United News of Bangladesh

Suspected Boko Haram fighters killed at least eight people and injured one in an overnight attack on Kangaleri village in the Mayo-Sava division of Cameroon's Far North region, local sources said Saturday. The sources said the attack occurred at around 11 p.m. local time Friday, when the gunmen entered the village under cover of darkness, a tactic the group frequently uses, before fleeing the area. Six residents were killed at the scene, while three others were badly wounded and taken for treatment. Two of the injured later died in a hospital, and one remained under medical care as of Saturday. Authorities have not yet confirmed the exact circumstances of the raid. In a separate incident the same night, gunmen believed to be from Boko Haram were reported in Tourou, a town in the Mokolo district near the border with Nigeria. Local sources said the assailants looted shops and livestock and damaged a market on the outskirts of the town. No deaths were reported from that attack. The Boko Haram terror group has been carrying out attacks in Cameroon's Far North region since 2014, inflicting heavy human and material losses across the region.  

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned Russia’s latest deadly attacks on Kyiv as he visited Serbia on Saturday, a European country that has maintained close ties with Moscow since Russia invaded Ukraine. Four people, including a child, were killed in overnight Russian strikes on Kyiv and the surrounding region, while Ukrainian forces attacked Russian oil facilities. Zelenskyy arrived in Belgrade on Friday for his first official visit to Serbia. At a joint news conference with Zelenskyy, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic called Ukraine a “friendly nation” and said he was pleased to host the Ukrainian leader. It was the first visit by a Ukrainian president to Serbia in eight years. The two leaders discussed their countries’ efforts to join the European Union, bilateral relations and ways to strengthen cooperation. Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine regularly come under Russian drone and missile attacks. Ukraine’s air defenses have struggled to cope with the scale of the attacks as its supply of interceptors remains limited. At the same time, Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil facilities have become increasingly frequent, causing fuel shortages and putting pressure on Moscow. Patriot missile supplies slowVucic, who has kept close relations with Moscow and declined to impose sanctions on Russia, said Serbia respects Ukraine’s territorial integrity and that its position would not change. The stance has drawn pressure from the European Union. “The situation in Ukraine is difficult,” Zelenskyy said. “There was another missile strike last night — ballistic missiles targeting our infrastructure. There were also attack drones.” He said deliveries of Patriot air defense interceptors, the only weapon in Ukraine’s arsenal capable of intercepting ballistic missiles, have slowed compared with last year. “There are fewer of these missiles in 2026,” Zelenskyy said, adding that Ukraine received more each month in 2025. Zelenskyy said the US has agreed to allow Ukraine to produce its own Patriot interceptors, but the plan has been delayed by paperwork. “The process for some of these licenses is also taking a long time,” he said. Child killed with grandparentsThe talks in Belgrade came after Russian drones destroyed a family home in Brovary district, northeast of Kyiv, killing a three-year-old child and the child’s grandparents, according to local officials. Three other family members and a neighbour who came to help were injured and taken to hospital. The attack destroyed the house and damaged nearby buildings and vehicles. Zelenskyy said at least one other person was killed in an attack involving six ballistic missiles targeting civilian infrastructure in Kyiv. Ukraine’s air force said it had shot down or intercepted 135 of 151 Russian drones launched overnight. The attack also included six ballistic missiles and other guided missiles. Russia has repeatedly attacked populated areas across Ukraine, although Moscow says its forces target only military facilities. Ukraine’s Defence Ministry said Friday that its air defenses had destroyed or intercepted around 5,300 Russian drones and missiles last month. That was just under 60% of the roughly 9,000 drones and missiles Russia launched during the period. Zelenskyy has repeatedly urged countries, particularly the US, to provide more air defense ammunition. Supplies have become tighter amid the war involving Iran. He has also sought permission to produce Patriot interceptors in Ukraine and called for stronger measures to disrupt Russia’s ability to manufacture ballistic missiles. Following the latest attacks, Zelenskyy appealed on X for additional sanctions aimed at stopping the production of Russian ballistic missiles, as well as more anti-ballistic systems and interceptor missiles. Ukraine targets Russian oil facilitiesIn Russia, six people were injured after a fire broke out at the Ilsky Oil Refinery in the southern Krasnodar region. Local officials said debris from a downed drone caused the fire. Ukraine’s General Staff said its forces had struck the refinery in Krasnodar as well as the Syzran Oil Refinery in Russia’s Samara region, more than 800 kilometres from Ukraine. Samara Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev confirmed that drones had hit an industrial facility but did not identify it as an oil refinery. Ukraine has carried out near-daily long-range drone and missile attacks on Russian oil facilities using domestically developed weapons. The strikes have disrupted Russia’s fuel supply and created shortages, putting further pressure on the Kremlin.

