United News of Bangladesh

The Trump administration has been accused of repeatedly failing to comply with lower court rulings across a wide range of policy areas, including immigration, deportations, federal spending cuts and mass layoffs, according to a review of court records cited by The Associated Press (AP). The AP review found that in the first 15 months of President Donald Trump’s second term, federal district judges ruled the administration had violated court orders in at least 31 lawsuits. This represents roughly one in eight cases in which courts had temporarily blocked government actions. One such case involved a ruling last December in which a federal judge struck down a policy of holding immigrants without bond. Despite the decision, a senior Justice Department official reportedly argued the ruling was not binding, and detainees continued to be denied release. By February, US District Judge Sunshine Sykes expressed strong concern over the administration’s conduct. She accused officials of attempting “to erode any semblance of separation of powers,” adding that they could “only do so in a world where the Constitution does not exist.” The administration has also faced more than 250 additional findings of noncompliance in individual immigration-related cases, including failure to release detainees and return seized property. Legal experts and former judges said such levels of defiance are highly unusual compared to previous administrations. Ryan Goodman, a law professor at New York University, said, “What the court system is experiencing in the last year and a half is just qualitatively completely different from anything that’s preceded it.” Georgetown University constitutional law scholar David Super warned that weakening adherence to court rulings could have wider consequences, saying, “The federal government should be the institution most devoted to the rule of law in this country. When it ceases to feel itself bound, respect for the rule of law is likely to break down across the country.” According to the AP review, higher courts, including the Supreme Court, have overturned or limited lower court rulings in nearly half of the cases, a factor critics say may be encouraging the administration’s stance. White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson defended the administration, stating that higher courts had overturned “unlawful district court rulings.” She added, “The administration will continue to comply with lawful court rulings.” Among disputed cases are alleged violations involving deportations to El Salvador, delays in restoring funding for Voice of America, and restrictions on foreign aid. Some judges have used strong language in their rulings. One described government actions as “ham-handed,” while another accused officials of “hallucinating new text” in legal interpretations. The Justice Department has rejected claims of widespread noncompliance, arguing in court filings that it has acted within legal limits and appealed unfavorable rulings. However, critics including advocacy groups tracking the cases argue that selective compliance undermines judicial authority and risks normalizing defiance of court orders. The dispute highlights growing tensions between the executive branch and the judiciary amid broader political and legal battles over presidential authority and the limits of executive power.

Iran has mocked US President Donald Trump with an AI-generated video after he extended a fragile ceasefire with Tehran, sparking a fresh wave of online trolling from Iranian accounts. The video, shared by the Iranian consulate in Hyderabad on X, satirises Trump’s decision to extend the ceasefire at what he described as Pakistan’s request. The post captioned the clip saying, “How was the ceasefire extended? The video is getting viral in Iran.” In the 45-second AI clip, a digital version of Trump, along with Vice President JD Vance and others, is shown waiting at a negotiation table while Iran’s delegation never arrives. The AI Trump is seen posting on a social media platform, saying, “We are having very great negotiations with Iran.” The video then shifts to a meme-style sequence inspired by SpongeBob SquarePants, showing a “2,000 years later” time jump as the characters continue waiting. Later, the AI Trump appears frustrated and tells the empty seats that if Iran does not come to talks, the United States would bomb them. He then asks, “So where are the Iranians?” An aide then hands him a note that reads, “Shut up, Trump.” The clip ends with the AI Trump saying he will extend the ceasefire at Pakistan’s request before leaving the room, drawing laughter in the video. In reality, Trump has said he extended the ceasefire indefinitely following a request from Pakistan, arguing it would give Iran more time to prepare a unified proposal to end the conflict. Iran, however, has said it is still undecided about returning to talks expected later this week in Pakistan’s capital. Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei, quoted by state media, said Tehran entered negotiations in good faith but accused the United States of lacking seriousness. Iran has also said it has not yet decided whether it will attend the next round of talks with Washington. With inputs from NDTV

Iran has denied assertions by Donald Trump that it has agreed to hand over its enriched uranium stockpile. Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesman for Iran’s National Security Committee, said Tehran has made no such commitment and will not allow enriched uranium to be sent to the country. Speaking to Al Jazeera’s Mubasher, he stressed that Iran “categorically rejects” any proposal to eliminate enrichment or halt its peaceful nuclear programme, describing such demands as a strategic red line. Trump has repeatedly claimed that Iran would relinquish its stockpile, writing on Friday that “the USA will get all Nuclear ‘Dust’”. Esmaeil Baghaei also dismissed those claims. In remarks to Tasnim News Agency, he said, “Enriched uranium is as sacred to us as Iranian soil and will not be transferred anywhere under any circumstances.”  

