US President Donald Trump has said that the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz will reopen soon. In an interview with CNN on Monday, he stated that if ongoing talks with Iran continue positively, the waterway could be reopened quickly. Trump suggested that in the future, the strait might be jointly controlled by the United States and Iran, saying he and the Ayatollah—whoever holds that position—would manage it together.

Trump also hinted at a possible regime change in Iran, claiming that earlier attacks had damaged much of Iran’s top leadership, leading to a natural process of political change. However, he noted that recent discussions had shown positive progress and that there was potential for easing tensions. Trump added that there are individuals within Iran whom he considers reasonable and respected, and who could play significant roles in the future.

The situation remains uncertain as both the United States and Iran have expressed differing views on the ongoing negotiations.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has said that Israel’s border should extend up to Lebanon’s Litani River. He made the remarks during an Israeli radio program, stating that the ongoing military operation in Lebanon should end in a “completely different reality,” where not only Hezbollah but also Israel’s borders would change. His comments come amid escalating tensions in Lebanon.

According to the report, Israel has recently attacked key bridges over the Litani River, cutting off parts of southern Lebanon from the rest of the country. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun described these attacks as a possible prelude to a ground invasion, warning that they could indicate preparations for such an operation.

The situation reflects growing instability along the Israel-Lebanon frontier, with both military actions and political statements signaling a potential shift in the region’s security dynamics.

The United States has instructed its citizens in Oman to remain indoors under a 'shelter in place' directive. The order, issued by the US Embassy in Muscat, applies to the entire country and was announced on March 24, 2026. The embassy cited an ongoing situation as the reason for the alert but did not provide further details about the nature of the threat or incident.

Earlier, on March 3, the US Department of State had authorized the departure of non-emergency government employees and their family members from Oman. The latest advisory expands the caution to all American citizens currently in the country.

No additional information was released about the specific circumstances prompting the warning, leaving the situation’s cause and duration unclear.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has called for an immediate halt to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, Lavrov made the appeal during a phone conversation on Monday with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, as reported by Al Jazeera. The ministry stated that Lavrov emphasized the need to stop hostilities quickly and pursue political and diplomatic solutions.

Lavrov also described attacks targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure as unacceptable. Earlier, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov condemned a U.S.-Israeli strike near Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant, calling it extremely dangerous. The Russian Foreign Ministry further noted that both Lavrov and Araghchi expressed concern that the conflict could expand to the Caspian Sea region.

The statements reflect Moscow’s growing alarm over escalating tensions and its call for restraint and dialogue to prevent regional destabilization.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif discussed the ‘serious situation’ in the Gulf region with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, assuring Iran of Pakistan’s cooperation to help resolve the crisis, according to Al Jazeera. In a message on social media, Sharif said he spoke with Pezeshkian by phone about regional tensions and pledged Pakistan’s support to calm the situation.

Sharif stated that both leaders agreed on the urgent need for dialogue and diplomacy to reduce tensions. The two have spoken several times over the past month, exchanging greetings for Ramadan and Eid while also discussing ways to end ongoing conflicts. Pakistan, which shares a border with Iran and faces its own tensions with Afghanistan, has maintained a cautious diplomatic stance.

The Gulf region’s instability poses a major concern for Pakistan due to potential disruptions in oil and gas supplies. The country also strengthened its long-standing military ties with Saudi Arabia last year through a mutual defense agreement.

UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese has accused Israel of effectively receiving a “license” to persecute Palestinians. Presenting a new report to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday, she said evidence of ongoing “ethnic killing” in the occupied Palestinian territories has been documented. The report details what she described as Israel’s “widespread and systematic persecution” and the creation of a “painful environment” for Palestinians.

Albanese further alleged that various governments indirectly encourage Israel’s actions, claiming that most governments and their ministers have effectively allowed Israel to continue such practices. The report states that between October 2023 and January 2026, Israeli forces arrested more than 18,500 Palestinians, including children. During the same period, at least 100 people reportedly died in Israeli custody, and around 4,000 were allegedly disappeared.

The report also claims that thousands of Palestinians are being detained without charges and kept in inhumane conditions, underscoring what the envoy described as a pattern of systemic abuse.

The United Kingdom’s Foreign Office has summoned Iran’s ambassador to London, Seyed Ali Mousavi, following allegations that Tehran was involved in reckless and destabilizing activities internationally. The move came after reports that an Iranian national and a British-Iranian dual citizen were accused of conducting hostile surveillance on London’s Jewish community.

According to the British Foreign Office, the ambassador was called in after the two suspects, identified as 40-year-old Nematollah Shahsavani and 22-year-old Alireza Farasati, were detained earlier this month as part of an Iran-related investigation. They allegedly carried out reconnaissance operations at key sites, including Britain’s oldest synagogue.

In an official statement, the UK government said it takes threats from Iran and its affiliated groups very seriously and will not tolerate such activities. Authorities added that all necessary measures will be taken to ensure national security and protect citizens.

Israel has claimed responsibility for a new round of large-scale airstrikes targeting several military bases and weapons facilities inside Iran. According to a statement posted by the Israeli military on Telegram, the attacks struck the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) air defense and ground force headquarters, a Quds Force base and intelligence center, a missile production site under Iran’s defense ministry, and other production and research facilities.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, noted that the network could not independently verify Israel’s claims. The statement did not include details about casualties, damage assessments, or Iran’s response to the alleged attacks.

