United News of Bangladesh

Iran has said it will continue talks in Islamabad as long as the United States lifts its blockade, according to sources. The extension of the ceasefire has been seen as a positive signal, although mixed indications are still emerging from Tehran. The situation can be described through three key factors. First, ambiguity, as time had been running out but the ceasefire extension has now created space, while the risk of renewed confrontation still remains. Second, breakability, with expectations of unpredictability and uncertainty being the only constant at present. 34 Iran-linked tankers slipped past US Hormuz blockade: Report Third, complexity, as discussions involve extending the ceasefire alongside potential diplomatic engagement, despite major unresolved issues. These include the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s nuclear dossier, sanctions relief, frozen assets, ballistic missile programme, war reparations, and regional relations. The positions of both sides remain significantly apart on these matters. Sources indicate that the issue has moved beyond mistrust, now reflecting deep suspicion over any possible rapprochement with the United States. Source- Al Jazeera

At least 34 tankers linked to Iran have reportedly passed through or around the US blockade in the Strait of Hormuz despite Washington’s claims of tightly restricting maritime movement, according to a Financial Times report. The report said that of these vessels, 19 Iran-linked tankers exited the Gulf, while 15 others entered from the Arabian Sea heading toward Iran, reports NDTV. Citing data from maritime tracking sources, the report claimed that at least six of the outbound ships carried Iranian crude oil, transporting an estimated 10.7 million barrels. Based on discounted pricing due to sanctions, the shipments could be worth around $910 million. One Iranian-flagged supertanker, Dorena, reportedly passed through the region after switching off its transponder, a device used for tracking location and identity. It was later involved in a ship-to-ship transfer off the coast of Malaysia, allegedly to conceal the oil’s origin. The developments come amid heightened tensions following the US naval blockade of Iranian ports, which Washington says aims to restrict Tehran’s oil revenues. US President Donald Trump has claimed that the United States “totally controls” the Strait of Hormuz and that the blockade strategy has been a “tremendous success,” saying restrictions will remain until a final agreement with Iran is reached. However, the US Central Command said American forces have directed dozens of vessels to turn back or return to port since the blockade began. The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical global oil transit route, with Iran and its allies asserting new restrictions on navigation in the area, further escalating maritime tensions.

Iran’s paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has attacked a third vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian news agencies reported on Wednesday, in an apparent escalation of maritime tensions. Semi-official outlets including Nour News, Fars and Mehr said the Guard targeted a ship identified as Euphoria, which they claimed later became “stranded” along the Iranian coast. No further details were immediately provided. In a separate report, Iranian state television said two other vessels attacked earlier in the day—MSC Francesca and Epaminodes—are now in the custody of the Revolutionary Guard and are being taken to Iran. According to a statement from the Guard, the ships were accused of operating without authorization, violating maritime regulations, manipulating navigation systems and attempting to leave the Strait covertly, thereby “endangering maritime security.” The seizures mark a significant escalation following earlier US actions against Iranian vessels, as fragile ceasefire talks are underway. The Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping route, had traditionally been considered an international waterway open to all vessels, despite lying between Iranian and Omani territorial waters.

Pakistan has requested the United States to lift its naval blockade on Iranian ports and release a seized Iranian vessel in a bid to revive stalled negotiations, according to sources. The sources said Islamabad conveyed its request to Washington, urging the release of the detained ship and its crew, and received “positive signals” from the US side. However, no timeline has been set for their release. The move comes amid ongoing efforts to de-escalate tensions between the two countries. US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he is extending the ceasefire with Iran at Pakistan’s request while awaiting a “unified proposal” from Tehran, even as US forces continue enforcing the blockade. The announcement came ahead of the scheduled expiry of the truce on Wednesday, with both Washington and Tehran indicating the possibility of renewed hostilities if no agreement is reached. Meanwhile, the White House has postponed Vice President JD Vance’s planned visit to Pakistan for a second round of talks, after Iran signalled reluctance to engage further at this stage. Trump said the ceasefire would remain in effect “until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other.”