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has said Tehran will take the management of the Strait of Hormuz “into a new phase,” as tensions persist over access to the critically important waterway despite a fragile ceasefire with the United States. In a statement broadcast by state media, Khamenei said Iran would “seek compensation for every single loss inflicted” and pursue damages for those injured in the war. While he did not clarify what the new phase of Hormuz management would entail, the remarks signal a potential shift in Tehran’s strategy over the vital global oil route. He stressed that Iran “never sought war and we’re not seeking war,” but warned it would “not back off from seeking our legitimate rights in any way,” including support for what he described as the “entire resistance front.” He also called on pro-Iran supporters to mobilise publicly, saying their voices could influence the outcome of ongoing negotiations. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said Israel would “scale back” strikes on Lebanon ahead of talks with Iran in Islamabad, expressing optimism about a potential deal. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the notion of a truce in Lebanon, declaring “there is no ceasefire” and vowing continued attacks against Hezbollah. Netanyahu says Israel to hold direct talks with Lebanon amid ceasefire dispute The conflicting positions have cast doubt on the durability of the two-week ceasefire, with disputes over Lebanon and the Strait of Hormuz emerging as key sticking points. Heavy Israeli strikes on Beirut shortly after the truce announcement further deepened uncertainty. Diplomatic efforts are set to continue, with Pakistan hosting talks in Islamabad involving senior officials from the US, Iran and Pakistan, as both sides test the possibility of a broader settlement. Pakistani officials have disclosed the names of key figures expected to attend the upcoming negotiations aimed at ending the conflict between Iran and the United States. The talks are tentatively scheduled for Saturday in Islamabad, though officials said details are still being finalised and the list of participants may change, reports Al Jazeera. From Pakistan, expected attendees include Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and National Security Adviser Asim Malik, who also heads the country’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The US delegation is likely to feature Vice President JD Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, senior presidential adviser Jared Kushner, and Admiral Brad Cooper, head of the US Central Command (CENTCOM). Iran’s side is expected to be represented by Speaker of Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi. Officials emphasised that the final list of participants could be updated as preparations continue. The talks come amid a two-week ceasefire between Iran and the US, providing a window for diplomatic engagement. With inputs from BBC