The situation remains unclear as independent confirmation of the strikes and their impact has not yet been established.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday announced a ban on the use of high-octane fuel in all government vehicles as part of stricter austerity measures. The decision follows a recent increase in the high-octane surcharge by 200 rupees per liter. The Prime Minister’s Office stated that officials using high-octane fuel in violation of the order will face action and may have to bear the cost personally. The government expects the move to save about 90 billion rupees monthly, which will be redirected to public welfare.

The decision comes amid a global fuel shortage and price surge triggered by attacks in Iran involving Israel and the United States. Pakistan’s government said the measure aims to conserve energy and ease pressure on the national economy. The surcharge hike applies only to luxury vehicles, while prices for public transport and aviation fuel remain unchanged.

This step continues a series of energy-saving measures introduced two weeks earlier, including fuel price adjustments, a 50 percent cut in fuel allowances for government vehicles, a four-day workweek, and partial remote work for civil servants, excluding essential services.

Pakistan reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating terrorism as the temporary ceasefire with Afghanistan neared its end on Monday midnight. The truce, announced last Wednesday for Eid-ul-Fitr, was intended to halt border clashes between the two countries. According to AFP, Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated on Pakistan Day that Islamabad’s stance on the ongoing conflict with Afghanistan remains unchanged.

Dar emphasized that Pakistan’s recent actions inside Afghanistan were aimed at eradicating terrorist threats. Meanwhile, Afghan Taliban authorities and a medical source reported that a mortar shell fired from Pakistan killed one person in Kunar province on Sunday. Tensions between the two neighbors have escalated in recent months, with Islamabad accusing Kabul of harboring militants responsible for cross-border attacks, a claim the Taliban denies.

The current round of conflict began in February after earlier mediation efforts by Gulf states and China failed. The ceasefire followed a deadly Pakistani strike on a drug rehabilitation center in Kabul, which Afghan officials said killed more than 400 people.

Bangladesh Health Minister Sardar Sakhawat Hossain Bokul has ordered the closure of Doctors Care Hospital and Diagnostic in Shyamoli, Dhaka, following allegations of serious irregularities. The directive came after his visit to the hospital on Monday afternoon, two days after Eid. The minister announced that from Tuesday, inspection drives will begin across private clinics, hospitals, and diagnostic centers, starting from Shyamoli to Asadgate and later expanding nationwide.

The action follows a television report revealing that unqualified individuals, including brokers and clinic staff, were performing surgeries at the hospital. During his visit, the minister spoke with patients, relatives, and alleged victims who gathered to share complaints. He instructed that patients under treatment be transferred to other hospitals, including Pangu, Shishu, and Shaheed Suhrawardy hospitals.

Health officials said the upcoming inspection campaign aims not to shut down institutions but to ensure proper healthcare services. Facilities found with irregularities will be given 72 hours to one week to improve; otherwise, they will face closure.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that global oil prices would fall sharply if a peace agreement is reached to end the ongoing war between the United States, Israel, and Iran. Since the conflict began, oil prices have risen significantly due to heightened tensions and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global energy transport. Trump said there is a good chance of reaching a deal but emphasized that nothing is guaranteed.

According to Trump, the two countries are discussing 15 points aimed at ending the war, with Iran’s abandonment of nuclear weapons listed as the top three priorities. He also expressed his desire to see major changes in Iran’s governing system. The remarks come amid stalled maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz caused by Iranian threats, which have contributed to the surge in oil prices.

The report, citing BBC Bangla, did not specify when or where the negotiations are taking place or how close the parties are to an agreement.

The United Kingdom has welcomed what it called productive talks between the United States and Iran, expressing hope that the dialogue could ease tensions in the Middle East and lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. A spokesperson for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed the position on Monday, emphasizing London’s interest in regional stability.

Earlier, former U.S. President Donald Trump stated on social media that he had ordered a halt to planned strikes on Iranian power plants following what he described as highly productive discussions with Tehran. However, Iran’s Foreign Ministry denied that any such talks had taken place, suggesting that Trump’s announcement was aimed at influencing global oil prices and delaying military action.

The British government reiterated that a swift resolution to the conflict was in the global interest, particularly to restore normal maritime operations through the vital Strait of Hormuz.

Turkey, Egypt, and Pakistan have taken on a mediating role to ease ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran. According to a U.S. source, the three countries have been exchanging messages between the two sides over the past two days. Their foreign ministers have held separate meetings with White House representative Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, signaling intensified diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict.

The source added that the mediation process is progressing with signs of positive development. The discussions aim to end the conflict and address long-standing unresolved issues. Further progress is expected soon, according to the same source.

Egypt’s Foreign Ministry stated that Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty emphasized during the meetings the importance of limiting the scope of the ongoing conflict and preventing its further escalation.

Following the fall of the previously banned Awami League government, Bangladesh’s local government administration has faced stagnation due to the prolonged absence of elected representatives. With a newly elected national government now in place, public and political attention has turned toward the long-awaited local government elections.

Opposition parties have questioned the government’s sincerity about holding these elections, citing recent administrative appointments as cause for concern. The appointment of party-affiliated leaders as administrators in city corporations and district councils has fueled suspicion that the ruling party may be consolidating control over local administrations before the polls. Critics argue that such actions undermine the fairness of the upcoming elections.

Political analysts suggest that local government elections will dominate the national political scene after the Eid holidays. Some analysts also note that appointing administrators was a temporary necessity to keep local governance functional until elections are held.