Bangladesh/India
(AFP/Al Arabiya) Bangladesh’s foreign minister met his Indian counterpart in New Delhi on Wednesday, the most senior visit by a Dhaka envoy since the 2024 revolution toppled India’s old ally Sheikh Hasina. Khalilur Rahman, who is on a “goodwill visit,” raised the issues of extradition, energy and fertilizer supplies, and visas, Dhaka’s foreign ministry said in a statement. – Bangladesh FM in India, most senior visit since 2024 uprising
Kuwait/Iraq
(AFP/Al Arabiya) Kuwait on Wednesday summoned Iraq’s envoy to the Gulf state after protesters attempted to storm the Kuwaiti consulate in the southern Iraqi city of Basra overnight. Kuwait’s foreign ministry said in a statement it had delivered a note of protest to Iraq’s charge d’affaires over “acts of vandalism and destruction that targeted the Kuwaiti Consulate General in Basra.” – Kuwait summons Iraqi envoy over attack on Basra consulate
War in Iran/Middle East/Gulf and beyond
(Reuters/Al Arabiya) Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said in a phone call with US President Donald Trump that no opportunity should be given for the ceasefire process with Iran to be sabotaged, his office said on Wednesday. – In call with Trump, Turkey’s Erdogan warns against sabotage of peace bid
(Al Arabiya) US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Vice President JD Vance might not go to Pakistan this week for peace talks with Iran due to security concerns. “We’ll have Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, JD —maybe JD, I don’t know,” the US president said in an interview with the New York Post. “There’s a question of safety, security,” Trump added. Nevertheless, Trump said he expects the talks in Pakistan to take place “very soon.”. This comes on the heels of Trump’s announcement on Tuesday that a two-week ceasefire was agreed after a request from Islamabad. – Trump says Vance might not go to Iran peace talks, Lebanon not part of ceasefire
(Al Arabiya) Iran has threatened to destroy ships attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz without permission, less than 24 hours into the ceasefire, signaling the vital waterway remains effectively closed, Reuters reported Wednesday, citing shipping sources. “Any vessel trying to travel into the sea… will be targeted and destroyed,” the message said. – Iran threatens ships attempting Hormuz transit without permission, shipping sources say
(Agencies/Al Arabiya) Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi raised “ceasefire violations” by Israel in a call with the commander of the armed forces of Pakistan, which mediated the fragile US-Iran truce, an Iranian ministry statement said. – Iran FM raises Israeli ‘ceasefire violations’ in call with Pakistani mediators
(AFP/Al Arabiya) Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz said the military had carried out a surprise attack on Wednesday targeting hundreds of Hezbollah members across Lebanon. – Israel claims struck ‘hundreds’ of Hezbollah members in ‘surprise’ attacks across Lebanon
(Al Arabiya) Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense said on Wednesday that nine drones had been intercepted and destroyed over the past several hours. – Saudi Arabia says nine drones intercepted in recent hours
(Reuters/Al Arabiya) The top US general said on Wednesday US troops stood ready to resume fighting if Tehran failed to strike a negotiated settlement as the Trump administration sought to portray the war as a decisive victory against Iran. “We hope that Iran chooses a lasting peace,” General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told a Pentagon news conference. – US military says it’s ready to resume fighting if diplomacy fails
(Al Arabiya) Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday expressed his gratitude to Saudi Arabia and other countries for their support with the ceasefire between Iran and the US. Sharif said that he extends his “deepest and sincere gratitude” to Saudi Arabia, China, Turkey, Egypt, and Qatar for “for their support towards reaching the ceasefire and giving peaceful diplomatic efforts a chance to seek a comprehensive and conclusive end to the conflict.” – Pakistan’s PM lauds Saudi Arabia, partners for their support for ‘Islamabad Talks’
(Al Arabiya) The United Arab Emirates said Wednesday that 17 Iranian missiles and 35 drones had targeted its territory despite a US announcement of a two-week ceasefire with Iran. – UAE says targeted with 17 Iranian missiles, 35 drones since start of ceasefire
(Reuters/Al Arabiya) Israel carried out its heaviest strikes on Lebanon since the conflict with Hezbollah broke out last month, even as the Iran-aligned group paused attacks on northern Israel and Israeli troops in Lebanon under a two-week US-Iran ceasefire. Consecutive explosions shook Beirut, sending smoke billowing across the capital, as Israel’s military said it had launched the largest coordinated strike of the war. More than 100 Hezbollah command centers and military sites were targeted in Beirut, the Bekaa Valley and southern Lebanon, it said. – Israel pounds Lebanon with heaviest airstrikes of the war as Hezbollah pauses attacks
(Al Arabiya) European Union Foreign Policy chief has said Asia would bear the brunt of any disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, but warned the effects would ripple globally. “Eighty-five percent of the LNG that goes via the Strait of Hormuz goes to Asia, so they are extremely worried,” Kaja Kallas told Al Arabiya English in an exclusive interview. – EU foreign policy chief says Hormuz disruption to hit Asia hardest, ripple across globe
