pakistan hosting talks involving Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt aimed at ending the conflict. However, Iran has expressed skepticism over recent proposals. The death toll has exceeded 3,000 across the region, including in Iran, Israel, Lebanon and Iraq, underscoring the growing scale of the crisis.

Israel and several Gulf countries reported fresh missile and drone attacks on Sunday, amid rising tensions in the region. The Israeli military said it was working to intercept Iranian missiles launched towards its territory. Emergency teams were assessing damage at a strike site in central Israel. Qatar’s defence ministry said the country was targeted by multiple drones launched from Iran, but all were successfully intercepted. In Kuwait, authorities reported significant damage to the radar system at Kuwait International Airport after it was targeted by 15 drones. No casualties were reported. Earlier, five people were injured in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates after a ballistic missile was intercepted, according to officials. Saudi Arabia also said it intercepted three drones and a ballistic missile aimed at its capital, Riyadh.   With inputs from BBC

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday accused Russia of supplying intelligence to Iran to target US and UK military bases in the Gulf and a joint US-UK base on Diego Garcia in the British Indian Ocean Territory. Speaking to journalists, Zelensky cited an intelligence report saying Russian satellites had monitored US military bases in the Middle East, the Diego Garcia base, and Gulf oil facilities. He suggested the information had been shared with Iran to assist its attacks. Commenting on the Ukraine war, Zelensky said Kyiv was ensuring that its military operations against Russia were not affected by the global energy crisis triggered by the war in Iran. He added that the Ukrainian army currently has sufficient fuel supplies.   With inputs from BBC

Qatar and Ukraine on Sunday signed a defence agreement to share expertise in countering missile and drone threats, officials said. The agreement was signed by Ukraine’s Chief of the Armed Forces Lt Gen Andriy Hnatov and Qatar Armed Forces Chief of Staff Lt Gen Jassim bin Mohammed Al-Mannai. Qatar’s Ministry of Defence said the two sides discussed regional security and possible areas of cooperation. The deal covers collaboration in technology and defence investments. The agreement comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky continues his Gulf tour, aiming to support countries affected by recent attacks and to strengthen ties with allies capable of assisting Kyiv in its war with Russia.   With inputs from BBC

Turkey has offered to play a constructive role in ending the ongoing Middle East conflict, the Iranian foreign ministry said Sunday. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi thanked his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan for Ankara’s diplomatic efforts during a phone call, the ministry added. Turkey has been actively pursuing diplomatic channels to resolve the crisis. Pakistan earlier said Turkey, along with Saudi Arabia and Egypt, will participate in de-escalation talks in Islamabad on Monday. As a NATO member and a neighbour of Iran with a border over 300 miles long, Turkey faces a delicate balancing act in the conflict, analysts say.   With inputs from BBC

Residents in Tehran are adjusting to the sounds of overnight air strikes as the conflict in Iran enters its fourth week. Heavy strikes on the city continued Sunday night, accompanied by rain and temporary power cuts in some areas. “I saw the glass above my head shaking, so I moved to the sitting room in case it fell,” said a man in his twenties. He added that the strikes grew stronger, causing his family to panic and run outside. Some residents, however, still support the attacks. A man in his thirties said he wants the strikes to continue until the clerics are removed. Many Tehran residents are trying to maintain normal routines despite the strikes. A woman in her twenties said she slept through the strikes and went for a walk in a park the next morning. The ongoing attacks have also prompted some people to leave the capital. “I’m moving to northern Iran. Life there is much calmer compared to Tehran,” another woman said.   With inputs from BBC

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has warned that Tehran will respond “strongly” if its infrastructure or key economic centres are targeted. He also echoed a message repeatedly voiced by Iranian military and political leaders, urging regional countries not to allow hostile forces to use their territory. “If you want development and security, don’t let our enemies run the war from your lands,” he said. Iran maintains that its operations in the region are aimed solely at U.S. interests. However, officials from Gulf nations have consistently rejected that claim, alleging that Iranian strikes have also hit civilian infrastructure, including hotels, airports and residential areas. Source- Al Jazeera Russia is sending upgraded drones used in the Ukraine war to Iran, officials say