United News of Bangladesh

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday met US Vice President JD Vance as the Islamabad talks commenced, according to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). “The US Vice President was assisted by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner,” the PMO said in a statement, reports DAWN. From the Pakistani side, the prime minister was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Interior Minister Mohsin Raza Naqvi. U.S. official denies agreeing to unfreeze Iranian assets Commending what it described as the commitment of both delegations to engage constructively, the prime minister expressed hope that the talks would serve as a stepping stone toward durable peace in the region.

Iran has claimed that the United States agreed to unfreeze its overseas assets held in Qatar and other foreign banks, but Washington has denied any such decision, exposing a clear gap between the two sides. Citing a senior Iranian source, Reuters reported on Saturday that the US had agreed to release Iranian frozen funds as part of ongoing diplomatic engagements. However, a senior US official rejected the claim, saying the White House has not yet agreed to unfreeze Iran’s overseas assets, according to media reports. The conflicting statements come amid heightened diplomatic efforts between the two countries, as they engage in talks aimed at reducing tensions and potentially reaching a broader agreement. The release of frozen assets has long been a key demand for Tehran, which sees access to these funds as crucial for its economy and as a confidence-building step in negotiations.

The Iranian delegation attending talks in Pakistan has adopted the name “Minab 168” to underscore the human cost of the ongoing war and signal its push for a diplomatic resolution. The name refers to an early attack on the first day of the conflict in the city of Minab, where an elementary school was hit, killing more than 168 schoolgirls and teachers, according to accounts cited by officials. The conflict has since placed severe pressure on civilians across Iran, with reports indicating that more than 800 schools, over 30 universities, healthcare facilities and other key infrastructure have been damaged or destroyed in weeks of strikes. Officials say the naming reflects Tehran’s intention to draw attention to the suffering endured by civilians and to emphasise its commitment to ending the violence through dialogue. The delegation’s presence in Islamabad is being viewed as a sign of Iran’s seriousness about pursuing a diplomatic settlement to the conflict.  #From Al Jazeera

Saudi Arabia’s Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan arrived in Pakistan on Saturday in a show of “economic support,” days after Islamabad announced plans to return billions of dollars in loans to the United Arab Emirates. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recalled his recent “warm and cordial” telephone conversation with the Saudi Crown Prince and expressed appreciation for the Kingdom’s continued economic and financial backing, which he said has played a key role in maintaining Pakistan’s economic stability. The visit comes as Pakistan hosts talks between the United States and Iran aimed at ending the ongoing Middle East war, although the Saudi minister is not part of the negotiations. Al-Jadaan’s trip is being seen as a sign of shifting alliances in the Gulf amid tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Pakistan, facing economic pressure, recently said it would repay more than $3 billion in loans provided by the UAE since 2018.  #By Al Jazeera

Palestinian group Hamas has welcomed the upcoming US-Iran talks in Pakistan, expressing support for efforts aimed at bringing a “complete and comprehensive end” to the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran. In a statement, the group said it hopes the negotiations, facilitated by Pakistan and supported by other mediating countries, will yield positive outcomes. Hamas also voiced optimism that the talks would help promote regional stability and strengthen unity among Arab and Islamic nations. #From Al Jazeera

Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref has said a potential agreement with the United States could be reached if Washington prioritises its own interests in line with President Donald Trump’s “America First” policy. In a post on social media, Aref said there would be no deal if Iran was confronted by what he called “Israel first” representatives. He warned that failure in negotiations could lead to “greater costs” for the world if the US and Israel resumed hostilities against Iran, reports Al Jazeera. Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran enters upcoming talks with the United States with “deep distrust”, citing past attacks during negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme. In a statement shared on Telegram, Araghchi said Iran would respond if it is attacked and reiterated calls for an end to Israeli strikes on Lebanon amid wider regional tensions. The remarks come ahead of US-Iran negotiations scheduled to take place on Saturday, amid ongoing uncertainty over the terms of a ceasefire and disputes surrounding regional security issues, including developments in Lebanon and the Strait of Hormuz. Diplomatic sources say both sides have signalled willingness to engage, but deep mistrust remains a major obstacle to progress in the talks.

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 President Donald Trump has said the Strait of Hormuz will reopen “fairly soon”, even as tensions continue over Tehran’s reported restrictions on the key global shipping route ahead of US-Iran talks in Pakistan. Speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force One in Maryland, Trump said Washington would not accept what he described as Iran’s imposition of a “de facto toll booth system” on shipping in the vital waterway, reports Al Jazeera. “We will have that open fairly soon,” Trump said, adding that the US would “open up the Gulf” with assistance from other countries if necessary. However, he did not provide details on how the waterway would be unblocked. The US president warned that Iran would not be allowed to charge vessel owners fees for safe passage through the strait, saying, “If they are doing that, we’re not going to let that happen.” Trump linked the issue to broader negotiations, saying the priority of any peace agreement would be ensuring Iran does not obtain nuclear weapons. “No nuclear weapons, that’s 99 per cent of it,” he said, adding that the strait would “open automatically” under such a deal. His comments come amid continued disruption in the Strait of Hormuz despite a two-week ceasefire announced earlier this week between the US and Iran. Shipping traffic remains significantly reduced, with only a fraction of normal daily transits recorded and hundreds of vessels reportedly stranded in the Gulf, according to tracking data cited by international media. Iran has indicated it may introduce transit fees for vessels passing through the strait, even as diplomatic efforts continue. Analysts say the situation remains largely unchanged despite the ceasefire, with Iran effectively controlling a “safe corridor” for selected shipping. US Vice President JD Vance has arrived in Pakistan for negotiations with Iranian representatives aimed at securing a more lasting settlement to the conflict. However, officials from both sides have offered differing accounts of the proposed terms ahead of the talks.