The US Senate early Saturday confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general, giving President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer full authority to lead the Justice Department. The Republican-controlled Senate approved Blanche by a narrow 50-49 vote, making him the second confirmed attorney general since Trump returned to the White House last year. Blanche had already been running the department in an acting capacity. His confirmation could now give him greater freedom to carry out the Trump administration’s agenda at the Justice Department. “Deeply honored” by Trump’s trust, Blanche said on social media that he was grateful to senators who stayed late to complete the confirmation process. His confirmation followed a difficult and divisive Senate battle, with both Democrats and some Republicans raising concerns about appointing a close Trump ally to lead an agency traditionally expected to operate independently of the White House. Two Republicans — Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska — joined all Democrats in opposing Blanche. Dispute over controversial IRS settlementBlanche’s confirmation faced an unusually difficult path, largely because of Republican concerns over a controversial settlement involving Trump and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Under pressure from Republican senators, Blanche gave a written commitment that the Justice Department would drop Trump’s proposed $1.8 billion compensation fund for his allies, including people who attacked the US Capitol on Jan 6, 2021. He also agreed to limit another part of the settlement that would have protected Trump and members of his family from IRS tax audits. The commitments helped win the support of Republican Senator Bill Cassidy, whose vote proved crucial. Cassidy backed Blanche on Friday morning. Cassidy said he believed Blanche was well positioned to run the department under Trump and argued that his previous experience as Trump’s criminal defense lawyer could help him resist presidential demands when they go beyond legal limits. “This is not a referendum on President Trump. It is a decision regarding Mr. Blanche in very specific circumstances,” Cassidy said. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, urged senators to reject Blanche, calling his confirmation a “serious mistake.” Questions over Blanche’s loyalty to TrumpBlanche’s close relationship with Trump remained a major issue throughout the confirmation process. Trump appointed Blanche as acting attorney general after firing Pam Bondi in April. Blanche quickly moved to advance Trump’s priorities, including investigations involving people viewed by Trump as political opponents. The $1.8 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” became a major obstacle to his confirmation. The proposal was eventually withdrawn after Republican Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina pressured Blanche to abandon it. The agreement allowed the Senate Judiciary Committee to move forward with his nomination earlier this week. However, some Republicans remained opposed. Murkowski said Friday that she would vote against Blanche, arguing that the country needs an attorney general capable of checking what she called the administration’s “worst impulses.” From federal prosecutor to Trump’s top legal defenderBlanche, a former federal prosecutor in New York, became widely known as one of Trump’s leading lawyers. He represented Trump during the former president’s New York hush money trial and also defended him in two federal criminal cases brought by the Justice Department during the Biden administration. Blanche has said those cases gave him firsthand experience of what he considers the misuse of the criminal justice system against Trump. He joined the Justice Department last year as deputy attorney general under Bondi. He was responsible for much of the department’s day-to-day operations and became its public face on several high-profile issues, including the release of millions of investigative records linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Democrats have accused Blanche of putting his loyalty to Trump ahead of the department’s traditional independence. They have pointed to investigations targeting Trump critics, including former FBI Director James Comey, as well as major changes within the department. Thousands of Justice Department employees have left through firings, resignations