Bangladesh Urges United States to Pursue Diplomatic Solution to Iran Crisis

Bangladesh has called on the United States to resolve the ongoing Iran crisis through swift diplomatic negotiations.

The appeal was made by Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman while speaking to journalists after a meeting with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Paul Kapur, who is currently visiting Dhaka.

During a press briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rahman said Bangladesh urged Washington to seek a peaceful and diplomatic resolution to the Iran crisis as quickly as possible.

Responding to a question about when the war might end, the Foreign Minister noted that the decision does not rest solely in the hands of the United States, nor can it be determined by Washington alone. However, he stressed that for countries like Bangladesh, the economic repercussions of the conflict would be extremely difficult to bear.

Earlier on Wednesday, the second day of his three-day visit, Paul Kapur held discussions with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam at the Foreign Ministry before meeting Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman.

Later in the day, Kapur is scheduled to meet Commerce Minister Khandker Abdul Muqtadir and Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud at the Secretariat. In the evening, he will attend a dinner hosted in his honor and exchange views with members of the business community.

When asked about the recently concluded trade agreement with the United States, Rahman rejected claims that it had been signed hastily ahead of the elections. He said consultations were also held with the NCP and Jamaat-e-Islami before finalizing the agreement.