Iran has warned that it will target all major economic centers in the Middle East if attacks by the United States and Israel on Iranian sites continue. The threat was issued on Tuesday by General Ebrahim Jabbari of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. He stated that Iran would retaliate decisively if its key facilities were struck, emphasizing the country’s readiness to escalate its response. General Jabbari also announced that Iran had closed the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil transit route. He noted that oil prices had risen above 80 dollars per barrel and could soon reach 200 dollars, with Brent crude surpassing 85 dollars per barrel for the first time since July 2024. The Strait of Hormuz handles about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply and significant liquefied natural gas exports from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The statement underscores heightened regional tensions and the potential for further disruption in global energy markets if the situation escalates.

The United States Embassy in Oman has instructed its employees and American citizens in the country to remain sheltered until further notice. The directive was issued in response to what the embassy described as 'ongoing activity,' though no details were provided about the nature of the situation. The embassy urged all individuals to stay inside their residences or any other secure buildings and to identify a safe space within those locations. According to the embassy’s statement, the precautionary measure will remain in effect until additional guidance is issued. The announcement did not specify whether the activity posed a direct threat or was related to any particular incident. The embassy emphasized maintaining caution and following official updates. The lack of detail about the ongoing activity leaves uncertainty regarding the cause or expected duration of the alert, but the embassy’s message underscores a heightened security posture for Americans in Oman.

The appointment process for a new vice-chancellor at Dhaka University has become uncertain after current Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Niaz Ahmad Khan submitted his resignation on February 22 but continues in office as it has not yet been officially accepted. The delay in appointing a successor has caused administrative stagnation, with officials reporting that only routine tasks are being completed while major policy and academic decisions remain on hold. State Minister for Education Bobby Hajjaj stated that Dr. Khan will remain in charge until formal handover, after which the next-in-command will temporarily assume responsibility before a permanent appointment is made following global best practices. The Prime Minister has reportedly shown interest in ensuring international standards in the selection process, possibly through a search committee led by the Education Minister. University officials warned that prolonged uncertainty could further slow academic and administrative operations, affecting admissions, development projects, and upcoming events. The Education Ministry emphasized that the government aims to bring long-term reforms rather than make hasty decisions.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that Israel’s planned attack on Iran influenced the timing of Washington’s own military strike, which later triggered broader conflict. Rubio said the United States had prior knowledge of Israel’s intentions and feared Tehran might retaliate against American interests in the region, prompting a preemptive US strike. Kelly Grieco, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Stimson Center, criticized Rubio’s remarks, saying he effectively admitted that the United States had fallen into an Israeli trap. She noted that the US provides Israel with billions of dollars in military aid annually, reflecting their deep strategic ties. Grieco argued that there is now an urgent need to discuss where US and Israeli interests align and where they diverge. Grieco made these comments in an interview with Qatar-based news outlet Al Jazeera, highlighting growing debate over the implications of US-Israel coordination in Middle East security policy.

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to sever all trade relations with Spain after the country refused to allow its military bases to be used for an attack on Iran. Speaking to reporters following a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Trump said Spain had behaved disgracefully and announced that he had instructed U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Besent to halt all transactions with Spain. Trump also sharply criticized the United Kingdom for taking a similar stance. His remarks indicate growing tensions between Washington and key European allies over military cooperation related to Iran. The statements were reported by Al Jazeera and published by the outlet Amar Desh on March 4, 2026. The threat to end trade ties marks a significant escalation in U.S.–Spain relations, potentially affecting economic and diplomatic cooperation if implemented.

The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) has requested all banks to provide detailed information on the accounts of Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, spokesperson of the National Citizen Party (NCP) and former adviser to the interim government. The directive was issued on Monday through official letters sent to all banks, asking for account opening forms, transaction records, and other related data within three working days. According to the report, the request was made based on a complaint received by the BFIU. Asif Mahmud previously served as an adviser to the ministries of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, and Youth and Sports during the interim government period. The BFIU’s move indicates an ongoing financial inquiry, though the nature of the complaint or the scope of the investigation has not been disclosed in the report.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated that the ongoing war could only be stopped if the United States and Israel ceased their attacks on Iran. He made the remarks on Tuesday during a press conference held at a school in Tehran, emphasizing that Iran had tried to avoid war until the last moment but that other parties had chosen conflict. Baghaei urged the international community to act before it was too late, calling on the United Nations Security Council to fulfill its responsibility to restore regional security and stability. He said the council must compel the aggressors to end their attacks to prevent the war from expanding further. The statement reflects Iran’s stance that external military actions are the root cause of the current conflict and that international intervention is necessary to de-escalate tensions.