or voluntary departures since Trump returned to office. Blanche’s supporters, however, say his background as a federal prosecutor and his close working relationship with Trump make him better positioned to explain the legal limits of presidential demands. Republicans have also praised his record on fighting violent crime, illegal immigration, drug trafficking and violent cartels. Senator Chuck Grassley, the Republican chairman of the Judiciary Committee, strongly backed Blanche, saying he had led the department effectively. “Mr. Blanche is the right choice,” Grassley said. Unclear whether Blanche can deliver Trump’s desired crackdownIt remains uncertain whether Blanche will be more successful than Bondi in carrying out Trump’s desire to pursue his political opponents. Trump fired Bondi after she faced resistance from judges, grand juries and Justice Department employees as prosecutors pursued cases involving several of Trump’s perceived adversaries. Soon after Blanche became acting attorney general, the Justice Department brought charges against former FBI Director Comey over a social media post featuring seashells arranged in a way that appeared to reference “86 47,” a phrase interpreted as a call to remove the 47th president. Comey’s lawyers have asked a court to dismiss the case, accusing the Justice Department of misleading judges, filing documents containing false statements and withholding important information. Blanche has also appointed Joseph diGenova, a former Reagan-era Justice Department prosecutor, to oversee an investigation in Florida into allegations that former law enforcement and intelligence officials worked together over the past decade to undermine Trump. It remains unclear whether that investigation will lead to criminal charges.

Former US presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton have contributed essays to a major 250th-anniversary project on American presidents, carefully avoiding direct mention of President Donald Trump. The three former presidents are among historians, writers and other prominent figures taking part in the “In Pursuit” project, in which contributors write about a US president or first lady. Although the project was designed to stay above current political debates, several essays touch on issues that have gained renewed attention during Trump’s presidency, including the limits of presidential power, the strength of democracy and respect for constitutional institutions. The project is curated by Colleen Shogan, the former US archivist who was fired by Trump in 2025 without an explanation. She asked contributors to avoid partisan or ideological arguments. “Everybody took those instructions and that guidance very seriously,” Shogan told The Associated Press. She said the project aims to help Americans learn from the country’s successes and failures over the past 250 years and apply those lessons to the present and future. The essays cover 43 presidents — excluding Trump and former President Joe Biden — as well as 30 first ladies. They are being published weekly in chronological order through December. Trump and Biden were left out because their presidencies are considered too recent for history to properly assess them. Bush highlights Washington’s decision to give up powerBush’s essay focuses on George Washington and his decision to voluntarily give up power. The former Republican president praises Washington for establishing limits on presidential authority. Washington stepped down as commander of the Continental Army after the Revolutionary War and later served only two presidential terms. Bush says Washington’s willingness to surrender power became one of the most important examples for future presidents. The essay, published on Presidents Day as the first installment of the series on Substack, attracted significant attention. Another widely discussed contribution came from retired Gen. Stanley McChrystal, who wrote about Ulysses S. Grant. ‘Law over loyalty’McChrystal portrays Grant as a leader who placed principles above personal ambition and resisted pressure on military leaders to support political factions or individuals instead of the Constitution. The theme of personal loyalty has particular relevance during Trump’s presidency, as Trump has repeatedly demanded loyalty from members of his administration. McChrystal writes that the pressure to turn public institutions toward personal political power is not limited to one