Washington, March 15: US President Donald Trump has rejected a potential deal with Iran to end the ongoing conflict, saying the proposed terms were “not good enough yet”, even as he called on countries around the world to deploy naval forces to help secure the Strait of Hormuz and keep global oil shipments moving.

In a wide-ranging telephone interview with NBC News on Saturday, Trump said Iran had signalled interest in negotiations but insisted Washington would not rush into a ceasefire agreement while the war continues.

“Iran wants to make a deal, and I don’t want to make it because the terms aren’t good enough yet,” Trump said in the interview.

Asked what the terms of a possible agreement would include, the president declined to elaborate. “I don’t want to say that to you,” he said, though he suggested that abandoning nuclear ambitions would likely be central to any deal.

The remarks came as the war between the US, Israel, and Iran entered its third week, with fighting spreading across the Middle East and global energy markets shaken by tensions around the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump said the US is urging countries affected by disruptions to oil shipments to help secure the strategic waterway.

“They’ve not only committed, but they think it’s a great idea,” Trump said when asked about possible international participation.

Earlier in the day, Trump also appealed publicly for a multinational effort to protect the route.

In a Truth Social post, he wrote that “Many Countries, especially those who are affected by Iran’s attempted closure of the Hormuz Strait, will be sending War Ships, in conjunction with the United States of America, to keep the Strait open and safe.”

He added that he hoped nations including China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the UK would deploy naval vessels to the area.

The Strait of Hormuz is widely regarded as the world’s most critical oil shipping lane, carrying a large share of global crude exports.

The president also confirmed in the NBC interview that US forces had carried out strikes on Kharg Island, a strategic Iranian oil export hub.

“We totally demolished Kharg Island, but we may hit it a few more times just for fun,” Trump said.

However, he said US forces had deliberately avoided destroying key energy infrastructure on the island.

“Except, as you know, I didn’t do anything having to do with the energy lines, because having to rebuild that would take years,” he added.

The fighting has already taken a toll on US forces. According to reporting by The New York Times, six American service members died this week when a US Air Force refuelling aircraft crashed in Iraq while supporting operations linked to the war.

The crash brought the total number of American service members killed in the conflict to at least 13.

The conflict has also spilled across the region.

According to The Washington Post, the US Embassy compound in Baghdad was struck in an attack early Saturday. Air raid sirens sounded, and smoke was seen rising from inside the diplomatic compound after an explosion damaged a structure on the roof.

The embassy warned Americans not to approach the facility because of security risks.

Iran-aligned militias have carried out multiple attacks across Iraq in recent days, targeting diplomatic facilities, infrastructure, and locations linked to the US and its allies, according to reporting by The New York Times.

Iran has also continued missile and drone attacks across the Gulf region. The governments in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain reported intercepting numerous drones and missiles during the latest wave of strikes.

Despite rising tensions and surging oil prices, Trump dismissed concerns that higher gasoline prices could hurt his political standing.

“I think they’ll go lower than they were before, and I had them at record lows,” Trump said, predicting prices would fall once the war ends.

“I’m not concerned at all,” he added. “The only thing I want to do is make sure that Iran can never be the bully of the Middle East again.”

The war began after the US and Israel launched a joint military campaign against Iran on February 28, targeting military infrastructure and facilities linked to Tehran’s missile and drone programmes.

Since then, the Strait of Hormuz has emerged as the central geopolitical flashpoint in the conflict. Iran has threatened to block tanker traffic through the narrow passage, raising fears of a major global energy shock and prompting the US and its allies to consider naval operations to keep the route open.

Washington, March 15: China has become a subject of international ridicule as its HQ-9B missiles, once touted as the best air defence system, have failed catastrophically in Pakistan, Venezuela and now Iran within a year, according to a latest report.

While China’s HQ-9B missiles and JY-27A radars impressed on military parades, in actual combat, they have proven ineffective, appearing “blind, deaf, and mute”, the report highlighted.

“The HQ-9B, also known as Red Flag 9, is a cheap copy of the powerful US Patriot missiles and the Russian S-300. In theory, they have built-in radar systems to track and engage multiple targets simultaneously. In practice, they have demonstrated the opposite. Since May of last year, serious concerns have been raised about the HQ-9B’s inadequacy. In India’s Operation Sindoor against Pakistan, the Chinese missiles were soundly defeated for four consecutive days. They were unable to defend, destroy or track anything,” American newspaper ‘The Hill’ detailed.

According to the report, China’s JY-27 radar is a system “capable of identifying and scanning targets” between 280 and 390 kilometres away and “specialises in the early detection of fast, supersonic F-22 and F-35 fighter jets”.

“But in real combat, when Maduro was captured in Venezuela, the Chinese radars became a point of national humiliation and shame, failing to detect even one of the 150 aircraft that penetrated Venezuelan airspace,” it added.

According to the report, during US-launched Operation Epic Fury in Iran, resulting in deadly strikes killing Iranian Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and some 49 high-ranking military officers, the Iranian defence system — including the Chinese HQ-9B missile system — failed.

“Chinese power failed miserably. The US has demonstrated technological capability and extraordinary military expertise. China’s propaganda is effective, but its military technology is not. A few years ago, countries like Egypt, Azerbaijan, Pakistan and Iran spent billions on Chinese air defence systems; today, they regret it,” it mentioned.

“Events in Pakistan, Venezuela and Iran also give hope to Taiwan. China has lost credibility, and its arms race is no longer as formidable. Although Beijing is still a nuclear power, its combat technology and radars have already proven unreliable, vulnerable and of low quality when compared to those of the US,” it noted.

Dhaka, March 15: India has repeatedly raised concerns over the safety of the minority communities with Bangladeshi authorities, and expects thorough investigations and accountability. However, the responsibility to ensure the protection of all citizens lies with the government of Bangladesh, a report highlighted.

Citing rights groups, it stated that preventing recurring violence requires more than reactive policing; it demands “sustained legal protection, swift prosecution of offenders, and community reconciliation efforts”.

“Without transparent, independently verifiable data, the full picture remains contested. Yet the allegations alone underscore a broader concern: when minorities in any country face persistent insecurity, it challenges the region’s commitment to pluralism, rule of law, and fundamental human dignity,” The Morning Voice newspaper detailed.

According to the report, a recent disclosure in India’s Parliament revealed that nearly 3,100 incidents of violence targeting Hindus and other minorities took place in Bangladesh between August 2024 and February 2026, raising serious concerns about minority safety in the neighbouring country.

“Attacks allegedly targeted homes, businesses, and places of worship, with reports of killings and arson. If accurate, such acts would represent not only communal violence but also a grave violation of internationally recognised human rights principles, including freedom of religion, equality before the law, and the right to life and security,” the report stressed.

“The issue carries particular sensitivity for India, which shares a long and porous border with Bangladesh and deep historical, cultural, and demographic ties. Instability affecting minorities across the border can have humanitarian, diplomatic, and security implications, including displacement pressures and cross-border tensions,” it added.

The report further said that if verified, the violence against minorities would be more than just a domestic problem, emerging as a human rights concern that calls for sustained global attention.

Bangladesh witnessed escalating attacks on minorities, particularly Hindus, sparking grave human rights concerns, which intensified during the eighteen-month tenure of Muhammad Yunus-led interim government.