United News of Bangladesh

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said Tehran is not seeking to develop nuclear weapons as negotiations between Iran and the United States over Tehran’s nuclear programme continue. “We are ready to reassure the world that we are not seeking nuclear weapons,” Pezeshkian said, according to local media. However, the Iranian president stressed that the country’s negotiating team would not make any compromise on Iran’s “honour and dignity” during the ongoing talks. Possible US-Iran deal takes shape as Trump claims progress in talks Meanwhile, the Iranian army said it had shot down an Israeli surveillance drone in Hormozgan province. According to media, the wreckage of a destroyed Orbiter drone was recovered with the assistance of Iranian naval forces. There was no immediate comment from Israel on the incident. With inputs from Al Jazeera

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said “significant progress” has been achieved in negotiations with Iran, although important issues still need to be resolved. Rubio’s remarks came a day after US President Donald Trump said an agreement with Iran had been “largely negotiated,” including plans to reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz shipping route. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the “final aspects and details of the deal” were still under discussion and would be announced soon. However, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei cautioned that recent convergence between Tehran and Washington does not necessarily mean the two sides have reached agreements on major issues. According to reports, Iran and the United States had initially agreed to a two-week ceasefire, which was later extended to allow more time for peace negotiations. The latest comments reflect cautious optimism surrounding the talks, despite continuing disagreements over key matters between the two countries. Source: BBC

US President Donald Trump has said a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at ending the US-Israel war with Iran has been “largely negotiated,” with only final details remaining to be resolved. Speaking on Saturday, Trump said the proposed agreement would include reopening the Strait of Hormuz, though it remains subject to final approval by US and Iranian negotiators as well as several other countries involved in the mediation efforts. The announcement came after Trump held a series of calls with leaders and officials from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Jordan, Egypt, Turkiye and Bahrain. He also spoke separately with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “Final aspects and details of the deal are currently being discussed, and will be announced shortly,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Islamabad would continue efforts to facilitate dialogue between Washington and Tehran and expressed hope that Pakistan could host future US-Iran talks soon. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed the reported progress, saying any agreement would help restore free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. In a separate statement, Egypt’s presidency urged all sides to take advantage of the diplomatic momentum and reach a settlement. The latest development follows a week of mixed signals from Trump, who earlier warned Iran that time was running out for a permanent ceasefire agreement. He later said he had been close to resuming attacks but paused military action following requests from Gulf countries. Trump has alternated between warning of escalation and expressing optimism about a deal. On Saturday, he also posted an image of Iran covered with a US flag on social media. The statement came shortly after Pakistan’s army chief, Asim Munir, concluded what Pakistan’s military described as a “highly productive” visit to Iran, during which “encouraging progress” was reportedly made toward a final understanding. Iranian officials, however, have repeatedly expressed caution over negotiations with Washington, citing previous US military strikes on Iran during talks related to Tehran’s nuclear programme. The US and Israel launched the latest conflict on February 28. Although major fighting has largely remained paused since April 8, sporadic flare-ups have continued. The US has maintained restrictions on Iranian ports, while Iran has effectively kept the Strait of Hormuz closed. Major unresolved issues reportedly include the future of Iran’s nuclear programme, Tehran’s influence over the strategic waterway, the future US military presence in the region and access to frozen Iranian assets. Source: Al Jazeera

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has reaffirmed Tehran’s continued backing for Hezbollah, saying Iran “will never stop supporting” the group’s “freedom-seeking” efforts in Lebanon. He said that since the beginning of Pakistan-led mediation efforts, Tehran had stressed that any agreement must be tied to the establishment of a ceasefire in Lebanon. According to Araghchi, the condition was included in Iran’s latest proposal and would remain part of its position going forward. Earlier, Hezbollah said its chief Naim Qassem had received a message from the Iranian foreign minister outlining Tehran’s stance on the issue. With inputs from  Al Jazeera.

Qatar has reiterated its support for diplomatic efforts aimed at easing tensions between the United States and Iran, while warning against any move to disrupt navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. According to a statement from Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani held a phone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, during which he expressed Doha’s full backing for ongoing mediation efforts to secure a comprehensive agreement to end the crisis. The Qatari foreign minister stressed the importance of all parties responding positively to mediation initiatives to help ensure lasting peace and stability in the region. He also warned that closing the Strait of Hormuz or using it as leverage in negotiations would worsen the crisis and threaten the vital interests of regional countries. Freedom of navigation, he said, remains “a fundamental and non-negotiable principle.” The minister further urged all sides to abide by international law and uphold the principles of good neighbourliness while prioritising regional stability and the welfare of their people. Meanwhile, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi also discussed regional mediation efforts with Sheikh Mohammed in a separate phone call, according to Jordan’s Foreign Ministry. The two ministers reviewed Pakistan-mediated efforts between Washington and Tehran and underscored the need for coordinated international action to ensure the success of the mediation and prevent further escalation. They also stressed the importance of reaching a sustainable solution that addresses the root causes of the crisis. Sourec: Al Jazeera