period in history, adding that the country’s future depends on leaders choosing “law over loyalty.” In the latest installment this month, Clinton writes about Theodore Roosevelt. He focuses on Roosevelt’s efforts to broaden the meaning of “we the people” while challenging powerful corporate interests. Clinton also addresses Roosevelt’s discriminatory views toward Black and Indigenous Americans. Many of the essays discuss both the achievements and failures of presidents, unlike approaches that portray US history mainly through a patriotic lens. Obama, Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama among contributorsOther contributors include Chief Justice John Roberts, who writes about William Howard Taft, the only US president who later served on the Supreme Court. Hillary Clinton writes about Eleanor Roosevelt, Michelle Obama about Jacqueline Kennedy, Republican strategist Karl Rove about William McKinley, filmmaker Ken Burns about Franklin D. Roosevelt and historian Michael Beschloss about Lyndon Johnson. Barack Obama contributes an essay on Abraham Lincoln. The project is organised by More Perfect, a nonpartisan coalition of presidential centres, academics and organisations working to strengthen democracy. Shogan now works with the project after Trump removed her as US archivist in February 2025. She said she has never been told why she was dismissed, and Congress apparently has not been given an explanation either. Federal law requires Congress to be notified about the removal, although it does not set a specific deadline. Shogan said the archivist’s position has traditionally been nonpartisan, similar to the roles of the Librarian of Congress and the secretary of the Smithsonian. The White House did not respond to questions about why Trump fired Shogan or whether Congress would be informed of the reason. Trump has previously criticised the National Archives for referring allegations over his handling of classified documents to the Justice Department after he left office following his first term. Shogan was not leading the agency at that time. Public interest in history growsShogan said the strong public response to the project shows that many Americans are interested in learning about history without a partisan slant. The essays have received more than 1 million combined views on Substack, while the project’s podcast has recorded about 160,000 audio downloads and nearly 64,000 YouTube views, according to the latest figures. A documentary on the project is scheduled to air on PBS in October. The essays also explore lesser-known aspects of presidents who receive less attention. Millard Fillmore, for example, is described by former New York congressman Steve Israel as a president often remembered mainly for being forgotten. Franklin Pierce is portrayed as a pro-slavery president who was also shaped by the alcohol-heavy political culture of Washington at the time. Yale history professor David W. Blight writes about how Pierce won the presidency for the Democrats in 1852 despite harsh attacks from the Whigs. His opponent, Mexican-American War veteran Gen. Winfield Scott, was used by the Whigs to mock Pierce, who had also served in the war, with a sarcastic reference to him as a “hero of many a well-fought bottle.”

Hungary's ruling Tisza party on Saturday named former Supreme Court chief Andras Baka as its candidate for president, ahead of a parliamentary vote next Tuesday. The party's parliamentary faction chose Baka, 73, in a secret ballot from a three-person shortlist, the Tisza said in a statement. Baka served as a judge at the European Court of Human Rights from 1991 to 2008 before Hungary's parliament elected him president of the Supreme Court in 2009. His mandate was cut short in 2011 following judicial reforms introduced by then Prime Minister Viktor Orban's Fidesz government. Baka subsequently continued working as a judge at Hungary's top court. Tisza said Baka had consistently defended the rule of law, judicial independence and the separation of powers. Baka is expected to be the only candidate on the ballot, as nominations require the support of one-fifth of Hungary's 199 lawmakers, or 40 MPs. Former President Tamas Sulyok's mandate ended at midnight on July 20 under the 17th amendment to Hungary's Fundamental Law. Speaker of Parliament Agnes Forsthoffer is currently serving as acting president. Under the Fundamental Law, parliament must elect a new president within 30 days.  

