Iranian Ambassador to Bangladesh Jalil Rahimi Jahanabadi has assured that Bangladeshi vessels currently stranded in the Strait of Hormuz will be able to pass through the critical waterway "very soon", following diplomatic coordination with the Bangladesh government.
Speaking as the chief guest at a condolence rally and anti-war crime exhibition organised by the Revolutionary Students' Council at Dhaka University's Battala on Sunday, the ambassador addressed concerns about maritime disruptions caused by the ongoing Middle East conflict.
"Many ships are waiting in the Strait of Hormuz due to the war situation. Some Bangladeshi ships are also stuck there," Ambassador Jahanabadi said. "We will cooperate with Bangladesh. We will make arrangements for the release of Bangladeshi ships, God willing. The ships will be able to pass through the Strait of Hormuz very soon, God willing. We will take action in this regard after talking to the Bangladesh government."
Rally demands justice for student victims
The event, titled 'Remembering the Martyred Students of the Islamic Republic of Iran: Demanding Justice and Accountability for US-Israeli War Crimes', drew teachers, students and members of the public who gathered at Battala from early morning to express solidarity with Iranian civilians affected by the conflict, according to a press release issued by the Revolutionary Students' Council.
Ambassador Jahanabadi used the platform to reaffirm Iran's friendship with Bangladesh. "Our relations with Bangladesh are good. We consider Bangladesh a brotherly country. We have no enmity with Bangladesh," he said.
On the Pakistan-mediated talks between Iran and the United States currently underway in Islamabad, the ambassador expressed gratitude to regional mediators. "We thank Pakistan for arranging the ceasefire talks. At the same time, we also thank Oman and those who have cooperated with us."
He outlined Tehran's position on the negotiations: "Iran has said that if there is a discussion based on dignity in Islamabad, they will discuss or they will not discuss. We have given this message to America that if they discuss based on dignity, we will discuss or they will not. And as long as the ceasefire period for the talks has been set, we will not attack. However, if America does not respect the ceasefire and launches an attack, Iran will also be forced to attack."
Ambassador questions US intentions
Reflecting on the broader context of US-Iran relations, Ambassador Jahanabadi expressed scepticism about Washington's motives. "We had discussed before, but America attacked us. We were sure this time, too, that America did not come for any peace or peace agreement for us. They basically wanted to show the world that they want peace and Iran wants war. In fact, America never wants peace. They attacked Iran unjustly for this."
He challenged the US position on Iran's nuclear programme, stating: "America's statement is that all countries in the world can become nuclear powers but Iran cannot."
The ambassador also claimed that the recent US military campaign against Iran had failed to achieve its objectives. "America had originally attacked to change the Iranian regime. They thought that if they attacked, the Iranian opposition would take to the streets and the government would fall. But it turned out that the Iranian people did take to the streets, but for the government, against America. America's conspiracy failed; they did not succeed. America wanted to run the Strait of Hormuz in their own way, but they failed there, too."
Condemnation of attacks on educational institutions
Ambassador Jahanabadi thanked the Revolutionary Students' Council for organising a programme highlighting attacks on schools, colleges and universities in Iran. "America has committed genocide against Iran. They have attacked hospitals, attacked universities, and attacked schools. They have killed civilians by attacking hospitals and killed innocent children by attacking schools. Iran has basically built resistance against these attacks. In fact, Iran never wants war. Because people are harmed by war. The world is harmed. However, America and Israel do not want the war to stop."
Khomeini Ehsan, convener of the National Revolutionary Council and special guest at the event, strongly condemned the US-Israeli military actions. "The imperialist United States and Zionist Israel are playing Holi with the blood of Iranian children today. The bombing of Iranian schools and killing children is a slap in the conscience of the world. We protest this barbaric attack and demand an immediate end to the war."
Symbolic protest draws emotional response
The rally featured a symbolic exhibition including mock coffins, blood-stained school bags and photographs of Iranian children killed in the conflict. Students participated in an anti-war signature campaign and left blood-stained handprints as a gesture of protest against US-Israeli aggression.
The sight of small symbolic coffins arranged in a row, each representing an innocent child lost to the violence, cast a sombre mood over the gathering. Several parents attending the rally voiced their anguish. "No war should be the cause of the death of children," one parent said. "No one should take the lives of children for political gain."
Other dignitaries present included Iran's Cultural Counsellor Sayyed Reza Mir Mohammadi, Joint Convener of the National Revolutionary Council Sayyed Qutb, and former Dhaka University leader Maryam Jamila Tamanna. Also in attendance were representatives from the Revolutionary Students' Council and various student organisations from Dhaka University and Dhaka Aliya Madrasa.