At least seven Palestinians have been killed and several others injured in Israeli attacks across central and southern Gaza Strip, according to medical sources and civil defence officials. An early-morning Israeli drone strike hit a group of civilians in the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, Mahmoud Bassal, spokesperson for Gaza’s civil defence rescue service, told AFP. The attack reportedly involved two missiles fired near a police post in the “Block 9” area of the camp, reports Al Jazeera. Medical sources said the strike caused multiple casualties among civilians. Ambulance crews faced difficulties reaching the site and transporting the dead and injured to hospitals due to ongoing insecurity. The al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah said it received six bodies and seven wounded people, four of them in critical condition. The nearby al-Awda hospital confirmed one additional death and two injured. In a separate incident in southern Gaza, the Nasser Medical Complex said it received three injured people following an Israeli drone strike targeting a tent sheltering displaced families in Bani Suheila, east of Khan Younis. Al Jazeera correspondents also reported continued Israeli artillery shelling and tank fire near Bani Suheila and eastern Gaza City. According to Gaza’s health authorities, more than 72,300 people have been killed since the war began in October 2023. The ministry said at least 738 people have died since a ceasefire took effect last October, including 32 deaths so far in April. Meanwhile, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk condemned the recent violence, saying the “unrelenting pattern of killings” reflected continued impunity and that Palestinians were being killed in homes, shelters, streets, and medical facilities. Israeli operations in the occupied West Bank also continued, with raids and arrests reported in multiple areas as tensions remain high across the region.

A high-level U.S. delegation led by Vice President JD Vance arrived in Pakistan on Saturday for crucial talks with Iranian officials, marking the first direct engagement since the outbreak of war more than a month ago. The discussions are expected to test whether the fragile ceasefire can be strengthened and potentially developed into a lasting peace agreement. The Pakistan-brokered ceasefire remains uncertain as fresh tensions continue, with ongoing exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah along the southern Lebanon border. Iran has also set preconditions for entering negotiations. Iran’s delegation, headed by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, reached Islamabad early Saturday. He said on social media that talks would proceed only if a ceasefire in Lebanon is implemented and frozen Iranian assets are released. Former U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly commented on the situation, claiming Iranian officials “have no leverage” and accusing them of exploiting the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route. He also asserted that Iran’s survival depends on negotiations. Security in Islamabad was tightened ahead of the talks, with major roads sealed and residents urged to stay indoors, giving parts of the capital a restricted, near-lockdown appearance. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described the situation as a critical turning point, saying the conflict had reached a “make-or-break” phase as parties attempt to move from a temporary ceasefire toward a durable settlement. Vice President Vance is leading the U.S. side alongside special envoy Steve Witkoff and senior adviser Jared Kushner. Before departing Washington, Vance expressed optimism about the talks but warned that Washington would not tolerate bad-faith negotiations. Separate discussions are also planned between Israel and Lebanon, expected to begin Tuesday in Washington, aimed at addressing the ongoing war involving Hezbollah. Beirut is seeking a direct framework to end hostilities, while Israel wants Lebanon to take responsibility for disarming Hezbollah. However, disagreements over whether the Iran ceasefire includes Hezbollah have complicated efforts to reach a broader agreement. The conflict has intensified in Lebanon, with heavy casualties reported following Israeli airstrikes in recent days. Meanwhile, tensions around the Strait of Hormuz remain a major global concern. Iran’s influence over the key waterway has disrupted global oil flows, pushing prices sharply higher and affecting international markets. Oil shipments through the strait have dropped significantly since the conflict began, highlighting ongoing instability in the region. The Tasnim News Agency, which is affiliated with Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guard, reported that the Iranian delegation is expected to meet Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday at noon. The Iranian negotiating team, led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, also held a meeting late Friday with Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir. These meetings come ahead of crucial Iran–U.S. talks in Islamabad aimed at finding a long-term solution to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Meanwhile, Pakistan has established a modern media center to facilitate coverage of the negotiations by local and international journalists, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said. He explained that the facility at the Jinnah Convention Centre is equipped with high-speed internet and other free services to assist reporters. Shuttle buses have also been arranged to transport journalists between the media center and a hotel located in the city’s main commercial area. Pakistan has also introduced visa-on-arrival facilities for journalists and official delegations arriving from both the United States and Iran for the talks, which are being referred to as the “Islamabad talks.” Inside the media centre, rows of workstations with laptops and charging points have been set up for reporters to file their stories. Large screens display major local and international news channels, while separate spaces have been designated for live broadcasts, press briefings, and interviews.