Yemen’s military has launched attacks on Iran-backed Houthi rebels, prompting a warning from the United Nations that the country faces a growing risk of renewed large-scale fighting. Meanwhile, Turkey’s parliament has taken an important step toward a proposed peace process with Kurdish militants. Yemen strikes Houthi positionsYemen’s military said it carried out attacks against Houthi positions in response to recent strikes by the rebels in central and eastern parts of the country. Col. Majed al-Nazili, a spokesperson for the Yemeni military, said the attacks targeted Houthi “sites and capabilities” along several front lines, without providing further details. He said the operation was intended to protect the military and defend its positions, marking a significant escalation since a 2022 truce largely brought the fighting to a halt. Yemen’s long-running civil war pits the Iran-backed Houthis against a Saudi-led coalition supporting the country’s internationally recognized government. UN envoy Hans Grundberg on Friday called on all sides to show restraint. “Yemen today faces a greater risk of renewed large-scale conflict than at any point since the UN-brokered truce of April 2022,” he said in a statement. Turkey’s Kurdish peace bill advancesIn Turkey, a parliamentary committee approved a draft law on Saturday aimed at supporting a peace process with Kurdish militants. The bill includes measures that could provide conditional relief from prison sentences for thousands of former members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK. The PKK announced last year that it would disarm and dissolve as part of an initiative aimed at ending its decades-long conflict with the Turkish state. The proposed law sets out procedures for the group’s disarmament and measures to help reintegrate some of its members. It would suspend certain prison sentences for people convicted of belonging to the PKK and delay legal proceedings against others. The measures would take effect after Turkey’s National Security Council confirms that the PKK has dissolved and surrendered its weapons. The bill is expected to be debated and voted on by the full parliament early next week. The conflict between Turkey and the PKK has killed tens of thousands of people since the 1980s and has also spread into neighboring Iraq and Syria. Turkey and its Western allies classify the PKK as a terrorist organization.

Russian drone and missile attacks killed four people, including a child, in Kyiv and the surrounding region on Saturday, Ukrainian officials said, as Ukraine carried out another strike on a Russian oil facility. The attacks came as Ukraine’s air defenses struggle to cope with frequent Russian drone and missile barrages amid Moscow’s nearly four-year-old full-scale invasion. Grandparents, grandson killedTwo grandparents and their 3-year-old grandson were killed when several Russian drones destroyed their home in the Brovary district of the Kyiv region, northeast of the capital, authorities said. Three other members of the family and a neighbor who came to help were hospitalized. The attack reduced the house to rubble and damaged nearby buildings and vehicles. In Kyiv, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at least one more person was killed in an attack involving six ballistic missiles that struck civilian infrastructure. Ukraine’s air force said it shot down or intercepted 135 of 151 Russian drones launched overnight. The attack also involved six ballistic missiles and other guided missiles. Russia says its forces target only military facilities, but Ukrainian officials say civilian areas have repeatedly come under attack. Ukraine is facing a serious shortage of interceptors for its US-made Patriot air defense systems, which are capable of intercepting ballistic missiles. Zelenskyy has repeatedly urged Western countries, particularly the United States, to provide more Patriot ammunition. He has also called for Ukraine to be allowed to produce the interceptors domestically. Following Saturday’s attacks, Zelenskyy called on X for tougher sanctions to restrict production of Russian ballistic missiles and for more air defense and interceptor missiles. Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said Friday that its air defenses destroyed around 5,300 Russian drones and missiles last month, accounting for just under 60% of about 9,000 such weapons launched by Russia. Ukraine strikes Russian oil facilityIn Russia, five people were injured when a fire broke out at the Ilsky Oil Refinery in the southern Krasnodar region after debris from a downed drone fell on the facility, local officials said. Ukraine has carried out near-daily long-range drone and missile attacks on Russian oil facilities using domestically produced weapons. The strikes have disrupted fuel supplies in Russia and created growing pressure on the Kremlin. Zelenskyy visits SerbiaThe latest attacks came hours after Zelenskyy arrived in Serbia on Friday for his first official visit to the country. Serbia is among the few European countries that have maintained close relations with Russia despite its invasion of Ukraine. Zelenskyy said important talks were scheduled during his visit and that he would meet Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Prime Minister Djuro Macut. The discussions will focus on strengthening economic ties, relations with the European Union and security issues, he said.

Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has pledged to introduce tougher gun-control measures following a shooting by a 14-year-old student that killed eight people and injured 22 others on the outskirts of Bangkok. The teenager first killed his 73-year-old grandfather and 74-year-old grandmother at their home in Nonthaburi before going to Debsirin School, where he was a student. At the school, he opened fire and killed five teachers before taking his own life. A student later died from injuries sustained in the attack, according to Thai media. Speaking after the incident, Anutin said he would seek to introduce new laws restricting the carrying of firearms in public. Under the proposed rules, only government officials carrying out their duties would be allowed to carry guns. The prime minister said the tragedy should never have happened. “I don't just feel sorry for the victims but I feel sorry that this happened. How can this happen in our country,” he said. Police Colonel Thadsakorn Konthong said the gun and ammunition used in the attack belonged to the teenager’s grandfather. An initial inspection indicated that the teenager had searched for the firearm in his grandfather’s bedroom. Thai and international media reported that the weapon was legally registered and covered by a valid permit. Thailand has one of Southeast Asia’s highest levels of civilian gun ownership, with an estimated 10.3 million firearms in civilian hands. About 4 million of them are believed to be illegally owned. Although Thailand has strict laws, with illegal gun possession punishable by up to 10 years in prison, enforcement has remained a challenge. Anutin introduced several gun-control measures while serving as interior minister, including a temporary suspension of new gun licences and restrictions on firearm imports. Attack at schoolPolice said the teenager is believed to have shot his grandparents at around 5am Friday at their two-storey home. Each was killed by a single gunshot, according to a police official. After the killings, the teenager reportedly boarded a school bus carrying the firearm and dozens of rounds of ammunition. He attended his first class at around 8:30am and his second at about 9:20am. Around 30 minutes into the second class, he pulled out the gun and opened fire. Police Major General Dejrapee Kongdee said the teenager first shot three teachers on the school’s sixth floor. He then went downstairs and encountered the school’s deputy director and the director’s secretary, who were going upstairs to investigate the incident. Both were shot dead on the staircase, the police officer said. Police arrived while the shooting was still underway and found the teenager at around 10:40am after he had shot himself, Dejrapee said. Five people were killed immediately and at least 23 others were injured. Later, Thailand’s public broadcaster and the Bangkok Post reported that another victim had died, bringing the death toll to eight. National police chief Gen Kittiratt Phanphet said forensic investigators found that the teenager’s shooting was relatively accurate, with several bullets striking vital parts of the victims’ bodies. Anutin said the attack appeared to have been carefully planned, with “clear steps and clear goals.” Local media reported that police searching the teenager’s electronic devices found several videos related to school shootings in the United States. Family members described the teenager as quiet and well behaved. His uncle told Thai media that he spent much of his time indoors playing violent video games and rarely went outside, but there had been no clear sign that he was planning an attack. The teenager had been living with his grandparents following his parents’ divorce. Founded in Bangkok in 1885, Debsirin School is one of Thailand’s well-known secondary schools. Its alumni include diplomats, athletes and several former prime ministers. Source: BBC

Iran's leaders believe they can eventually force the United States to accept their control over the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy route, and see time as working in their favour. Iranian officials are aware of growing pressure on the United States, including limited supplies of some advanced missile interceptors, public opposition to the war and rising fuel and other prices ahead of the November congressional elections. They also believe reopening the strait by force could be costly for the US and potentially require ground troops. Iran's allies, including the Houthis in Yemen, could further expand the conflict and disrupt another major international trade route. From Tehran's perspective, these factors could eventually leave US President Donald Trump with little choice but to make concessions. But the strategy carries significant risks for Iran as well. Trump has highlighted US strikes that have severely weakened Iran's top leadership, navy and air force. At the same time, he has alternated