A senior Iranian adviser has rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s ceasefire extension, saying it “means ‘nothing’” and is “certainly a ploy to buy time for a surprise strike”. Mahdi Mohammadi, an adviser to Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, made the remarks in a post in Persian on X. He said the continuation of Trump’s “siege” is “no different from bombardment” and must be “met with a military response”. He added: "The time for Iran to take the initiative has come." Tensions remain high as U.S. naval forces continue to enforce a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. American forces also boarded an Iranian-flagged cargo ship on Sunday, after Iran had effectively closed the key shipping route for weeks.  #From BBC

Uncertainty continues over the next steps for possible US-Iran talks after US President Donald Trump said Washington had extended the ceasefire in the conflict at Pakistan’s request, while waiting for what he called a “unified proposal” from Tehran. Iran has not yet responded to Trump’s announcement. Both sides have also warned they could resume fighting if no agreement is reached. In a social media post on Tuesday, Trump said Iran does not want the Strait of Hormuz closed because it relies on the route to export crude oil. He also earlier indicated that the US military would maintain pressure on Iranian ports. The developments come as tensions remain high across the wider region. Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group in Lebanon exchanged fire on Tuesday, despite a recent 10-day ceasefire. Talks in Washington are expected later this week. The conflict has already caused heavy casualties, with thousands killed in Iran and Lebanon and deaths also reported in Israel and Gulf Arab states, along with losses among soldiers and US personnel in the region. In a separate development, Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard opened fire on a container ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, damaging the vessel, according to the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). UKMTO said the incident occurred around 7:55am when a Guard gunboat fired without first contacting the ship. No injuries or environmental damage were reported. Iranian media outlets linked to the Revolutionary Guard confirmed the incident, with one describing the move as enforcement of Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz. The narrow waterway, through which a large share of global oil shipments passes, is widely regarded as an international shipping route despite lying between Iranian and Omani waters. The incident follows recent US actions in the region, including the seizure of an Iranian-linked ship and the boarding of an oil tanker associated with Iran’s oil trade in the Indian Ocean, further heightening tensions.

Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard fired on a container ship in the strategic Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, damaging the vessel and further heightening tensions in the region. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said the incident took place around 7:55am local time, when a Guard gunboat targeted the ship without issuing any warning. The attack damaged the container vessel, but no one on board was injured and there was no environmental damage, according to UKMTO. Iran did not immediately comment on the incident. The development comes amid rising maritime tensions, following recent US actions including the seizure of an Iranian-linked container ship and the boarding of an oil tanker connected to Iran’s oil trade in the Indian Ocean. The latest incident also coincided with stalled efforts for planned ceasefire talks in Pakistan that ultimately did not move forward. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important shipping routes, and any disruption there often raises global concern over energy supplies and security. 

The White House has confirmed that U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s planned visit to Pakistan for peace negotiations has been cancelled. Vance had been scheduled to travel to Islamabad for a second time this month, with his arrival expected on Wednesday, as part of efforts to finalise a deal with Iranian officials. "Any further updates on in-person meetings will be announced by the White House," an administration official said. The decision follows President Donald Trump’s announcement that he agreed to extend the U.S.-Iran ceasefire indefinitely. #From BBC

U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he is extending the ceasefire with Iran at Pakistan’s request while waiting for a “unified proposal” from Tehran, even as U.S. forces continue blocking Iranian ports. The announcement came as uncertainty deepened ahead of the truce’s scheduled expiry on Wednesday. Washington and Tehran have both indicated they could return to fighting if no agreement is reached. The White House has also postponed Vice President JD Vance’s planned visit to Pakistan for a second round of talks, after Iran signaled reluctance to engage further for now. Trump said the ceasefire would remain in place “until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other.” Earlier, an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Tehran has yet to decide whether to join negotiations in Pakistan and would only participate if it sees a realistic chance of progress. Since the conflict began, at least 3,375 people have been killed in Iran and more than 2,290 in Lebanon. Death tolls also include 23 in Israel and over a dozen in Gulf Arab states, along with 15 Israeli soldiers in Lebanon and 13 U.S. service members across the region. Later Tuesday, Trump struck a combative tone in a post on his Truth Social platform after extending the ceasefire without a clear timeline for talks. He argued that Iran wants the Strait of Hormuz to remain open to export oil, warning that allowing this without a deal would undermine any future agreement. It remains unclear when or how negotiations in Islamabad might resume.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said that Iran has been “trapped by false promises,” while commenting on ongoing US-Iran negotiations, according to Russia’s TASS news agency. Lavrov said Moscow views the US-Iran talks as involving “threats and pledges” rather than concrete facts. “We also see Iran’s position, which quite rightly argues that they have already found themselves trapped by false promises, including that very Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action,” he said, referring to the 2015 nuclear deal signed under former US President Barack Obama that limited Iran’s nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. US ready for war again if Iran deal fails, Trump warns The Russian foreign minister also said Moscow is analysing developments surrounding possible new talks in Pakistan, noting that “the situation can make an about-face 10 times within 24 hours.” “If the current efforts of the Iranian and American negotiators, which we support, result in something like the 2015 agreement, I think it would be a great success,” Lavrov added. Source- Al Jazeera