Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar engaged in a crucial phone conversation on Saturday with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, addressing the rapidly intensifying conflict in the Middle East. During this high-level discussion, Dar expressed Pakistan’s strong condemnation of the recent attacks targeting Iran, emphasizing the urgent need to halt the escalating hostilities that threaten regional stability. The dialogue underscored Pakistan’s commitment to promoting peace and preventing further deterioration of the situation.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted that both officials exchanged views on the swiftly evolving circumstances not only within Iran but across the broader Middle Eastern region. Dar underscored the importance of resolving the crisis through peaceful means, advocating for all parties involved to lower tensions and return to constructive diplomatic negotiations. His call for dialogue reflects Pakistan’s longstanding policy of encouraging peaceful conflict resolution and regional harmony.
The current crisis intensified sharply after coordinated strikes by Israel and the United States targeted Iranian sites. US President Donald Trump publicly stated that the objective of these operations was to dismantle Iran’s missile capabilities and prevent the country from advancing its nuclear weapons program. In retaliation, Iran launched a significant missile offensive directed at Gulf states and Israel, signaling a dangerous escalation in the conflict.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for targeting several strategic locations, including the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, various American military installations in the Gulf region, and multiple sites within Israel. This series of attacks triggered widespread alarms, with reports of explosions and air defense responses coming from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, and Iraq. Several Gulf countries, including Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, and Jordan, announced that they successfully intercepted incoming missile threats, preventing further casualties.
Tragically, the violence resulted in loss of life and damage on both sides. UAE state media confirmed that one person lost their life in Abu Dhabi due to the missile strikes. Meanwhile, in Iran, a missile strike on a school led to the deaths of 24 individuals, a provincial official. In Israel, the military swiftly deployed rescue teams following reports of missile impacts, while smoke was observed rising over Tehran’s Pasteur district — home to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The capital was placed under heightened security measures amid fears of further attacks.
Israeli media speculated that high-profile Iranian figures such as Supreme Leader Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian were among the targets of the strikes. However, Iranian state television later confirmed that President Pezeshkian was unharmed. The situation remains highly volatile, with the potential for further escalation if diplomatic efforts fail to gain traction.
Pakistan’s response, articulated by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, reflects the country’s broader diplomatic stance advocating for restraint and dialogue in the face of mounting regional tensions. As the international community watches closely, Pakistan continues to urge all involved parties to prioritize peaceful negotiations and avoid actions that could lead to a wider conflict.
