United News of Bangladesh

The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow maritime passage between Oman and Iran, has long held immense economic and geopolitical significance. As tensions in the Middle East continue to simmer—especially following recent US military deployments to counter Iranian threats—this strategic waterway has again captured global attention. Measuring just 39 kilometres at its narrowest, the strait is the only sea route connecting the oil-rich Gulf countries—namely Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates—to the Arabian Sea and beyond. Despite its limited width, shipping lanes for both inbound and outbound traffic are confined to merely 3 kilometres each, making it a sensitive and easily disrupted transit corridor. The Strait of Hormuz serves as the world’s single most important oil passageway. Over one-sixth of global oil production, equating to around 17.2 million barrels per day, passes through this narrow channel. This includes exports from key OPEC members such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Kuwait and the UAE. Moreover, Qatar, the largest global exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG), also relies heavily on the strait, with approximately one-third of the world’s LNG trade funnelled through its waters. The strait's importance has prompted the deployment of major naval forces to safeguard maritime trade. Chief among them is the United States Fifth Fleet, headquartered in Manama, Bahrain, which oversees the protection of vital shipping routes in the region. In recent years, the strait has frequently been the stage for military and political tension. Historical flashpoints include the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s, during which oil shipments were regularly targeted. What to know about Iran’s nuclear sites targeted by US strikes In 1988, a tragic incident occurred when the US warship USS Vincennes mistakenly shot down an Iranian passenger plane, killing all 290 people aboard. In 2010, a Japanese oil tanker was attacked by a group linked to al-Qaeda near the strait. The situation flared again in early 2012 when Iran threatened to block passage through the strait in retaliation for Western sanctions aimed at curbing its nuclear ambitions. These tensions escalated in 2019. In May, four vessels—including two Saudi oil tankers—were attacked near Fujairah, just outside the strait. A month later, two more tankers were hit by explosions in the Gulf of Oman, raising international alarm over the security of global energy supplies. Most recently, on 11 July, the United Kingdom accused three Iranian vessels of attempting to impede the passage of a British commercial ship through the strait. The UK had earlier seized an Iranian tanker near Gibraltar, alleging it was transporting oil to Syria in violation of EU sanctions—an accusation Iran vehemently denied. In light of these repeated threats and incidents, regional powers such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE have proposed building alternative pipelines to circumvent the Strait of Hormuz. Nevertheless, for now, it remains the only maritime exit for the Gulf’s massive oil and gas exports—cementing its status as one of the world’s most strategically critical waterways. Source: Al Jazeera, news agencies

The United States has called on China to ensure the Strait of Hormuz remains open amid rising tensions in the Middle East, warning of severe economic consequences if Iran moves ahead with plans to block the crucial waterway. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio made the appeal during an interview with Fox News on Sunday, saying, “I encourage the Chinese government in Beijing to call them (Iran) about that, because they heavily depend on the Straits of Hormuz for their oil.” Rubio’s comments followed a report by Iran’s state-run Press TV which claimed that the Iranian parliament had approved a plan to close the Strait. However, the final decision rests with the country’s Supreme National Security Council. “If they [close the Straits]... it will be economic suicide for them. And we retain options to deal with that, but other countries should be looking at that as well. It would hurt other countries' economies a lot worse than ours,” Rubio added. The Strait of Hormuz is a vital chokepoint for global energy supplies, with around 20% of the world’s oil passing through the narrow waterway. Major oil and gas producers in the Middle East rely on the route to transport energy to global markets. Any disruption in operations could send oil prices soaring. The price of Brent crude surged to $78.89 per barrel late Sunday – the highest level in five months – after the US launched strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. “The US is now positioned with an overwhelming defence posture in the region to be prepared for any Iran counter attacks. But the risk for oil prices is the situation could escalate severely further,” said Saul Kavonic, Head of Energy Research at MST Financial. Iranian parliament votes to close Strait of Hormuz following US strikes The price of crude oil directly affects consumer goods and services, including fuel and food costs. China, the world’s largest buyer of Iranian oil, imported over 1.8 million barrels per day from Iran last month, according to data from ship-tracking firm Vortexa. Other Asian economies, including India, Japan, and South Korea, also depend heavily on oil that transits through the Strait. Energy analyst Vandana Hari said Iran had “little to gain and too much to lose” by closing the Strait. “Iran risks turning its oil and gas producing neighbours in the Gulf into enemies and invoking the ire of its key market China by disrupting traffic in the Strait,” Hari told BBC News. Tensions escalated further over the weekend after the US entered the conflict between Iran and Israel. President Donald Trump claimed Washington had “obliterated” key Iranian nuclear sites. However, the UN’s nuclear watchdog said it was unable to assess the damage at the fortified Fordo underground facility. Iran stated that the damage to Fordo was only minor. Meanwhile, Beijing criticised the US strikes, saying they had damaged Washington’s credibility and urged for an immediate ceasefire. China’s UN Ambassador Fu Cong called on all parties to restrain “the impulse of force... and adding fuel to the fire”, according to a report by state-run broadcaster CCTV. An editorial in China’s state-run Global Times also said US involvement had “further complicated and destabilised the Middle East situation” and warned that it was pushing the conflict to an “uncontrollable state”. Source: With inputs from BBC, agencies

