United News of Bangladesh

Iranian state media reported that the commander of Iran’s joint military command warned that Iran would completely block exports and imports across the Persian Gulf region, the Sea of Oman, and the Red Sea if the United States does not lift its blockade on Iranian ports. “Iran will act with strength to defend its national sovereignty and its interests,” said Ali Abdollahi. He added that the U.S. blockade is “a prelude to violating the ceasefire.” Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz when Israel and the United States launched strikes against it more than a month ago. The United States on Monday began blockading ships trying to enter or leave Iranian ports and said it would not impede the freedom of navigation of other vessels in the Persian Gulf.

US President Donald Trump has said a second round of talks between the United States and Iran could resume within days. In a phone call with The New York Post, Trump said a second round of talks with Iran “could be happening over next two days.” He initially indicated the discussions would likely take place somewhere in Europe, but later said they could instead be held in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, reports AP. An initial round of negotiations ended without any agreement on Iran’s nuclear ambitions, which the White House has identified as a key sticking point. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has said it is “highly probable” that US-Iran negotiations will restart. He made the remarks after meeting Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister on Tuesday, praising Islamabad’s efforts to promote peace in the Middle East. Guterres expressed “enormous admiration” for Pakistan’s initiative and stressed the importance of continued dialogue. “I consider it essential that these negotiations go on,” Guterres told UN reporters, noting it would be “unrealistic” for long-standing and complex issues between the US and Iran to be resolved in a single round of talks. “We need negotiations to go on, and we need a ceasefire to persist as negotiations go on,” the secretary-general said.

Former US Vice President Kamala Harris has hinted at a possible run for the 2028 presidential election, saying she is “thinking about it” following her defeat to Donald Trump in the 2024 race. Speaking at the National Action Network (NAN) annual convention in New York, Harris responded to a direct question from civil rights leader Al Sharpton about whether she would run again, reports Al Jazeera. “Listen, I might, I might. I’m thinking about it,” Harris said, without committing to a formal announcement. She added that her experience in the White House had prepared her for the role of president. “I know what the job is, and I know what it requires,” she said, referring to her tenure as vice president under Joe Biden from 2021 to 2025. Harris noted that she had spent extensive time working in the West Wing, the Oval Office, and the Situation Room, describing herself as being “a heartbeat away from the presidency” during her time in office. Harris became the Democratic nominee in the 2024 presidential election after Biden stepped aside following a widely criticised debate performance. She ultimately lost to Trump, who secured 312 Electoral College votes against her 226. Despite the defeat, Harris received more than 75 million votes, making her one of the highest vote-getters in US presidential history. Her remarks came amid growing speculation over potential Democratic contenders for 2028, with several party figures also attending the event, including governors and senior lawmakers considered possible candidates. Harris also used her speech to criticise Trump’s foreign policy record, describing the US and Israeli war against Iran as a “war of choice” and warning that America’s global influence had weakened under his leadership. She said any future decision about running would depend on who could best serve the American people, adding: “I’ll keep you posted.”

US Vice President JD Vance has said that President Donald Trump has issued “pretty clear guidelines” for upcoming negotiations with Iran, adding that he expects the talks to be “positive” as he departs for Pakistan. Speaking to reporters in Washington DC before travelling to Islamabad, Vance said he is “looking forward” to the discussions and believes diplomatic engagement with Tehran can make progress if conducted in good faith, reports Al Jazeera. He said, “If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we are certainly willing to extend an open hand. That’s one thing.” However, he warned that Washington would not be “receptive” if Iran attempted to manipulate the process. “If they’re going to try to play us, they’re going to find that the negotiating team is not that receptive,” he said. Pakistan has yet to announce an official schedule for the talks, although the White House had previously indicated that discussions could take place on Saturday morning. Islamabad continues to wait for the delegations’ arrival. The comments come ahead of high-level talks in Pakistan aimed at addressing tensions following weeks of conflict and a recently announced ceasefire framework involving the United States and Iran.

US President Donald Trump has sharply criticised NATO and renewed his controversial remarks about Greenland, following talks with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House. Trump accused the alliance of failing to support the United States during the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran, saying, “NATO wasn’t there when we needed them and they won’t be there if we need them again.” In a post on his Truth Social platform, he added, “Remember Greenland, that big, poorly run, piece of ice,” reviving his earlier threats to seize the territory from NATO ally Denmark — a move that has alarmed European partners. The remarks came shortly after a closed-door meeting between Trump and Rutte. Speaking to CNN, Rutte declined to directly answer whether Trump had indicated any intention to withdraw from NATO. “Let me be absolutely clear. He is clearly disappointed, and with many NATO allies. And I can see his point,” Rutte said. He, however, stressed that most European nations have supported NATO operations through basing, logistics and overflight arrangements, and have sought to meet their commitments. Rutte also noted broad support among allies for efforts to weaken Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities, adding that only the United States currently has the capacity to carry out such actions. Describing the meeting, Rutte said the discussion with Trump was “very frank” and “open.”

