US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has defended the administration’s position on the war with Iran, countering criticism over the justification for military action. He stated that President Donald Trump decided to attack Iran because he viewed it as a unique opportunity to achieve mission success. Speaking before a closed-door briefing for lawmakers on Tuesday, Rubio emphasized that the president was determined not to strike first, clarifying his earlier remarks that had drawn strong reactions.

Rubio previously said Trump believed Israel was determined to act and wanted the United States to strike Iran first to prevent potential retaliation against American bases and operations in the region. He reiterated that American troops would not be put at risk and argued that there was no way the Iranian government would acquire nuclear weapons under Trump’s watch.

Rubio’s comments have further fueled ongoing debate over the US administration’s Iran policy and military strategy.

Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, spokesperson of the National Citizen Party (NCP) and former adviser to the interim government, announced that he will make his bank statement public on Wednesday, March 4. The declaration came after the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) sought details of his bank accounts. Mahmud made the announcement in a verified Facebook post shortly after midnight on March 3, stating that he had already submitted his income and asset records to the Cabinet Division before resigning from his advisory post.

Later that night, Mahmud told the media that questions had arisen about whether the disclosure of his bank information was lawful. He reiterated his plan to release the statement himself to maintain transparency. Mahmud previously served as adviser for the Local Government and Youth and Sports ministries in the interim government and resigned on December 10 before the 13th national election.

The move follows growing scrutiny of political figures’ financial transparency, though the source does not specify any official response from the BFIU or other authorities.

US President Donald Trump announced that the US Navy will provide security for oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz if necessary. He made the statement on Wednesday in a post on the social media platform Truth Social. Trump also directed his administration to arrange insurance coverage for ships operating in the area.

In his message, Trump emphasized that the US Navy would begin protecting tankers through the strategic waterway as quickly as required. He added that the United States would ensure the safe global supply of energy under any circumstances.

The announcement comes amid heightened regional tensions, as the source also mentioned reports of US strikes on Iranian targets and other related incidents in the Middle East.

Iran launched a missile attack on the US Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, according to a statement from Qatar’s Ministry of Defense. The ministry reported that two ballistic missiles were fired from Iran, one of which was intercepted by Qatar’s air defense system, while the other struck the Al-Udeid base. The incident occurred on Wednesday, and no casualties have been reported so far.

The report, carried by Al Jazeera and cited by the Qatari defense authorities, marks a significant escalation involving Iranian missile activity in the Gulf region. The Al-Udeid base is known as a key US military installation in Qatar, and the attack underscores heightened regional tensions. The ministry’s statement did not provide further details about the extent of the damage or any immediate response measures.

Authorities have not yet released additional information regarding potential follow-up actions or investigations into the missile strike.

French President Emmanuel Macron stated that the recent unprovoked attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran violated international law, while emphasizing that Tehran remains 'primarily responsible' for the current tensions. His remarks were reported by Al Jazeera and published on March 4, 2026.

Macron said that both the US and Israel conducted military operations outside the bounds of international law, which France cannot endorse. However, he pointed to Iran’s nuclear activities, its support for regional proxy groups, and its internal repression as reasons for assigning primary responsibility to Tehran. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has clarified that there is no evidence Iran is developing a nuclear bomb.

Analysts cited in the report suggested that Macron’s comments reflect an effort to balance France’s position between Western allies and the ongoing Middle East crisis.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a joint attack by the United States and Israel, will be buried in the city of Mashhad, according to Fars News Agency on Wednesday. The 86-year-old leader was targeted in an assault last Saturday morning. Before his death, Khamenei had served as Iran’s highest religious authority for 36 years.

Mashhad, considered a holy city by Iranians, is also Khamenei’s birthplace. His father was buried at the Imam Reza shrine there, and Khamenei had reportedly expressed his wish to be laid to rest at the same site. However, the exact date of his burial has not yet been announced.

The report highlights the symbolic importance of Mashhad in Iran’s religious and political landscape, as it houses one of the country’s most revered shrines and now will become the final resting place of its long-serving leader.

US-Bangla Airlines has announced two special flights on the Dhaka–Dubai–Dhaka route to repatriate Bangladeshi nationals stranded in the United Arab Emirates due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East. The first flight will depart from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 7:20 p.m. today and return from Dubai at 12:20 a.m. local time. The second flight will leave Dhaka at 5:15 p.m. tomorrow and return from Dubai at 10:00 p.m. local time.

The flights will be operated using Airbus A330-300 aircraft with 436 seats. The flight numbers are BS-341 for Dhaka–Dubai and BS-342 for Dubai–Dhaka. The Dubai Airport Authority has granted permission to US-Bangla Airlines, Emirates, Air India, and several other carriers to operate special flights considering the overall situation.

Priority will be given to Bangladeshi passengers whose visas have expired or are about to expire. Passengers are advised to contact US-Bangla Airlines sales centers or nearby travel agencies in Bangladesh or the UAE for ticket booking information.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the Trump administration launched a preemptive strike on Iran to prevent potential attacks on American forces following Israel’s confirmed plans to strike Iran. He said Washington acted to destroy Tehran’s capabilities before it could retaliate, as Israel remained firm on its decision to attack in self-defense.

After a closed-door briefing on March 2 at Capitol Hill, sharp divisions emerged among US lawmakers. Vice President JD Vance told Fox News that the president’s main goal was to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Democratic leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, criticized the conflict as “Trump’s war” and a “strategy-less operation,” calling the administration’s justification inadequate. Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chair Mark Warner warned that entering a war without a direct threat to the US set a dangerous precedent.

Reports indicate that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the ongoing airstrikes, with over 500 Iranian deaths reported. The US military confirmed six American fatalities. Republican leaders backed the operation as defensive, while Democrats sought to halt the war through a War Powers Resolution, though passage appears unlikely in a Republican-controlled Congress.

Smoke was seen rising near the United States consulate in Dubai after what officials described as a drone attack, according to Reuters. The Dubai Media Office confirmed that a fire caused by the incident was successfully brought under control and that no casualties were reported.

The attack follows a similar incident in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, where the US embassy was targeted earlier. That event also resulted in damage but no reported injuries. Regional sources indicated that Iran has been targeting US interests across the Middle East following recent deadly strikes by Israel and the United States.

Authorities have not provided further details about the extent of the damage or the type of drone used in the Dubai incident.

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.