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Bangladesh has said it is open to joining the Saudi Arabia-Pakistan-Turkiye defence pact, with two junior ministers stressing any decision hinges on national interests. Meanwhile, reports of an invitation for Iran to join remain unconfirmed, with Tehran denying receiving any official proposal.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly declared the Strait of Hormuz an 'American territory' amid a naval blockade and escalating tensions with Iran. While Trump asserts total control, international law experts and Iranian officials dismiss the claim as legally and practically impossible, as the waterway remains a critical global chokepoint.
Washington has announced an unprecedented push to isolate Iran's economy, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent pledging to sever every economic lifeline of the 'tyrannical regime.' Iran has vowed to shut down Gulf oil exports if the pressure continues, as diplomatic efforts and a crisis in the Strait of Hormuz deepen.
President Trump asserts the US has 'total control' of the Strait of Hormuz, pledging to keep it, while Iran is described as 'shot' with 'no money.' Yet independent tracking data and official counts suggest traffic remains far below pre-war levels, and analysts dispute the administration's figures.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains far below pre-war levels, with only a handful of vessels transiting daily, even as President Trump asserts the US has 'total control' over the waterway. Iran conditions any full reopening on the lifting of the blockade and sanctions, while diplomatic efforts to end the conflict remain stalled amid conflicting claims about the strait's status.
With the Strait of Hormuz disrupted by the US-Iran war and Iranian closure threats, Gulf states are scrambling for alternative routes. Saudi Arabia has redirected shipments via its East-West Pipeline, while experts warn that new pipelines cannot solve immediate problems and some countries remain fully dependent on Hormuz.
Deputy PM Ishaq Dar condemned the Houthi attack on a commercial vessel that killed three Pakistanis, and said Islamabad is in contact with Saudi and Yemen authorities. Six injured sailors have returned home, and two bodies have been repatriated.
The Trump administration is escalating economic pressure on Iran with new sanctions and a naval blockade, announcing what President Trump called an 'economic D-Day.' Iran has threatened retaliation, and the UAE has suspended trade with Tehran, severing a key economic lifeline.
As Israel approaches its October 27 election, politicians, civil society groups and President Isaac Herzog have voiced growing concerns over the integrity of the vote, citing threats of violence, political interference, and AI-driven misinformation. A new poll shows that 70% of respondents believe the election's integrity is at risk, a sharp rise from the 2022 figure of 25%.
Iran has issued demands for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, including war damage compensation, while shipping traffic through the waterway fell sharply amid security risks and stalled US-Iran talks. A tanker was attacked off Yanbu, and the US threatened a major financial offensive against Tehran.
US President Donald Trump announced that the Board of Peace has reached a 'historic' agreement for the complete disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza, with Israel to withdraw as disarmament is completed. Hamas officials confirmed an agreement, but Israel has not responded, and experts express skepticism about both sides' willingness to follow through.