United News of Bangladesh

Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump have held a phone conversation discussing issues related to Iran and Ukraine, the Kremlin has said. According to a Kremlin aide, during the call Putin put forward proposals aimed at resolving the conflict over Iran’s nuclear programme. He also suggested a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine to coincide with the upcoming anniversary of the end of World War II next month. Meanwhile, US media outlet Axios reported that Trump has rejected Iran’s peace proposal and said the US military blockade of Iranian ports will continue until Tehran agrees to a nuclear deal. Trump Declares “NO MORE MR. NICE GUY” in Sharp Warning to Iran “The blockade is somewhat more effective than the bombing. They are choking like a stuffed pig, and it is going to be worse for them. They can’t have a nuclear weapon,” Trump was quoted as saying by Axios. Iran had earlier this week reportedly proposed ending the ongoing conflict and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, while suggesting that nuclear negotiations be postponed to an unspecified future date. Source: Al Jazeera

US President Donald Trump is reviewing a proposal from Iran aimed at ending its conflict with Israel, reopening the Strait of Hormuz and postponing nuclear negotiations until after the war. The White House said Trump met his national security advisers on Monday to assess the proposal. However, US media reports suggest he is not satisfied with the plan because it delays discussions on Iran’s nuclear programme. According to Reuters, citing a US official, Trump wants the nuclear issue to be addressed at the very beginning of any talks. CNN reported, quoting sources familiar with the matter, that he is unlikely to accept the proposal, as easing US restrictions on Iranian ports without resolving nuclear concerns could reduce Washington’s bargaining power. The proposal comes as uncertainty continues over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global trade route. Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has said Tehran will not enter negotiations while US restrictions on its ports remain in place. Washington and Tehran agreed to a temporary ceasefire on April 8 after more than a month of fighting triggered by joint US and Israeli strikes on Iran. The truce, mediated by Pakistan, is now under pressure due to disagreements over maritime access in the strait and US measures targeting Iranian ports. Ongoing tensions involving Israel and Lebanon have further complicated the situation. Meanwhile, Iran has signalled it is still open to diplomacy. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met Russian President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg on Monday and said Tehran is considering a US request to resume talks. Araghchi welcomed high-level engagement with Russia during a period of regional instability, saying recent developments show the strength of ties between the two countries. He also expressed appreciation for Moscow’s support for diplomatic efforts. Iran has also been engaging with regional partners, including Pakistan and Oman, which has traditionally acted as a mediator. Officials say Tehran is keeping communication channels open and continues to signal readiness for dialogue. At the same time, pressure is growing internationally to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Many countries have called for urgent and unhindered access to the waterway, while UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned the situation could lead to a global food crisis. Diplomats at the UN Security Council have repeatedly urged de-escalation, highlighting disruptions caused by stranded cargo ships and thousands of maritime workers unable to pass through the strait. About 20 percent of the world’s oil and natural gas flows through the route, making the situation critical for global energy supplies. Bahrain, which requested the UN meeting with support from several affected countries, described the closure as a violation of international law and called for an end to attacks on ships. However, no action was taken, as an earlier resolution urging the reopening of the strait was blocked by China and Russia, with Moscow blaming the US and Israel for escalating the conflict. Source: Al Jazeera

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.

US President Donald Trump has said he is “ready to go” back to war with Iran if no agreement is reached by the end of the ceasefire scheduled for tomorrow. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s information minister said Iran’s response on whether it will send a delegation to meet US officials is still awaited, as diplomatic efforts to end the US-Israel conflict with Iran remain uncertain. Earlier, Tehran said it would not enter negotiations under the “shadow of threats” or under a US naval blockade. Vance to travel to Pakistan on Tuesday for Iran talks Source: Al Jazeera

US President Donald Trump said Washington will obtain all of Iran’s enriched uranium as part of an anticipated agreement, while maintaining that no financial exchange would be involved. In a post on social media, Trump referred to Iran’s enriched uranium as “nuclear dust” and said the United States would take possession of it, reports Al Jazeera. He added that no money would be exchanged “in any way, shape, or form” and that the arrangement would not be linked to developments in Lebanon. Iran, US say Strait of Hormuz is fully open to commercial vessels In a separate post, Trump said the Strait of Hormuz is “completely open and ready for business,” but noted that a US naval blockade on Iran would remain in place until a final deal is reached. “The naval blockade will remain in full force and effect as it pertains to Iran, only, until such time as our transaction with Iran is 100% complete,” he said, adding that the process “should go very quickly” as most key points have already been negotiated.

