United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh on Sunday expressed deep concern over the recent attacks targeting the nuclear facilities of the Islamic Republic of Iran. “Such developments risk further destabilising an already fragile regional situation and heighten the threat to international peace and security,” Spokesperson at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) Shah Asif Rahman told reporters at the ministry sharing Dhaka’s position. Bangladesh reiterated its longstanding position in favor of peaceful resolution of conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy. Bangladesh urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from any actions that could escalate tensions in the region. First batch of Bangladeshis likely to return home from Iran next week Reading out a press release, Asif said Bangladesh calls on the United Nations and the international community to engage proactively in efforts to de-escalate the situation and promote peace and stability in the Middle East. He said Bangladesh firmly believes that constructive engagement, mutual respect and adherence to international norms are the only sustainable path to enduring peace.

The Iranian foreign minister spoke by phone with the director of the UN’s nuclear watchdog agency early Sunday morning after a report from the agency said Iran is further increasing its stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels. Writing on Telegram, Abbas Araghchi said he stressed Iran’s “continuous cooperation” in his conversation with Rafael Mariano Grossi, the head of the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency. The IAEA did not immediately return a request for comment about the phone call, reports AP. The confidential IAEA report raised a stern warning, saying that Iran is now “the only non-nuclear-weapon state to produce such material” — something the agency said was of “serious concern.” Araghchi emphasised to Grossi that all of Iran’s nuclear activities are within the framework of agreements and being monitored by the IAEA. The IAEA said in a separate report that Iran’s cooperation with the agency has been “less than satisfactory” when it comes to uranium traces discovered by IAEA inspectors at several locations in Iran that Tehran has failed to declare as nuclear sites. Araghchi also asked Grossi to ensure “that certain parties do not exploit the agency for political agendas against the Iranian people.” European nations could take further steps against Iran based on the comprehensive report, leading to a potential escalation in tensions between Iran and the West. Iran vows to continue US nuclear talks despite trump threats Iran's deputy foreign minister on Sunday published a detailed response, rejecting many of the report's findings. Kazem Gharibabadi noted that out of the IAEA's 682 inspections of 32 states, 493 were carried out in Iran alone. “So long as a country’s nuclear activities are under the IAEA’s monitoring, there is no cause for concern,” he said. “The Islamic Republic of Iran is neither pursuing nuclear weapons nor does it possess any undeclared nuclear materials or activities.” The IAEA report said that as of May 17, Iran has amassed 408.6 kilograms (900.8 pounds) of uranium enriched up to 60 per cent. That’s an increase of almost 50 per cent since the IAEA’s last report in February. The 60 per cent enriched material is a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90 per cent.

Iran said Wednesday the next round of negotiations over its rapidly advancing nuclear program it will have with the United States will be in Rome on Saturday. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made the comment on the sidelines of a Cabinet meeting, adding that Iran also anticipated having a meeting Friday with France, Germany and the United Kingdom to discuss the talks, AP reports. The talks with the US again will be mediated by Oman. The sultanate has hosted two rounds of talks in Oman's capital, Muscat, and one round at its embassy in Rome. Massive wildfire near Jerusalem triggers evacuations and closes key highway The talks seek to limit Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of some of the crushing economic sanctions the US has imposed on the Islamic Republic closing in on a half-century of enmity. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to unleash airstrikes targeting Iran’s program if a deal isn’t reached. Iranian officials increasingly warn that they could pursue a nuclear weapon with their stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels.