North Korea has issued strong condemnation of the US strikes on Iran, calling the attacks a violation of the UN Charter. A spokesperson for North Korea’s Foreign Ministry blamed the current tensions on Israel’s “ceaseless war moves and territorial expansion,” which they said are “accepted and encouraged by the West.” Israel attacks Isfahan nuclear site; Iran fires more missiles The official stated that North Korea “strongly denounces the attack on Iran by the US which … violently trampled down the territorial integrity and security interests of a sovereign state.” They further urged the international community to “raise the voice of unanimous censure and rejection against the US and Israel’s confrontational acts.” Iran and North Korea have historically maintained close relations and are suspected of collaborating in military technology development. With inputs from Al Jazeera  

Iran likely filled in tunnels at some of its nuclear facilities ahead of the recent U.S. strikes, according to a Washington-based nuclear nonproliferation group. The Institute for Science and International Security said satellite images taken by Airbus on Friday showed trucks dumping soil into tunnels at Iran’s nuclear site in Isfahan, just days before the American attack early Sunday. The group believes the U.S. strikes likely targeted the tunnel entrances, reports AP. “At least three of the four tunnel entrances are collapsed,” it said. “The status of the fourth one is unclear.” Iran is also believed to have filled in tunnels at its underground Fordo enrichment facility prior to the American strikes, which may have been an effort to shield the sites from potential damage. The group further stated that the U.S. cruise missile strike at the Isfahan site likely destroyed Iran’s uranium conversion facility. That facility processes natural uranium into uranium hexafluoride, a material Iran uses in centrifuges to enrich uranium. Iran vows to continue US nuclear talks despite trump threats Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that the strikes inflicted significant damage on Iran’s nuclear program. “The biggest damage took place far below ground level. Bullseye!!!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, describing the impact as “monumental damage.” However, U.S. defense officials have said an assessment is still underway to determine the full extent of the damage. Iran has yet to disclose details of the damage caused by the strikes. Tehran has also not provided specific information about the strikes it has faced from Israel amid the ongoing conflict between the two countries.

The US State Department has issued a worldwide caution alert urging American citizens to stay vigilant following US military strikes on Iran.The advisory warns of possible protests or unrest targeting US nationals and interests in different parts of the world. US strikes on Iran draw sharp divide in Congress along party lines “In light of recent events, there is potential for demonstrations against US citizens and US interests abroad. The Department of State advises US citizens to exercise increased caution globally,” the alert states.

Global oil prices climbed sharply in early trading today as US air strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities fuelled fears of potential disruptions to energy supplies. Both Brent crude and US benchmark WTI rose over four percent at the start of trading, reaching their highest levels since January, AFP reported. However, those gains moderated later, with Brent up 2.2 percent at $79.20 per barrel and WTI 2.1 percent higher at $75.98 around 00:30 GMT. MUFG economists told AFP that the “high uncertainty surrounding the outcome and length of this conflict” could lead to oil prices rising by as much as $10 per barrel.   Iran, the world’s ninth-largest oil producer, pumps about 3.3 million barrels per day, nearly half of which is exported, with the rest used domestically. Source: Al Jazeera

Tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate as Iran has vowed retaliation over US military strikes on its nuclear facilities while US President Donald Trump has openly hinted at possible regime change in Tehran. Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, in his first remarks since the US joined Israel’s attacks on Iran, promised to punish “the Zionist enemy”. His statement comes amid ongoing exchanges of strikes between Israel and Iran. US President Trump questioned the future of Iran’s leadership. “If the current Iranian regime is unable to make Iran great again, why wouldn’t there be a regime change?” Trump said, fuelling speculation about Washington’s broader goals following the strikes. Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations has accused the US of "waging war" under an "absurd pretext" after American forces hit three key Iranian nuclear sites—Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan. Oil prices have surged in response to the developments. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has urged China to apply pressure on Tehran to prevent the closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy shipments. US strikes on Iran draw sharp divide in Congress along party lines The US State Department has issued a worldwide alert for American citizens, warning of possible retaliatory attacks following the escalation. Uncertainty remains over the extent of damage to Iran’s nuclear programme. President Trump has claimed the strikes effectively neutralised Iran’s nuclear ambitions, saying the US action took "the 'bomb' right out of their hands". However, the UN’s nuclear watchdog has stated it cannot yet determine the current situation at the Fordo plant. Despite the US strikes, Israel and Iran have continued trading attacks over the past 24 hours, intensifying fears of a wider conflict. According to Iranian authorities, more than 400 people have been killed and at least 3,056 others wounded since Israel launched its assault on June 13. On the Israeli side, at least 24 people have reportedly been killed in retaliatory Iranian strikes. With inputs from Al Jazeera, BBC