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that Iran has 48 hours to strike a deal on opening up the Strait of Hormuz or face "Hell." "Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. "Time is running out -- 48 hours before all Hell will reign (sic) down on them," Trump said. On March 21, Trump threatened to "hit and obliterate" Iranian power plants if the country fails to fully open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours. Two days later, however, he postponed strikes on power plants for five days after holding "productive conversations" with Tehran. He later again pushed the deadline back.

Gen. Randy George, the U.S. Army's top uniformed officer, was asked to step down Thursday by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Pentagon officials have not given a reason for the departure, which comes during the Iran war and is the latest of more than a dozen firings of top generals and admirals. Iran is firing more missiles at Israel and Gulf Arab states, with a spokesperson for its military insisting Thursday that Tehran maintains hidden stockpiles of arms, munitions and production facilities. In Lebanon, where Israel has launched a ground invasion against Iran-backed Hezbollah militants, Israeli strikes have killed 27 people in a single day, Lebanon's Health Ministry said. Stocks recovered most of their losses from earlier in the day, though oil prices remained elevated after Trump failed to offer a clear timetable for ending the conflict in his address. U.S. crude oil was up 8.4% at $108.82 per barrel, pulling back from over $110. In his address Wednesday night, U.S. President Donald Trump said U.S. forces will keep hitting Iran “very hard” in the next two or three weeks and bring the country “back to the Stone Ages,” even as he touted the success of U.S. operations and argued that all of Washington’s objectives have so far been met or exceeded.

Donald Trump on Thursday announced the removal of Pam Bondi as attorney general, ending a contentious tenure marked by sweeping changes at the Justice Department. Trump named Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche as acting attorney general. He also praised Bondi as a “great American patriot” and said she would move to a private-sector role. Bondi’s tenure drew criticism for undermining the department’s traditional independence, overseeing mass firings and resignations of career officials, and launching investigations into Trump’s perceived political opponents. Her leadership faced growing scrutiny, particularly from conservatives over the handling of files linked to Jeffrey Epstein. Efforts to pursue high-profile cases against figures such as James Comey and Letitia James were dismissed by courts. Bondi defended her actions, saying she aimed to restore credibility to the department after what she described as overreach during the previous administration. Her departure continues a pattern of instability at the Justice Department during Trump’s presidency, with multiple attorneys general leaving under pressure.

US President Donald Trump made a series of misleading and exaggerated claims about Iran and the American economy while addressing the nation Wednesday night, as tensions in the Middle East and rising fuel prices dominate global concerns. No inflation claim disputed Trump said the US now has “no inflation” and described the economy he inherited as “dead and crippled.” However, data shows the economy was already growing steadily before his tenure. In 2024, the final year of Joe Biden’s presidency, US GDP grew by 2.8%, one of the fastest among advanced economies. Inflation also persists. The consumer price index rose 2.4% in February from a year earlier, still above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target. ‘Regime change’ claim questioned Trump suggested Iran had effectively undergone regime change following the deaths of senior leaders. But analysts say this claim lacks credibility. After the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, leadership reportedly passed to his son Mojtaba Khamenei, who is widely viewed as more hardline. Meanwhile, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has strengthened its influence, with civilian leadership having limited control. Protester death toll unverified Trump claimed Iran’s government killed 45,000 protesters. However, no credible source has confirmed such a figure. A US-based rights group verified over 7,000 deaths during protests, while Iran’s government reported 3,117 fatalities. Though higher numbers are possible, independent verification remains difficult due to restrictions inside the country. Oil independence overstated Trump said the US no longer depends on Middle Eastern oil. While the US is the world’s largest oil producer and imports only a small share from the region, global oil prices still affect domestic fuel costs. Since the Iran conflict began, crude oil prices have surged more than 50%, pushing US gasoline prices above $4 per gallon. Investment figures exaggerated Trump cited $18 trillion in investments entering the US, but provided no evidence. Official figures suggest a significantly lower amount, around $10.5 trillion, including commitments made before his presidency. Analysts also question how much of the pledged investment will materialize. Iran cash payment mischaracterized Trump repeated a long-standing claim that Barack Obama gave Iran $1.7 billion in cash. In reality, the payment settled a decades-old dispute over funds Iran had paid for undelivered military equipment before the 1979 revolution, including interest.

US President Donald Trump has warned that the United States will launch intensified strikes on Iran over the next two to three weeks, saying military operations will continue until all American objectives are achieved. Addressing the nation on Wednesday night, he said, “We will continue until our objectives are fully achieved. Thanks to the progress we’ve made, I can say we are on track to complete all of America’s objectives shortly, very shortly.” The US president said Washington plans to escalate attacks significantly in the coming weeks. “We are going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks. We are going to take them back to the stone ages where they belong,” he added. Trump also said that “regime change was never our goal,” but claimed that “regime change has occurred because of their original leader’s death.” He further warned Tehran of potential strikes on critical infrastructure, particularly power plants, if no agreement is reached. “If during this period of time no deal is made, we have our eyes on key targets. If no deal is reached, we are going to hit every one of their electric generating plants very hard, and probably simultaneously,” he said. #From Al Jazeera