Pakistan’s army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir visited Tehran on Friday and held talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at preventing further escalation and ending the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel. According to Iranian state media, the discussions focused on recent diplomatic initiatives to ease tensions and stop what Tehran described as a war “imposed” on Iran by Washington and Tel Aviv. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman was quoted as saying that differences between Tehran and Washington in mediated negotiations remain “deep and significant.” Meanwhile, Iranian Defence Ministry spokesman Reza Talaei-Nik said the United States would face further setbacks if it failed to recognise what he described as Iran’s legitimate rights. Speaking to the Tasnim news agency, Talaei-Nik said, “The only way out of the third imposed war for the American-Zionist enemy, on both the battlefield and in diplomacy, is to secure the demands of the Iranian people.” He also said US President Donald Trump should accept Iran’s proposals to avoid further losses and costs for both the American people and the wider international community. Source: AL Jazeera  

Iran has described the ongoing peace negotiations with the United States as having reached a “turning point” amid intensified diplomatic efforts in Tehran. Speaking to reporters, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the current diplomatic process, along with the presence of senior Pakistani officials in Tehran, indicates that the situation has entered a decisive phase. “The current process and the presence of senior Pakistani officials in Tehran means that we have reached a turning point or a decisive situation,” Baghaei said. G7 calls for reopening of Strait of Hormuz He also explained why Tehran has refrained from publicly discussing details related to nuclear negotiations. Reaffirming Iran’s position on its nuclear programme, Baghaei said the country remains committed to its rights under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). “Regarding nuclear issues, the matter is very clear – we are a member of the NPT and we have the right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes,” he added. With inputs from Al Jazeera

The Foreign Ministry of South Korea has said it is holding “close and serious discussions” with Iran over a recent attack on a South Korean-operated vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. According to the Yonhap News Agency, the vessel HMM Namu was attacked on May 4, prompting Seoul to pursue diplomatic engagement while an investigation continues. Foreign ministry spokesperson Park Il said the government would take appropriate action once the probe is completed. He added that officials are maintaining communication with Iran and will provide explanations based on further findings. An earlier inquiry found that two unidentified flying objects struck the vessel, causing an explosion and fire. Debris recovered from the site is being analysed to determine what the objects were and who may be responsible. Park said South Korea’s top priority is ensuring the safety and freedom of navigation of its vessels and crews in the region, adding that diplomatic efforts are underway on multiple fronts. The incident caused minor injuries to one crew member. While South Korean officials have suggested possible Iranian involvement, Tehran has denied any responsibility for the attack. #From Al Jazeera

Finance ministers of the Group of Seven have stressed the need to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, saying it is essential while also underscoring the importance of addressing global current account imbalances.In a joint statement, they reaffirmed their commitment to multilateral cooperation to tackle risks facing the global economy. Since 28 February 2026, the United States and Israel have been engaged in a conflict with Iran and its regional allies. The fighting began after US and Israeli forces carried out airstrikes on Iran, targeting military and government facilities and killing several senior Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The strikes were launched unexpectedly while negotiations were ongoing between Tehran and Washington over Iran’s nuclear programme. In response, Iran carried out missile and drone attacks on Israel, US military bases and US-allied Arab countries in West Asia, and moved to shut the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting global trade flows. Since the outbreak of the war, Iran has used the Strait of Hormuz as a strategic pressure point to raise global concern. On the other hand, oil prices declined after Donald Trump said he had postponed a planned military strike on Iran to allow room for negotiations aimed at ending the conflict. Trump’s Iran pressure campaign stalls as Strait of Hormuz tensions deepen Global benchmark Brent crude fell 1.5 percent, with July futures (LCOc1) dropping $1.73 to $110.37 per barrel as of 08:25 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude for June delivery (CLc1), which has expired, slipped 63 cents, or 0.60 percent, to $108.03.The more actively traded July contract (CLc2) declined by 82 cents, or 0.8 percent, to $103.56 per barrel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared before the District Court in Tel Aviv for the 88th time on Tuesday in connection with ongoing corruption proceedings against him. According to Israel’s  madia, the judges agreed to shorten the hearing due to Netanyahu’s “security and political schedule,” without elaborating further. Netanyahu is facing charges of corruption, bribery and breach of trust across three separate cases, with indictments filed in November 2019. Since the trial began in 2020, he has consistently denied any wrongdoing, characterising the allegations as a “political campaign aimed at overthrowing him.” Under Israeli law, a presidential pardon cannot be granted unless the accused admits guilt. Separately, Netanyahu has also been wanted by the International Criminal Court since 2024 over allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza, where more than 72,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed during Israel’s ongoing military campaign.