United News of Bangladesh

Iran has reiterated its rejection of a temporary ceasefire, insisting on a permanent end to the conflict with guarantees to prevent future war, as tensions rise ahead of a deadline set by US President Donald Trump. Iran’s representative to the United Nations said Tehran would not accept a short-term truce and instead seeks a lasting peace with verifiable assurances. The position reflects Iran’s consistent stance amid the ongoing crisis, reports Al Jazeera. Responding to Trump’s warning that a “whole civilisation will die,” Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson said the strength of a “civilised nation” would ultimately prevail over the logic of brute force. Diplomatic sources say the gap between the two sides remains wide, making any agreement difficult and protracted. Meanwhile, the White House has denied reports that it is considering the use of nuclear weapons against Iran, even as Trump maintained strong rhetoric, warning Tehran to strike a deal or face a massive assault. The US president had earlier set a deadline of 8pm Eastern Time (local time 6:00 AM in Bangladesh), demanding Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz—a vital route for global energy supplies—or risk attacks on key infrastructure. Trump warns ‘whole civilization’ could die, says Iran still has time to act Vice President JD Vance said the US could use tools “not yet decided,” sparking speculation, though the White House dismissed claims that nuclear options were implied. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said only the president knows the final course of action. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) warned it would retaliate strongly if civilian infrastructure is targeted, raising fears of wider regional consequences. At the UN Security Council, Iran’s Ambassador Amir-Saeid Iravani criticised a draft resolution on the Strait of Hormuz as “biased and indefensible,” saying it misrepresents Iran as the aggressor while ignoring the root causes. He maintained that Iran’s actions were in self-defence. Adding to concerns, a nuclear expert warned that any strike on Iran’s Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant could trigger a disaster comparable to Chernobyl or Hiroshima, with long-term environmental and humanitarian consequences across the Gulf region.