Unbeaten Pakistan seal CAVA volleyball title over Bangladesh

Tensions across the Middle East intensified on Saturday as senior Iranian military and political officials issued strong warnings to the United States and its regional partners, while Kuwait reported intercepting drones it said were launched from Iran. Major General Abdollahi, commander of Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, accused Washington of deliberately widening the regional conflict. In a statement shared on X and reported by Iranian state media, he alleged that the United States was pursuing a strategy aimed at expanding the war and increasing its influence across the Middle East. According to Abdollahi, the recent confrontation with Iran demonstrated that Washington was prepared to target the interests and resources of Muslim nations to achieve its objectives. He further claimed that the US was relying on the wealth, infrastructure, and strategic assets of regional countries to protect its military presence while reinforcing Israel’s security. The Iranian commander argued that the balance of power in the region had shifted in Iran’s favor, asserting that the United States and Israel failed to achieve their goals during the latest conflict. He also claimed they were now attempting to continue the confrontation through the territory of neighboring Muslim countries. Abdollahi urged regional governments to reconsider their cooperation with Washington, warning that nations acting as a “defensive shield” for the United States could eventually face the consequences of war. Separately, Iranian lawmaker Ebrahim Rezaei, a member of the parliament’s National Security Commission, warned that any future attack on Iran would have devastating consequences for the region. He claimed that such a conflict could reduce regional infrastructure to the “Stone Age” and cautioned against further military action. Meanwhile, Kuwait strongly condemned what it described as Iranian aggression after reporting drone attacks on key facilities. Kuwaiti authorities said their air defense systems detected and destroyed multiple hostile drones that entered the country’s airspace early Saturday. Officials stated that a government installation in northern Kuwait and civilian vehicles on Bubiyan Island sustained material damage from falling debris, although no casualties were reported. Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry described the attacks as a serious violation of the country’s sovereignty and said it reserved the right to take all necessary measures to protect its national security, interests, and critical infrastructure. Iran also warned that continued US maritime pressure could trigger broader consequences. Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said ongoing American actions could ultimately lead to restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz and other strategic waterways, warning that such developments would have significant consequences for global energy markets and the wider economy. At the same time, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf declared that Iran had emerged victorious from the recent conflict but stressed that the country must strengthen its long-term stability and national resilience. He emphasized expanding the authority of Iran’s supreme leadership as a key step toward securing the country’s future. Elsewhere, maritime security concerns remained high. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a commercial tanker was struck by an unidentified projectile off the coast of Oman, damaging its engine room and leaving it temporarily unable to maneuver. Authorities are investigating the incident. In Yemen, the Houthi movement denied reports that it planned to charge commercial vessels for passage through the Bab al-Mandab Strait, insisting that its maritime transit services remain free. However, the group claimed that its blockade had already forced several Saudi oil tankers to reroute around Africa via the Cape of Good Hope, underscoring the continuing disruption to regional shipping routes.

Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Ameer Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman has strongly criticized the government’s taxation and energy policies, accusing authorities of placing an unbearable financial burden on ordinary citizens. Addressing participants at a sit-in in Lahore, Hafiz Naeem said people were being economically crushed in the name of petroleum levies, describing the frequent increases in fuel costs as “petrol bombs” being dropped on the public. He said the government attributed rising petroleum prices to higher rates in the international market and argued that importing refined petroleum products had become increasingly expensive. However, he maintained that the resulting burden was ultimately transferred to consumers. The JI chief also criticized the condition of Pakistan’s oil-refining sector, saying successive governments had failed to modernize and upgrade refineries. He pointed out that motorcycle users and other ordinary consumers were also paying petroleum levies, while higher petrol prices eventually pushed up the cost of everyday goods. Hafiz Naeem described the petroleum levy as a form of taxation and argued that the existing system had little connection with the welfare of ordinary people. He also criticized the country’s electricity pricing structure, claiming that consumers were being charged heavily despite relatively low generation costs. He further warned that once an effective judicial system was established, those responsible for governance and financial decisions would face scrutiny. He said audits and trials would reveal the assets and financial dealings of those involved. Hafiz Naeem emphasized that the ongoing sit-in was not aimed at advancing the interests of any individual or political personality. He said the movement was being organized to raise the grievances of the public and demand relief from mounting economic pressures.