United News of Bangladesh

The United States has cautioned about a potential Iranian attack targeting a major oil-producing city in Saudi Arabia, escalating tensions as President Donald Trump declared that negotiations with Tehran were no longer an option. Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Ali Bahreini, expressed skepticism over the value of engaging in dialogue with Washington. “For the time being we are very doubtful about the usefulness of negotiation,” Bahreini told reporters in Geneva on Tuesday, according to Reuters. Tehran makes new threat to Gulf shipping as US says ‘hardest hits’ on Iran yet to come His remarks came shortly after Trump said on his Truth Social platform that it was “too late” to hold talks with Iran, signaling a hardening stance amid rising hostilities. Source: BBC

A senior Iranian military advisor on Monday warned that Iran’s armed forces will prevent any oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz. Ebrahim Jabbari, an advisor to the chief commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), made the remarks in an interview with state-run IRIB TV, saying the country’s forces would act against any oil tankers attempting to pass through the strait. Iran death toll hits 787 as Israeli, US strikes intensify He asserted that the Strait of Hormuz has been closed and that the naval forces of the IRGC and the Iranian army will set on fire any ship trying to transit the waterway. Jabbari also said Iran would target oil pipelines in the region, emphasizing, “we will not let oil be exported from the region.” He further stated that the United States relies heavily on oil from West Asia and warned that “not a single drop of oil will be supplied to them.”

The death toll from ongoing Israeli and US strikes on Iran has surged to 787, as attacks continue across multiple fronts, including a strike targeting Iran’s state broadcaster. Israeli forces have also stepped up air raids in Lebanon and launched a fresh ground incursion into the country’s southern region, further widening the conflict. In Saudi Arabia, authorities reported that two drones struck the United States Embassy in Riyadh, sparking a small fire and causing minor structural damage. Who leads Iran after Khamenei’s death? A senior official of Hezbollah said the latest wave of attacks leaves the group with “no option but to return to resistance.” Mahmoud Qmati declared that Israel had sought an open war and would now face one, adding that “the era of patience has ended.” Meanwhile, Israeli media reported that a missile equipped with a fragmentation warhead struck Petah Tikva in central Israel. According to Channel 12, the projectile hit the city, while The Times of Israel said fragments from an Iranian missile caused damage in the area. No injuries were immediately reported. Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry strongly condemned what it described as a “treacherous” Iranian attack on the US embassy in Riyadh. In a statement, the ministry reaffirmed the kingdom’s right to take all necessary measures to safeguard its security and interests, including responding to acts of aggression. Source: Al Jazeera

Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir on Monday said they will do everything for the Bangladeshis to ensure their welfare and safety of its citizens amid current situation in the Middle East. Talking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he said they have discussed all the issues in the inter-ministerial meeting held at the Ministry. "They are our top most priority," said the Adviser, adding that the government is fully supportive of their welfare and protection. 2 Bangladeshis killed, 7 injured in Middle East attacks Kobir said they want deescalation of the situation and urged all to choose the path of diplomacy. Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman, Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed, State Minister for Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Md Nurul Hoque, Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam, representatives from Biman Bangladesh Airlines and other departments were present at the meeting. Two Bangladeshi nationals have lost their lives and seven others have sustained injuries due to missile and drone attacks in different parts of the Middle East. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shared the updates on Monday, noting that the government of Bangladesh is "deeply saddened". Experts flag possible energy pressure for Bangladesh amid US-Iran tensions In the United Arab Emirates, Saleh Ahmed, a Bangladeshi national from Baralekha, Sylhet, lost his life in Ajman after being struck by debris resulting from an aerial attack on a civilian installation. The Embassy of Bangladesh in the United Arab Emirates is in close contact with the local authorities regarding the matter and is extending necessary assistance to repatriate the mortal remains once commercial flights resume, said the Ministry. It has been reported that one Bangladeshi national has been killed and three more have been injured in Bahrain. Bangladesh Mission in Manama is in touch with the local authorities regarding the incident. In the State of Kuwait, four Bangladeshi nationals, Aminul Islam from Nabinagar, Brahmanbaria; Rabiul Islam from Sathia, Pabna; Masudur Rahman from Begumganj, Noakhali; and Dulal Miah from Chandina, Cumilla, sustained injuries following a drone attack in the vicinity of the civilian airport. They have received necessary medical treatment and are currently reported to be in stable condition. The Embassy of Bangladesh in Kuwait remains in regular contact with them and the Ambassador personally visited them at the hospital, said the Ministry. Separately, the Bangladesh Shipping Corporation vessel Banglar Joyjatra is currently stranded at Jebel Ali Port in the United Arab Emirates. The Embassy is maintaining close communication with the vessel's captain. All crew members are reported to be safe. The government of Bangladesh reiterated its deep concern over the escalating situation in the Middle East and continues to monitor developments closely.