Police in Chattogram have arrested Md. Babu Sheikh, 50, identified as the main suspect in the killing of seven-year-old Jannatul Naima Ira. The second-grade student went missing on Monday after leaving home to visit her grandfather’s house in Sitakunda’s Kumira area. According to police, the suspect lured Ira with chocolate and took her to the top of Chandranath Hill, where she was brutally assaulted and her throat slit. Despite severe injuries, Ira managed to walk out of the forest before collapsing. She was taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital but died early Tuesday. Police Superintendent Mohammad Nazir Ahmed Khan said the attack stemmed from a family dispute. Investigators recovered chocolate, a bloodstained shirt, and the knife used in the assault. A video showing the suspect walking with Ira led to his arrest. Doctors confirmed Ira’s condition was critical from the start, and samples were collected for further tests to confirm the nature of the assault. The incident has left the local community in shock, with residents demanding exemplary punishment for the perpetrator.

According to the official holiday schedule for this year, the government has set a five-day public holiday for Eid-ul-Fitr from March 19 to 23. Additionally, March 17 has been declared a holiday for Shab-e-Qadr, while offices are scheduled to remain open on March 18. However, a source from the Ministry of Public Administration indicated that March 18 might also be declared a general holiday. If approved, government employees would enjoy a continuous seven-day break combining Shab-e-Qadr and Eid-ul-Fitr holidays. The proposal to extend the Eid holiday has already been sent to the Cabinet Division and is expected to be discussed in the upcoming Cabinet meeting on Thursday. Officials believe that a longer holiday period would ease travel pressure before Eid and help reduce road accidents. The final decision on the possible extension of the holiday will be made at the next Cabinet meeting, according to the report.

The United Kingdom is sending charter flights to rescue British citizens stranded in various Middle Eastern countries amid the ongoing war. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper told the House of Commons that a government charter flight will depart from Muscat, Oman, for the UK within the next few days. The initiative aims to assist citizens unable to leave the region due to the conflict. The UK government has launched a new registration process to identify how many British nationals are currently in Middle Eastern countries. According to the BBC, by Tuesday morning, about 130,000 British citizens had registered through this system. Cooper stated that those in 'vulnerable' conditions will be given priority for evacuation on the charter flights. The move reflects the UK’s effort to ensure the safety of its nationals as instability spreads across the region, though details about the specific countries affected were not disclosed.

Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Ali Bahraini, stated that the country will continue its defense operations until ongoing aggression ceases. Speaking to journalists in Geneva on Tuesday, Bahraini emphasized that Iran’s defensive actions are directed against Israel and the United States as long as hostilities persist. He further warned that any military base in a neighboring country used to launch or support attacks against Iran would be considered a legitimate target. His remarks were reported by Al Jazeera and reflect Tehran’s firm stance amid heightened regional tensions. The statement underscores Iran’s position that its military actions are defensive in nature and contingent on the cessation of what it describes as aggression from opposing forces.

Russia’s state nuclear agency Rosatom has suspended operations at Iran’s only nuclear power plant located in the city of Bushehr. According to Interfax, Rosatom chief Alexei Likhachev stated that the Moscow-built facility is under threat due to the ongoing conflict. More than 600 Russian personnel working at the site are gradually leaving Iran. The decision follows a series of attacks launched by the United States and Israel on Saturday, after which around 100 workers were initially evacuated from the Bushehr plant. With rising tensions and fears of a larger assault, Rosatom has now opted to completely shut down all activities at the facility. The suspension underscores the growing instability in the region and highlights the vulnerability of critical infrastructure amid escalating hostilities.

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, stated that inspectors have found no evidence of a coordinated nuclear weapons program in Iran, despite allegations from Israel and the United States. Speaking to NBC News, Grossi confirmed that the agency could not identify any systematic or structural elements of such a program. Grossi acknowledged that Tehran has enriched uranium up to 60 percent purity, a level far beyond civilian energy needs. He noted that this degree of enrichment is typically associated only with nuclear-armed states. However, he emphasized that inspectors have not concluded that Iran intends to build a bomb. Grossi described the enrichment activity as a cause for concern, citing the continuous operation of centrifuges producing material theoretically sufficient for more than ten nuclear warheads, though he clarified that Iran does not possess such weapons.

Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Ali Bahreini, expressed doubt about the effectiveness of talks with the United States. Speaking in Geneva on Tuesday, three days after a joint US-Israel attack, Bahreini said Iran remains highly skeptical about the usefulness of such discussions. He stated that, for now, Iran sees the language of defense as the only viable means of communication with the United States, suggesting there is no time for dialogue. His comments reflect Tehran’s current stance following recent military tensions involving the United States and Israel. The statement underscores the strained diplomatic climate and indicates that prospects for renewed negotiations between Tehran and Washington remain uncertain in the immediate future.

U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that Iran’s new leadership wants to hold talks with him, but he stated that he will not engage in any negotiations with Tehran. In a social media post, Trump wrote that Iran’s air defense system, air force, navy, and leadership are finished, adding that Iran wants to talk but he told them it is too late. The statement was made public on March 3, 2026. This is not the first time Trump has made such a claim. He previously asserted that after the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei, the country’s current leaders expressed a desire to negotiate with the United States, a claim that Tehran rejected. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani stated that Iran will not make any agreement with the United States. The exchange underscores continuing tensions between Washington and Tehran, with both sides maintaining firm positions against renewed diplomatic engagement.