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Saudi Arabia warns Iran against ‘misguided calculations’ amid escalating Gulf attacks

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Riyadh, March 7: Saudi Arabia on Saturday cautioned Iran against engaging in what it described as “misguided calculations” as tensions across the West Asia region continue to intensify amid an expanding conflict.

Iran has directed retaliatory missile and drone strikes toward Israel and US military positions, while also launching hundreds of ballistic missiles and thousands of drones toward Arab states across the Gulf.

These attacks have targeted energy infrastructure, civilian locations, and US military bases spread across the region.

Saudi Arabia’s Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman Al Saud issued the warning following a meeting with Pakistan’s Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir.

After the discussions, the minister expressed hope that Iran would “act with wisdom and reason” and refrain from taking steps that could further inflame the already volatile situation, urging Tehran to avoid “misguided calculations.”

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia reported that its air defence systems successfully intercepted another incoming attack.

The Kingdom said a ballistic missile aimed at a military facility southeast of the capital was neutralised before reaching its target.

“A ballistic missile launched toward Prince Sultan Air Base was intercepted and destroyed,” the Saudi Defence Ministry said in a post on X.

Saudi officials also disclosed that multiple aerial threats had been neutralised in recent days.

According to the Defence Ministry, four drones were shot down on Friday (local time), including three in the eastern areas of Riyadh and another to the northeast of the capital. Authorities further said that a cruise missile was intercepted over the city of Kharj.

Earlier in the week, Iranian drones also targeted the US Embassy in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia’s Defence Ministry said two drones struck the compound, causing what it described as “limited fire” and only minor structural damage.

Following the incident, the US Embassy urged American citizens to avoid visiting the compound as a precautionary measure.

Saudi Arabia’s key energy infrastructure has also been targeted during the ongoing attacks. The Ras Tanura oil refinery, one of the Kingdom’s major crude processing facilities, came under a drone assault as well.

However, Saudi air defences managed to bring down the incoming aircraft before they could cause damage, a military spokesperson told the state-run Saudi Press Agency.

The Ras Tanura refinery has a production capacity of more than half a million barrels of crude oil per day, making it one of the most significant oil processing sites in the country.

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Iran says Strait of Hormuz can be reopened in two days if US meets its demands

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Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday that if the United States meets Iran’s “legitimate” demands, it will be possible to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within two days.

At a weekly press conference in Tehran, Baghaei said the basis for any indirect interaction between Iran and the United States through mediators remains the seven-day plan proposed by Tehran in September, adding Iran has reduced the period for implementing the plan to two days based on its good faith.

He noted, “We have announced that if Iran’s demands are met, the possibility will exist to restore security to the Strait of Hormuz and start the negotiation process in a short period of time,” stressing that all these depend on the American side’s decision on how to proceed regarding the future of the process, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Baghaei said Iran has articulated its demands “clearly, reasonably, and logically,” underlining that unless the United States ends its anti-Iran naval blockade and addresses Tehran’s “legitimate” demands, no agreement will be reached and the Strait of Hormuz will not be reopened or secured.

Iran conveyed the seven-day plan containing its conditions for ending the war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz to the United States through mediators on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York on September 22, following which Tehran and Washington have reportedly continued exchanging messages on the proposal.

On February 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and other Iranian cities. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and US bases and assets in the region, and tightened its grip on the Strait of Hormuz.

The Strait of Hormuz links the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. It is one of the world’s most important energy corridors, carrying oil and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) exports from major Gulf producers to international markets.

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274 minor boys subjected to sexual abuse in Bangladesh; madrasas account for majority cases

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At least 274 minor boys were subjected to sexual violence in 199 incidents across Bangladesh, with the majority of victims being madrasa students, said a leading international human rights organisation, highlighting the alarming scale of abuse against children in the country.

In its ten-month monitoring report, Justice Makers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) stated that the incidents recorded between January 1 and October 31, 2026, took place in classrooms, residential institutions, homes and neighbourhoods, with children often subjected to abuse by people they knew or were expected to trust.

It noted that many children’s experiences never become public, and the actual scale may be substantially greater.

As per the findings, 183 incidents involved allegations of rape affecting 257 children, while 16 cases involved attempted rape against 17 children across 61 districts in all eight divisions of Bangladesh.

Five incidents reportedly resulted in the deaths of children following alleged sexual violence. The report further noted that 136 children experienced repeated abuse in 67 incidents, accounting for nearly half of all recorded victims.

According to the report, madrasa students accounted for 180 victims in 121 incidents, constituting 65.7 per cent of all recorded victims. Madrasas were identified as the locations of abuse in 100 incidents involving 158 victims.

The report further stated that madrasa teachers were named as accused in 93 incidents involving 131 victims. It recorded 115 accused entries involving madrasa teachers, accounting for 49.4 per cent of all accused persons.

Furthermore, madrasa teachers, students, and religious leaders were collectively identified as alleged perpetrators in 107 incidents involving 150 victims.

“Every one of these children deserved to be safe. A child who finds the courage to speak about abuse must be heard and protected — not threatened, silenced, or sent back into danger. It is deeply disturbing that some of the people accused were entrusted with children’s education and care,” said JMBF Founder President Shahanur Islam

“No institution’s reputation is worth more than a child’s safety. Anyone who abuses a child, conceals an offence or pressures a family to remain silent must face investigation and, where responsibility is established, lawful accountability. Arrests cannot be the end of the response. Children need treatment, someone they can trust, support to continue their education and a justice process that does not cause them further harm,” he added.

The JMBF urged the Bangladeshi authorities to take immediate measures to protect children, ensure thorough investigations and accountability for those responsible for the abuse or its concealment.

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Iran defines vast arena to inflict damage on enemy: IRGC spokesman

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Iranian forces have determined a vast battlefield to inflict damage on the “enemy” and achieve complete deterrence, spokesman for Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) Hossein Mohebbi has said.

Speaking at a conference in Iran’s southeastern Kerman province on Sunday (local time), Mohebbi said Iranian forces are more prepared than ever “to respond decisively to the enemy,” reports Xinhua, quoting the semi-official Tasnim news agency.

He pointed to recent orders from Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei to senior military commanders, saying the leader’s guidelines “opened a new chapter of war.”

Mohebbi highlighted Khamenei’s emphasis that “there is no geographical limitation in the war with the United States,” saying the IRGC has placed on its agenda identifying new enemy targets and planning operations in new geographical regions.

On Saturday, a statement announced that Iran’s supreme leader had ordered senior commanders of the armed forces to ensure that any level and kind of threat from the “enemies” must be met with an “immediate and effective” response without geographical limitations.

The warnings come amid heightened US threats of military action against Iran.

According to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), US President Donald Trump was briefed on Thursday by top US military officials on options regarding Iran.

The United States has also informed several Gulf countries to prepare for a possible brief but intense military campaign against Iran after the US midterm elections, according to the WSJ.

On February 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and other Iranian cities. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and US bases and assets in the region, and tightened its grip on the Strait of Hormuz.

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