United News of Bangladesh

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.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced that the United States has launched “major combat operations” in Iran, accusing the Iranian regime of an “unending campaign of bloodshed and mass murder” against the US. In a video posted on Truth Social in the early hours, Trump said the US strikes, dubbed Operation Midnight Hammer, targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. He insisted that Iran will never be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons. Trump claimed Tehran had ignored repeated opportunities to abandon its nuclear ambitions and continued developing long-range missiles capable of threatening US allies in Europe, American troops abroad, and potentially the US homeland. He vowed to destroy Iran’s missile industry and “annihilate” its navy, reports BBC. The president also criticized Iran’s 47-year campaign of chanting “Death to America,” warning that US forces may suffer casualties in the operation. Addressing the Iranian people, Trump urged them to rise up and “take over your government,” declaring, “The hour of your freedom is at hand.”  

Donald Trump used his State of the Union address on Tuesday to project confidence and momentum, declaring that the United States is “winning so much” as he tried to ease voter anxiety about the economy ahead of November’s midterm elections. Facing slipping approval ratings, Trump focused on persuading skeptical Americans that economic conditions are stronger than many feel and that Republicans deserve continued support. He highlighted job growth, a revival in manufacturing and what he described as a reshaped global order under his leadership. Seeking bipartisan appeal, Trump orchestrated several television-ready moments, including welcoming the Olympic gold medal-winning U.S. men’s hockey team to the House chamber after their visit to the White House. The players, wearing their medals and USA jerseys, received a standing ovation from both sides of the aisle. Trump also announced that goaltender Connor Hellebuyck would receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The president introduced few major new policy proposals early in the speech, but portrayed his presidency as a historic turnaround. He praised his immigration crackdown, efforts to shrink the federal government and use of military force abroad, including actions involving Iran and Venezuela. Trump also criticized the Supreme Court of the United States for striking down his signature tariff policies, calling the ruling unfortunate and vowing to find ways to preserve the levies without relying on Congress or unsettling financial markets. Several justices, including Chief Justice John Roberts, attended the address. According to a White House official, Trump plans to announce that technology companies involved in artificial intelligence will pay higher electricity rates in areas hosting their data centers, arguing that their heavy power use strains local grids. Before the speech, Senate Democrats blocked a bill to restore funding to the Department of Homeland Security, pressing for limits on immigration enforcement. Trump plans to demand the immediate restoration of all border security funding. Despite his optimistic tone, affordability remained a central political challenge. While Trump has repeatedly claimed inflation is under control and pointed to record highs in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, many Americans continue to feel squeezed by high living costs. Critics also warn that tariffs may be contributing to higher prices and slowing economic growth. Democrats plan to counter Trump’s address with a response from Abigail Spanberger, while some Democratic lawmakers boycotted the speech in protest. On foreign policy, Trump spoke as U.S. aircraft carriers were deployed to the Middle East amid rising tensions with Iran. He again cited last summer’s airstrikes on Tehran’s nuclear facilities and touted diplomatic efforts in the Middle East, while critics note strains with NATO allies and his approach to Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine, now in its fourth year.

Europe’s security outlook is under renewed scrutiny as leaders prepare to gather for the Munich Security Conference this week, with the legacy and ongoing impact of US President Donald Trump’s foreign policy casting a long shadow over transatlantic relations. It has been a year since US Vice President JD Vance delivered a controversial address at the same forum, sharply criticising Europe over migration and free speech and arguing that the continent’s greatest threats were internal. The remarks stunned delegates and signalled a deeper shift that has since reshaped US relations with both allies and rivals. Over the past year, the Trump administration has imposed punitive tariffs on partners, taken an aggressive stance abroad and pursued diplomacy on Ukraine that many in Europe see as favouring Moscow. Trump has also made provocative statements, including suggesting that Canada should become the 51st US state. As the conference opens later this week, more than 50 world leaders are expected to attend. The US delegation will be led by Secretary of State and National Security Adviser Marco Rubio, amid growing European concerns about Washington’s long-term commitment to the continent’s defence. Those concerns were heightened by the latest US National Security Strategy, published late last year, which urged Europe to take primary responsibility for its own security. The document reinforced fears that the United States is increasingly reluctant to continue underwriting European defence. Tensions were further strained by a recent crisis over Greenland, after Trump repeatedly said the United States needed to “own” the Arctic island for security reasons and at one point did not rule out the use of force. Greenland is a self-governing territory under Denmark, a Nato member, and Danish leaders warned that any hostile takeover would effectively end the alliance that has underpinned European security for decades. Although the immediate Greenland dispute has subsided, it has left lingering doubts about the durability of the US-Europe security partnership. Former UK intelligence chief Sir Alex Younger said the transatlantic alliance has changed but is not broken, noting that Europe still benefits greatly from its security and intelligence ties with the United States. He also argued that Trump was right to push Europe to shoulder more of the defence burden, pointing to long-standing imbalances in military spending. However, divisions extend beyond defence budgets. The Trump administration has clashed with Europe over trade, migration and free speech, while many European governments have been alarmed by Trump’s approach to Russian President Vladimir Putin and his tendency to criticise Ukraine despite Russia’s invasion. Ahead of the conference, organisers released a report warning of a fundamental break with long-standing US post-World War II strategy, which had prioritised multilateral institutions, economic integration and the promotion of democracy and human rights as strategic assets. The report said all three pillars have been weakened or openly questioned under the Trump administration. US-based analysts at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies described the new National Security Strategy as a painful wake-up call for Europe and evidence of a deep divergence between European expectations and Washington’s current vision. The strategy includes language supporting groups opposed to Europe’s current political direction and criticises European migration policies, while still acknowledging that Europe remains strategically important to the United States. A central concern for many European officials is whether Nato’s Article 5, the collective defence clause, can still be relied upon. Although Nato leaders insist the commitment remains intact, Trump’s unpredictability and his administration’s scepticism towards Europe have raised doubts. These questions are sharpened by the ongoing war in Ukraine and hypothetical scenarios involving Nato’s eastern flank, where any hesitation or miscalculation could have serious consequences. As discussions begin in Munich, European leaders hope for clarity on the future of the transatlantic alliance, even as many fear the answers may confirm a more uncertain and fragmented security order.   With inputs from BBC