between threatening further escalation and saying negotiations are progressing. Iran's economy has also suffered heavily, partly because of a US blockade. The country has faced mass protests in recent months, raising concerns that further economic pressure could fuel renewed unrest. Possible deal could give Iran major leverageIran says it is close to reaching an agreement with Oman on managing the Strait of Hormuz, which lies between the two countries. However, the proposed arrangement would depend on the US lifting its blockade. That means Trump would ultimately have to approve it even if, as Iran says, Washington is not directly involved in negotiations. It remains unclear whether Iran would be allowed to charge fees under the arrangement. But any deal that formally recognises an Iranian role in managing the strait would represent a major shift from its previous status as an open international waterway. The strait carries about one-fifth of the world's traded oil and gas. Abdolreza Davari, an analyst and former adviser to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, said Iran was seeking more than financial benefits from the waterway. "More than revenue from the strait, Iran wants to confirm its management and sovereignty over the strait," he said. Formal Iranian control over even part of the waterway would be seen as a significant victory for Tehran and a setback for Washington, which has yet to achieve some of its changing objectives in the conflict. It could also raise concerns about international freedom of navigation and create a precedent for countries to disrupt major global trade routes. China, a major buyer of Iranian oil, said as recently as May that normal and safe passage through the strait should be restored. Tehran believes it has the advantageIranian officials argue that the country has greater leverage as the conflict continues. Mahdi Mohammadi, an adviser to Iran's chief negotiator, said on social media that Iran was seeking the defeat of its adversary rather than simply an agreement. Iran has repeatedly said the Strait of Hormuz will not return to its previous status as an open waterway and has threatened to continue attacking ships that attempt to pass without its permission. Iran's joint military command has described the issue as an "unbreakable red line." Tehran-based security analyst Mostafa Najafi said Iran now views control of the strait as a major tool for deterrence, maintaining the regional balance of power and changing security arrangements in the Persian Gulf. The dispute also complicates efforts to resolve the long-running issue of Iran's nuclear programme. Analyst Rahman Ghahremanpour said the conflict over the strait had pushed the nuclear issue into the background, which he said could benefit Iran. Control of the waterway could also provide Tehran with additional leverage if nuclear negotiations resume. Economic pressure poses a major riskThe war has caused widespread economic damage, with Iran among the countries suffering the most. US and Israeli strikes have damaged Iran's industrial infrastructure, while the US blockade has sharply reduced its oil exports. Food prices have also surged, putting additional pressure on ordinary people. Trump has repeatedly threatened further strikes on civilian infrastructure, including water and electricity facilities. A currency crisis in December triggered some of the largest anti-government protests in the Islamic Republic's history. Authorities responded with a crackdown in which thousands were reportedly killed and tens of thousands detained. Some Iranian officials and supporters of moderate President Masoud Pezeshkian fear the government could face renewed unrest if the economic situation deteriorates further. Former Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who helped negotiate the 2015 nuclear agreement, recently said the country's wartime gains had created an opportunity for diplomacy. However, he warned that delaying an agreement could make economic recovery difficult and increase the risk of domestic unrest or renewed conflict, particularly after the US elections. War has not gone as expectedThe conflict has already produced several unexpected developments. After US and Israeli airstrikes on Feb 28 killed Iran's supreme leader and other senior officials, Trump suggested the war could end within weeks. Instead, the conflict has strengthened Iran's leadership and rallied its supporters, analysts say. Ghahremanpour said Tehran was using the Strait of Hormuz to demonstrate that Iran had not been defeated and to strengthen the government's position at home. But he also warned that Iran's ability to withstand the pressure has limits. "Iran cannot continue with this strategy forever, and at a certain point, in reality, it has to reach a deal with America," he said. Davari, however, said Iran was likely to continue resisting pressure for now, despite its severe economic difficulties.