A fragile ceasefire in the Iran war came under pressure on Thursday as disagreements over Lebanon, the Strait of Hormuz and other key issues cast doubt on whether the truce will hold. Just hours after the ceasefire was announced, confusion emerged over whether it covered fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. Soon after, Israel launched heavy airstrikes on Beirut, marking the deadliest day in Lebanon since the conflict began on Feb. 28. Iran and the United States, both claiming success after the truce, appeared to be increasing pressure on each other. Iranian semiofficial media suggested that forces may have planted sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil route, highlighting Tehran’s strategic leverage. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump warned that US forces would carry out stronger attacks if Iran fails to honour the deal. However, major questions remain unresolved. These include whether Lebanon is part of the ceasefire, the future of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile, when normal shipping will resume through the strait, and limits on Iran’s missile capabilities. Iran’s nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami said protecting the country’s right to enrich uranium is essential for any agreement with Washington. Speaking in Tehran, he criticised the US for not recognising enrichment as part of Iran’s proposed plan for a lasting ceasefire. Talks between the US and Iran are expected to take place in Pakistan this weekend. Violence in Lebanon has further threatened the truce. At least 182 people were killed on Wednesday as Israel intensified strikes on Hezbollah positions in Beirut. Rescue teams continued searching through rubble for survivors. Israel said it killed Ali Yusuf Harshi, an aide to Hezbollah leader Naim Kassem, though Hezbollah has not commented. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi insisted that halting the war in Lebanon was part of the ceasefire, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump rejected that claim. A New York-based think tank warned the agreement is close to collapse, saying Israel’s large-scale strikes could be seen as escalating tensions, regardless of whether Lebanon is formally included. Lebanon’s state news agency reported that an Israeli strike killed at least seven people in the south overnight, though Israel has not confirmed it. Uncertainty over the Strait of Hormuz continues to push global oil prices higher. Iranian media published a map indicating a “danger zone” in the waterway, suggesting the presence of sea mines during the conflict. Shipping traffic through the strait has dropped sharply, with only a few vessels passing since the war began due to security concerns. Although prices briefly fell after the ceasefire announcement, they rose again as doubts grew. Brent crude stood at around $98 on Thursday, up about 35% since the conflict started. Iran has said it will allow ships to pass under international law once US military actions stop and Israel halts attacks in Lebanon. Trump said US forces would remain deployed near Iran until a “real agreement” is fully implemented, warning of stronger military action if commitments are not met. The White House said Vice President JD Vance will lead the US delegation in upcoming talks in Islamabad starting Saturday. Key sticking points include Iran’s plan to potentially charge ships using the strait, which would challenge its status as an international waterway, and the future of Iran’s nuclear and missile programmes. While the US wants Iran to abandon any ability to develop nuclear weapons and remove its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, Tehran maintains its programme is for peaceful purposes. Trump said the US may work with Iran to remove the uranium, though Tehran has not confirmed this. In its own version of the agreement, Iran indicated it would continue uranium enrichment.

U.S. President ‘Donald Trump’said he has asked about seven countries to send warships to help keep the ‘Strait of Hormuz’ open as Iranian missile and drone attacks continued across Gulf countries on Monday. Trump said Washington is discussing the move with nations that heavily depend on Middle East oil, though he did not identify them. The narrow waterway normally carries around one-fifth of the world’s traded oil. Meanwhile, operations at ‘Dubai International Airport’, the world’s busiest airport for international travel, gradually resumed after a drone strike hit a fuel tank early Monday and sparked a fire. Authorities said the blaze was quickly controlled and no injuries were reported. Iran accused the United States without providing evidence of using facilities in the ‘United Arab Emirates’ to launch attacks on ‘Kharg Island’, a key terminal for Iran’s oil exports. The tensions pushed global oil prices higher, with ‘Brent crude oil’ trading close to $105 per barrel. Germany’s Foreign Minister ‘Johann Wadephul’ said the United States and ‘Israel’ should clarify when they believe their military objectives in the conflict have been achieved. He warned that Iran poses a serious threat to regional security, global trade and freedom of navigation, and said sanctions could be considered against those blocking the strait. The ‘United Kingdom’ announced £5 million ($6.6 million) in humanitarian assistance for ‘Lebanon’ to support more than 800,000 people displaced by Israeli operations against ‘Hezbollah’. Foreign Secretary ‘Yvette Cooper’expressed concern over the escalating crisis. The Israeli military said it has deployed additional ground troops into Lebanon for what it described as a “limited and targeted operation” to protect communities near its northern border. Military spokesman ‘Nadav Shoshani’ said Hezbollah had moved hundreds of elite fighters toward the frontier. In southern Lebanon, the state news agency reported that Israeli airstrikes killed three people, including two paramedics, in the village of ‘Kfar Sir’. Israel also claimed it had destroyed about 70% of Iran’s missile launchers during the first two weeks of the conflict and carried out roughly 7,600 strikes in Iran, damaging most of the country’s air defence systems and targeting several nuclear-related sites. Across the Gulf, several countries reported new attacks. ‘Bahrain’said its air defences intercepted four missiles and three drones, while ‘Saudi Arabia’ reported shooting down dozens of drones near ‘Riyadh’ and the kingdom’s oil-producing regions. A drone strike also caused a fire at an oil facility in ‘Fujairah Oil Industry Zone’, though no casualties were reported. In ‘Abu Dhabi’, authorities said a Palestinian civilian was killed when a missile struck a vehicle, raising the death toll in the UAE since the war began on Feb. 18 to seven. The ‘European Union’ is considering naval missions to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, according to foreign policy chief ‘Kaja Kallas’. Options include expanding the bloc’s ‘Operation Aspides’ or forming a coalition of willing member states. Trump also indicated he might delay his planned visit to ‘China’ if Beijing does not support efforts to stabilize shipping through the strait and calm oil markets. However, ‘Australia’ said it would not send a warship to the region, although it has provided surveillance aircraft and missiles to help the UAE defend against Iranian attacks.