Iran 's foreign minister on Tuesday said that he'll meet with US envoy Steve Witkoff in Oman for the first negotiations under the Trump administration seeking to halt Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program as tensions remain high in the Middle East. Speaking to Iranian state television from Algeria, Abbas Araghchi maintained the talks would be indirect, likely with Omani mediators shuttling between the two parties. US President Donald Trump, in announcing the negotiations on Monday, described them as being direct talks. Years of indirect talks under the Biden administration failed to reach any success, as Tehran now enriches uranium up to 60 per cent purity — a technical step away from weapons-grade levels. Both the US and Israel have threatened Iran with military attack over the program, while officials in Tehran increasingly warn they could potentially pursue a nuclear bomb. Macron urges Gaza ceasefire during Cairo visit “Our main goal in the talks, is naturally restoring rights of people as well as lifting sanctions and if the other side has a real will, this is achievable, and it has no relation to the method, either direct or indirect," Araghchi said. “For the time being, indirect is our preference. And we have no plan to alter it to direct.” Araghchi’s comments left space for Iran to potentially hold direct talks eventually with the Americans. Such talks aren’t known to have been held since the Obama administration. There was no immediate acknowledgement from the US that Witkoff would lead the American delegation. News of talks boosts Iran's ailing economy After Trump's comments on the talks went public, Iran's ailing economy suddenly showed new signs of life. Its rial currency, which hit a record low of over 1 million rials to the dollar, rebounded Tuesday to 990,000 rials. The Tehran Stock Exchange separately rose some 2 per cent on the news. Iran’s economy has been severely affected by international sanctions, particularly after Trump unilaterally withdrew America from Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers in 2018. At the time of the 2015 deal, which saw Iran drastically limit its enrichment and stockpiling of uranium in exchange for lifting of international sanctions, the rial traded at 32,000 to the dollar. Economic upheavals have evaporated the public’s savings, pushing average Iranians into holding onto hard currencies, gold, cars and other tangible wealth. Others pursue cryptocurrencies or fall into get-rich-quick schemes.

Iran has accelerated its production of near weapons-grade uranium as tensions between Tehran and Washington rise after the election of US President Donald Trump, a report by the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog seen by The Associated Press on Wednesday showed. The report by the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency said that as of February 8, Iran has 274.8 kilograms (605.8 pounds) of uranium enriched up to 60 per cent. That’s an increase of 92.5 kilograms (203.9 pounds) since the IAEA’s last report in November. That material is a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90 per cent. A report in November 2024 put the stockpile at 182.3 kilograms (401.9 pounds). It had 164.7 kilograms (363.1 pounds) last August. “The significantly increased production and accumulation of high enriched uranium by Iran, the only non-nuclear weapon State to produce such nuclear material, is of serious concern,” the confidential report stated. US plans to cut Iran’s oil exports by over 90% in renewed pressure campaign According to the IAEA, approximately 42 kilograms of 60 per cent enriched uranium is theoretically enough to produce one atomic bomb, if enriched further to 90 per cent. The IAEA also estimated in its quarterly report that as of February 8, Iran’s overall stockpile of enriched uranium stands at 8,294.4 kilograms (18,286 pounds), which represents an increase of 1,690.0 kilograms (3725.8 pounds) since the last report in November. Trump administration warns Tehran The Trump administration said Iran must be prevented from acquiring nuclear weapons. “President Trump has put the Iran Regime on notice by reimposing Maximum Pressure and is committed to ensuring the regime never gets a nuclear weapon. He has also made clear he is open to talks with Iran to come to an agreement that fully addresses the outstanding issues between our two countries," National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes said. Trump’s first term in office was marked by a particularly troubled period in relations with Tehran. In 2018 he unilaterally withdrew the US from Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers, leading to sanctions hobbling the economy, and ordered the killing of the country's top general. IAEA inspectors banned as Iran begins operating more centrifuges Iran has maintained its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only, but IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi has previously warned that Tehran has enough uranium enriched to near-weapons-grade levels to make “several” nuclear bombs if it chose to do so. Iranian officials have increasingly suggested Tehran could pursue an atomic bomb. US intelligence agencies assess that Iran has yet to begin a weapons program, but has “undertaken activities that better position it to produce a nuclear device, if it chooses to do so.” Iran loosens import restrictions on foreign cars and iPhones, trying to mask its economic woes The IAEA already warned last December that Iran was poised to “quite dramatically” increase its stockpile of near weapons-grade uranium as it has started operating cascades of advanced centrifuges. Wednesday’s report also said that Iran has also not reconsidered its September 2023 decision to ban some of the agency’s most experienced inspectors from monitoring its nuclear program. “The Director General deeply regrets that Iran, despite having indicated a willingness to consider accepting the designation of four additional experienced Agency inspectors, did not accept their designations,” the report said.