The US Senate on Friday overwhelmingly passed a broad package of sanctions targeting Russia, advancing legislation that the late Sen. Lindsey Graham had spent a year negotiating in an effort to strengthen US backing for Ukraine and pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin to reconsider the prolonged war. The bipartisan measure passed by a vote of 86-11. It would punish countries that continue purchasing Russian oil, natural gas and other exports, aiming to reduce the revenues Moscow uses to finance the war. The vote came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Capitol Hill last week following Graham’s funeral. He met with senators from both parties and observed from the Senate gallery as lawmakers held the first procedural votes on the legislation. “Today, President Zelenskyy is watching from Ukraine — and Putin is watching from Moscow,” said Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, who worked with Graham on the bill. “I would like to think Lindsey Graham is watching, too,” Blumenthal said, adding that the Senate was sending a message that Ukraine would not stand alone and that Russia would not be allowed to conquer the country. The Senate action represents the strongest congressional effort so far during President Donald Trump’s second term to influence the course of the war, which has continued for more than four years. Congress has faced difficulties maintaining consistent US military and financial assistance to Ukraine. Trump, however, has expressed support for the sanctions package, which also incorporates measures targeting Iran. He has urged the House to approve the legislation and send it to him for his signature. Graham and Blumenthal announced an agreement with the White House on the bill July 10 after more than a year of negotiations. Graham, who had recently returned from Ukraine, died unexpectedly the following day, apparently from an aortic tear. Under the legislation, the president would have authority to impose tariffs on the five largest buyers of Russian oil or natural gas, including China and India. Countries importing less than 15% of their natural gas from Russia and taking measures to reduce their dependence would be eligible for exemptions. The package would also impose sanctions on Putin, senior Russian political and military officials, financial institutions and energy projects. It would expand US sanctions to older oil tankers operating under different flags that Russia uses to bypass restrictions and continue generating energy revenues. The White House would also be able to waive sanctions or other restrictions if the president certifies to Congress that doing so serves the national interest. Some Democrats and Republicans have expressed concern about giving Trump extensive tariff powers, particularly because tariffs can increase prices and add to inflationary pressure on American consumers. Most senators voting against the legislation were progressive Democrats. Sen. Darline Graham, a Republican from South Carolina who was appointed to fill her late brother’s Senate seat, said she was proud to continue his efforts. “This legislation hits Putin where it hurts,” she said. Bill sends message of support to UkraineDuring a private meeting with senators last week, Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces were making progress but still required additional US assistance. He also publicly welcomed the Senate’s move on the sanctions legislation. Republican Sen. Todd Young of Indiana, who attended the meeting, described the bill as an important moral message to Ukraine, saying the country has endured a long and exhausting conflict while continuing to defend itself. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, the leading Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said moving forward with the sanctions before Russia’s own elections could increase pressure on Putin to seriously consider a negotiated peace. She also warned that whenever Washington retreats from tougher measures, Russia responds by intensifying its attacks. “If we can’t shut down the funding for the war machine that Russia is using against Ukraine, then they’re going to keep at it,” Shaheen said. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha thanked the Senate in a social media post, saying continued US support could help bring a lasting peace closer. Critics warn of excessive tariff authorityThe Senate rejected an amendment proposed by Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon that sought to remove the bill’s new tariff powers for Trump. Paul argued that the authority could impose excessive costs on US taxpayers, while Wyden and other Democrats opposed giving Trump additional power to impose tariffs. “We’ve got folks who are walking an economic tightrope here in America,” Wyden said. Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia had previously delayed the bill over concerns about the tariff provisions. He said he obtained a written commitment from the Trump administration, through US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, outlining safeguards on how the authority would be used. According to Warnock, tariffs could be removed once targeted countries stop buying Russian oil and gas or assisting efforts to circumvent sanctions. “We should not have to choose between putting a check on Putin’s aggression and putting a check on this president’s tariffs regime,” Warnock said, adding that Trump could face legal action if he exceeded his authority. Bill heads to HouseThe Senate vote is expected to increase pressure on the House to take up the legislation when lawmakers return from recess at the end of August. However, senior House Democrats continue to oppose giving Trump broad tariff powers through the sanctions bill. Rep. Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said the current version gives Trump excessive authority that could allow him to use tariffs for purposes unrelated to deterring Russia while increasing costs for Americans. He argued that the bill could enable Trump to avoid holding Russia accountable while expanding his trade policies, ultimately leaving American consumers to bear the cost. Meeks also pointed to the 32-64 vote rejecting the Paul-Wyden amendment as evidence that lawmakers still want changes to the legislation. The House had already approved a separate measure in June that would provide assistance to Ukraine and impose sanctions on important parts of Russia’s economy. The bill, led by Meeks and other Democrats, received bipartisan Republican backing despite opposition from GOP leadership.