Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar engaged in a crucial telephone conversation on Saturday with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, amid a rapidly deteriorating security situation in the Middle East. During this high-level exchange, Dar unequivocally condemned the recent unprovoked attacks targeting Iran and emphasized the urgent need to halt the spiraling violence that threatens regional stability.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted that the two officials conducted a detailed review of the swiftly unfolding events in Iran as well as the broader geopolitical dynamics affecting the region. Senator Dar underscored the importance of reviving diplomatic channels without delay, advocating for immediate de-escalation measures and a peaceful, negotiated settlement to the ongoing crisis. His call reflected Pakistan’s longstanding position favoring dialogue over conflict in resolving international disputes.
The backdrop to this diplomatic exchange was a significant escalation in hostilities on Saturday, when Israel and the United States launched coordinated strikes against Iranian targets. These military actions marked a sharp intensification of tensions, with US President Donald Trump vowing to dismantle Tehran’s missile capabilities and prevent the development of nuclear weapons. In response, Iran retaliated with a large-scale missile barrage aimed at Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states and Israel, signaling a dangerous new phase in the regional conflict.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which serves as the ideological backbone of the Iranian regime, claimed responsibility for the missile strikes. They reported targeting the US Fifth Fleet headquarters located in Bahrain, along with other American military assets scattered across the Gulf region, and multiple sites within Israel. In the hours following the initial salvo, explosions and heightened air defense activity were observed across Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, and Iraq, illustrating the widespread impact of the confrontation.
Several Gulf Arab nations confirmed they had been targeted by Iranian missiles. Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, and Jordan all announced that their air defense systems successfully intercepted incoming projectiles. Despite these defenses, the UAE’s state media reported a fatality in Abu Dhabi, marking a tragic human cost amid the escalating violence. Meanwhile, Iran suffered casualties as well; a strike on a school resulted in the deaths of 24 individuals, an Iranian provincial official.
In Israel, the military deployed search and rescue teams to various locations following reports of missile impacts, highlighting the immediate threat to civilian populations. Tehran itself was not spared from the conflict’s reverberations. Smoke was seen rising over the Pasteur district, home to the residence of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. A substantial security presence was deployed throughout the capital, reflecting the heightened state of alert.
Israeli media outlets suggested that both Ayatollah Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian were among the intended targets of the Iranian missile strikes. However, Iranian state television reassured the public that Pezeshkian was “safe and sound.” Meanwhile, the Fars news agency reported missile impacts in the Keshvardoost and Pasteur districts of Tehran, underscoring the severity of the attacks within Iran’s own borders.
Pakistan’s response, articulated through Senator Ishaq Dar, reflects the country’s deep concern over the rapid escalation of violence and its potential to destabilize the entire Middle East region. By urging all parties to immediately cease hostilities and return to diplomatic negotiations, Pakistan is positioning itself as a voice of reason and stability amid growing uncertainty. The international community continues to watch closely as events unfold, hoping for a peaceful resolution to avert further bloodshed and chaos.