Iran's foreign minister says a new supreme leader will be chosen in 'one or two days.' Iran's president Masoud Pezeshkian says new leadership council 'has begun its work' after killing of supreme leader. The death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after almost 37 years in power raises paramount questions about Iran's future. Khamenei’s death: Who will be Iran’s next supreme leader? The contours of a complex succession process began to take shape the morning after Khamenei's killing in an airstrike campaign by the United States and Israel.

Several leading oil producers and trading firms have temporarily halted fuel shipments through the Strait of Hormuz following escalating attacks in the region, according to media reports. A senior executive at a major trading company told Reuters that their vessels would remain stationary for the next few days as a precautionary measure, reports Al Jazeera. Roughly 20 million barrels of crude oil and other petroleum products pass daily through the narrow but strategically vital corridor between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Any prolonged disruption in shipments through the waterway could trigger significant turbulence in global energy markets, analysts warn. US-Israel attack on Iran: How world reacts

At eight Israelis were killed as Iran has launched missile strikes on multiple locations across Israel, including the major cities of Haifa and Tel Aviv, according to medics and media reports. The strikes come in retaliation for Israeli air raids that targeted civilian infrastructure and energy facilities in Iran, including the Shahran oil depot in Tehran, which was set ablaze. The Israeli military claimed its strikes were aimed at facilities “related to the Iranian regime’s nuclear weapons project.” In response, Iran's state media reported that at least 80 people, including 20 children, have been killed and 800 others wounded over the past two days due to the Israeli offensive. Amid rising tensions, US President Donald Trump stated that both he and Russian President Vladimir Putin agree that the conflict between Israel and Iran must be halted. Following the attacks, Iran announced it is cancelling the sixth round of nuclear negotiations with the United States. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Israel’s continued assault leaves “no justification” for continuing the talks. Israel's latest wave of airstrikes hit Tehran’s main gas storage facility and its central oil refinery early Sunday, blanketing the city in smoke and fire. The Shahran fuel depot, located in an upscale neighborhood, was struck Saturday night. Iran’s oil ministry confirmed the attack, saying the site, which contains at least 11 storage tanks, was engulfed in flames. Israel targets Iran's Defense Ministry headquarters as Tehran unleashes deadly missile strike “The fire is terrifying, it’s massive; there is a lot of commotion here,” said Mostafa Shams, a local resident. “It’s the gasoline depots that are exploding one after another, it’s loud and scary.” In a separate attack, one of the country’s largest oil refineries in Shahr Rey, in southern Tehran, was also hit, according to state media. Emergency teams worked to control the blaze, with flames visible from several kilometers away, residents said. The assault on Iran’s energy infrastructure, a vital source of both export revenue and domestic energy supply, marks a serious escalation by Israel. Earlier Saturday, Israeli jets also targeted parts of the South Pars Gas Field, a major energy hub critical to Iran’s production capabilities. “We have entered the second phase of the war, which is extremely dangerous and destructive,” said Abdollah Babakhani, a Germany-based expert on Iran’s energy sector. The intensity of the attacks has sparked widespread fear in the capital. Israeli jets reportedly also struck research facilities linked to Iran’s nuclear program in Tehran, according to two Israeli defense officials, speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the operations. Shirin, a resident near the Shahran depot, described a scene of chaos. “Israel is attacking left and right; it’s not just military targets, this is our livelihood and our lives,” she said, adding that the blast was so intense her mother fainted. Shirin criticized the Iranian government for failing to offer guidance or shelter to civilians. Iran threatens UK, US, France with retaliation if they intervene in Israel conflicts Hamid Hosseini, a member of Iran’s Chamber of Commerce energy committee, noted that officials had long debated relocating the Shahran depot due to its proximity to residential areas, fearing exactly such a scenario. An oil ministry official said the site receives around 8 million liters of gasoline daily and stores enough fuel to meet Tehran’s needs for three days. The sequential explosions now pose a serious threat to surrounding neighborhoods. Israel has not yet commented on the strikes. Source: With input from agencies