The Iranian Parliament has voted in support of closing the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most vital oil transit routes, following US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, according to media reports. While the vote reflects strong parliamentary sentiment, the final decision rests with the country’s Supreme National Security Council and Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The parliamentary move is intended to advise the country’s top leadership of available options in response to the attacks. "The Parliament has reached the conclusion that the Strait of Hormuz should be closed, but the final decision in this regard lies with the Supreme National Security Council," Revolutionary Guards Commander Ismail Kowsari, a member of the National Security Commission of the Parliament, said on Sunday, according to Al Arabiya and the Jerusalem Post. Gulf states on high alert following US strikes on Iran The vote followed the U.S. military’s execution of Operation Midnight Hammer on Saturday, during which seven B2 stealth bombers entered Iranian airspace and dropped 14 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bombs on two of Iran’s nuclear sites, including the heavily fortified Fordow facility. A third site was targeted with submarine-launched Tomahawk cruise missiles. US President Donald Trump said the targeted sites had been "obliterated" in the air raid, which involved a total of 125 aircraft and was completed in 25 minutes. However, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine said on Sunday that it would take time to fully assess the extent of damage to the Iranian nuclear infrastructure. Saturday’s strike marked the first time that MOP bombs had ever been used in a combat scenario. Source:  With inputs from agencies

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp (IRGC) on Sunday said “the criminal American regime” has not learned the lessons of past Middle East wars and will suffer the consequences after bombing Iran. “The US’s repetition of past failed follies demonstrates strategic incompetence and disregard for the realities on the ground in the region,” the IRGC said in a statement. It added that instead of learning from repeated failures, Washington has effectively placed itself on the front lines of aggression by “directly attacking peaceful [nuclear] installations.” According to AL Jazeera, the paramilitary force said the flight locations of the US aircraft that participated in the attack “have been identified and monitored”. The number, dispersion and size of US military bases in the region are not a strength but have doubled their vulnerability, the Revolutionary Guard warned. Earlier today, Iranian state television declared that all American civilians and military personnel in the region are now considered "legitimate targets" in the wake of US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. The warning came after US President Donald Trump confirmed that American forces had joined Israel in launching coordinated strikes on Iran. World reacts to US strike on Iran’s nuclear sites “We have completed our very successful attack on the three nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. The US military carried out airstrikes on three locations in Iran early Sunday, marking a direct intervention in Israel’s ongoing offensive aimed at dismantling Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. The strikes targeted the underground Fordo uranium enrichment facility—considered the heart of Iran’s nuclear defences—with six 15-tonne bunker-buster bombs dropped from B-2 stealth bombers. In addition, 30 Tomahawk cruise missiles were reportedly launched from US submarines, hitting sites in Natanz and Isfahan, according to Fox News. Trump confirmed the operation during an interview, describing it as a “precision mission” aimed at crippling Iran’s nuclear capabilities. “All planes are safely on their way home,” he wrote on social media, praising US forces and adding, “Now is the time for peace.” However, Iran announced that its nuclear facilities in Isfahan, Fordo and Natanz showed “no signs of contamination” following US military strikes on the sites. According to Iranian state media, the country’s National Nuclear Safety System Center released a statement confirming that radiation detectors had found no evidence of a radioactive leak. “There is no danger to the residents living around the aforementioned sites,” the statement said. The International Atomic Energy Agency also noted that previous Israeli strikes on similar facilities had not resulted in any detected radiation release in surrounding areas. According to AP, the current military campaign, named “Operation Rising Lion” by Israel, began with coordinated strikes on Iranian nuclear sites on June 13. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the operation targeted multiple nuclear facilities across Iran. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the campaign, calling it a preemptive measure against an “imminent threat to Israel’s very survival” posed by Iran’s nuclear program. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on that day confirmed several senior military officials and scientists were killed in the Israeli airstrikes on Tehran. Among those killed was Iran’s former national security chief, Ali Shamkhani. “The assassination of Ali Shamkhani was also confirmed,” Iranian state media reported. These attacks are considered the most serious Iran has faced since the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s.

The President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has cautioned that the recent U.S. strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities could escalate into a far-reaching conflict, stressing that adherence to international law is a duty, not an option. “The intensification and spread of major military operations in the Middle East risk engulfing the region – and the world – in a war with irreversible consequences,” ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric said in a statement. Spoljaric emphasized that the world cannot withstand unending warfare and reiterated the legal obligation to protect civilians during armed conflict. “The world cannot absorb limitless war. Upholding international humanitarian law is not a choice – it is an obligation. Civilians must be spared from the conduct of hostilities,” she said. The ICRC chief noted that the organization maintains a presence in both Iran and Israel and is preparing to expand operations to meet growing humanitarian needs. “[However], no humanitarian response can substitute for political will to prioritise peace, stability and human life,” she added.