Iran and the United States on Friday said the Strait of Hormuz has been reopened and is fully operational for commercial shipping after nearly seven weeks of disruption that had affected global energy trade. “IRAN HAS JUST ANNOUNCED THAT THE STRAIT OF IRAN IS FULLY OPEN AND READY FOR FULL PASSAGE. THANK YOU!,” US President Donald Trump said on social media, using an unofficial name for the strategic waterway. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that commercial vessels would be allowed to pass in line with the ongoing ceasefire arrangement, reports South China Morning Post. Araghchi said ships would be required to follow designated routes set by Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organisation. The announcement comes alongside a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah, under which passage through the strait will remain open for the duration of the truce. Trump, however, said US naval blockade on Iranian vessels and supplies would remain in place until a final agreement is reached. The apparent breakthrough eased market concerns, with oil prices falling nearly 10 percent following the announcement.

US President Donald Trump has said Iran has agreed not to develop nuclear weapons, expressing optimism about ongoing negotiations and the prospects of a long-term deal. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said the agreement under discussion would extend “beyond 20 years” and described the outlook for a deal as “looking very good.” He added that the next round of talks with the Iranian delegation could take place over the weekend, reports Al Jazeera. Trump also said the recently announced ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon includes Hezbollah, indicating broader involvement in the truce arrangement. The US president further said he plans to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, though he did not specify a timeline for the meetings.

US President Donald Trump has announced that Lebanon and Israel have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire, set to begin at 5pm EST, following what he described as “excellent conversations” with the two countries’ leaders. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he spoke with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, adding that both sides had agreed to the temporary truce “in order to achieve PEACE between their Countries.” He said the agreement follows the first direct meeting between officials of the two countries in 34 years, held in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, reports Al Jazeera. No date fixed yet for 2nd round of U.S.-Iran talks: Pakistan Trump said he had directed Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Rubio and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan Razin’ Caine, to work with Israel and Lebanon to achieve a “lasting PEACE.” “It has been my Honor to solve 9 Wars across the World, and this will be my 10th, so let’s, GET IT DONE!” he added.

US President Donald Trump has said the war with Iran could end soon, expressing optimism about a possible resolution. “I think it’s close to over, yeah,” Trump said in a clip of an interview aired by Fox News. “I mean I view it as very close to over.” Meanwhile, Democrats in the US Senate are planning another vote on Wednesday to limit Trump’s war powers over the conflict, reports Al Jazeera. Senator Tammy Duckworth, who introduced a War Powers Resolution, said Trump’s “war of choice” is putting American lives at risk and driving up prices at home, reports Al Jazeera. “The Senate must fulfil its constitutional duty and vote to stop it immediately, before our economy takes yet another hit and more lives are lost,” she said. Under the US Constitution, only Congress has the authority to declare war. Democrats in both the Senate and the House have repeatedly sought to pass resolutions requiring the president to obtain congressional approval before launching military action. US blockade on Iran applies to ships of all nations: CENTCOM However, those efforts have been blocked by Republicans, who hold narrow majorities in both chambers. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats would continue forcing votes on the issue weekly as long as the conflict persists.

A sharp and highly unusual public rift has emerged between Pope Leo XIV and US President Donald Trump, as their contrasting views on the Iran war have escalated into a direct war of words. The soft-spoken pontiff and the combative US leader have long appeared headed for confrontation, but tensions intensified after Trump criticised the pope on social media, calling him “weak” and accusing him of aligning with the “Radical Left.” He also suggested that Leo’s elevation to the papacy was linked to his own presidency. In response, Pope Leo strongly condemned Trump’s threats toward Iran as “truly unacceptable,” emphasising that his stance is rooted in Christian teachings rather than politics. Speaking to reporters, he said he is unafraid of the Trump administration and remains committed to conveying the message of the Gospel. China slams US action over Iran ports, UN urges safe navigation in Strait The dispute highlights a rare scenario in which two globally influential American figures—one political and the other religious—are openly at odds over a major international conflict, reports AP. Before becoming pope, Leo—then Robert Prevost—had already demonstrated a willingness to speak candidly on global issues. He had criticised Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and also shared commentary opposing strict US immigration policies justified on religious grounds. Initially, Trump welcomed Leo’s election in May 2025, calling it a “great honour” for the United States. However, his tone has since shifted, framing the pope’s appointment in nationalistic terms and even claiming indirect credit for it. From the outset of his papacy, Leo has consistently emphasised peace, frequently referencing global conflicts including Ukraine and the Middle East. His early messages and public appearances have underscored a commitment to applying church doctrine to contemporary crises. The divide became more visible during Holy Week, when Trump escalated threats against Iran, while Leo called for peace and warned against violence. The pope later directly urged Trump to seek a de-escalation path, particularly after the president threatened severe military action. Despite Trump’s criticism that the pope should avoid political commentary, Leo has maintained that his statements are grounded in religious duty, not political opposition. The ongoing exchange marks a rare instance of a pope directly engaging with a sitting US president by name, underscoring the depth of disagreement between the Vatican and Washington over war, peace, and moral authority.