Trump declines to comment on Mojtaba Khamenei appointment; Lindsey Graham criticises move US President Donald Trump has declined to comment on Iran’s reported appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei, saying only “we’ll see what happens” when asked about the development in an interview, according to The Times of Israel. Trump also indicated that any decision regarding ending the conflict with Iran would be taken jointly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “I think it’s mutual… a little bit. We’ve been talking. I’ll make a decision at the right time, but everything will be taken into account,” the Israeli news outlet quoted Trump as saying. During the interview, Trump also urged Israeli President Isaac Herzog to grant a pardon to Netanyahu, who is currently facing corruption charges. Referring to the Israeli prime minister by his nickname “Bibi,” Trump said Netanyahu should be pardoned immediately so he could focus on the war rather than the ongoing legal case. He criticised Herzog for not granting the pardon. Separately, US Senator Lindsey Graham criticised Iran’s decision to choose Mojtaba Khamenei as successor to his slain father, Ali Khamenei, saying the move does not represent the change the United States wants to see, reports Al Jazeera . Posting on the social platform X, the Republican senator from South Carolina said he believes it is only a matter of time before Mojtaba meets the same fate as his father. Graham has consistently advocated for stronger military action against Iran. A recent report by The Wall Street Journal said he had advised Netanyahu on how to persuade Trump to take action against Tehran.    

The United States is reviewing potential candidates who could lead Iran, the White House said, a day after President Donald Trump suggested Washington should be involved in selecting the country’s next leader. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that US intelligence agencies and government officials were assessing possible figures who could take leadership in Iran, reports Al Jazeera. “I know there’s a number of people that our intelligence agencies and the United States government are looking at, but I won’t get any further on that,” Leavitt said. Her remarks came after Trump stated that the United States should play a role in determining Iran’s future leadership following the recent escalation of conflict in the region. Leavitt also addressed Trump’s earlier statement that there would be no deal with Iran except “unconditional surrender.” She said the president meant that Iran would effectively reach a state of unconditional surrender once it no longer posed a threat to the United States and once the objectives of the US military operation, named “Operation Epic Fury,” were fully achieved. “When the president, as commander-in-chief of the US armed forces, determines that Iran no longer poses a threat to the United States of America and the goals of Operation Epic Fury have been fully realized, Iran will essentially be in a place of unconditional surrender, whether they say it themselves or not,” Leavitt added.

US Senate Republicans on Thursday rejected a war powers resolution seeking to halt the President Donald Trump administration’s military campaign against Iran, signaling early GOP support for the expanding conflict. The resolution failed on a 47-53 vote, largely along party lines. Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky broke with his party to vote in favor of the measure, while Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania voted against it. The legislation aimed to require congressional approval before any further U.S. military action against Iran could proceed. Supporters argued that Congress must assert its constitutional authority over war powers, particularly as hostilities intensify across the Middle East without a clearly defined U.S. exit strategy. The vote compelled lawmakers to publicly state their position on a conflict that is increasingly shaping the fate of American service members, affecting regional stability and carrying significant global consequences. A similar resolution in the Republican-controlled House faces long odds when it comes up for a vote Thursday morning. The Senate decision reflects growing political divisions in Washington as the war widens, with critics warning of prolonged military engagement and supporters defending the administration’s actions as necessary for national security.

US President Donald Trump on Sunday warned Iran against retaliating against the United States and Israel, posting a message on his Truth Social platform. Trump wrote: “Iran just stated that they are going to hit very hard today, harder than they have ever hit before. THEY BETTER NOT DO THAT, HOWEVER, BECAUSE IF THEY DO, WE WILL HIT THEM WITH A FORCE THAT HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE!” The statement came amid escalating tensions in the Middle East following recent US and Israeli strikes in Iran.