PM Shehbaz condemns ‘serious regional escalation’ in phone call with MBS

PM Shehbaz Sharif spoke on the phone with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Saturday evening as tensions increased in the Middle East after the Israel-USA attack on Iran.

According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, Shehbaz Sharif condemned the serious regional escalation caused by the Israeli attack on Iran, followed by the regrettable attacks on other Gulf countries.

The prime minister assured Saudi Arabia of Pakistan’s full support and solidarity during this difficult time. He said Pakistan would always stand with its Saudi brothers and sisters, at all times to come, and under all circumstances.

PM Shehbaz also said Pakistan was ready to play a constructive role in reducing tensions. He expressed hope that the blessings of the holy month of Ramadan would bring peace to the region as soon as possible.

Earlier in the day, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar received a phone call from Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. During the call, Dar strongly condemned the unwarranted attacks against Iran and called for an immediate stop to the rising tensions.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said both leaders discussed the fast-changing situation in Iran and the wider region. Dar stressed the need to restart diplomatic talks and called for de-escalation and a peaceful, negotiated solution.

Meanwhile, Israel and the United States carried out strikes on Iran. US President Donald Trump said the aim was to destroy Tehran’s missile arsenal and stop it from developing a nuclear weapon.

In response, Iran launched a large number of missiles towards Gulf countries and Israel, increasing tensions further. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it targeted the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, other American sites in the Gulf, and locations in Israel.

Explosions and air defence activity were reported in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, and Iraq. Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, and Jordan said their air defence systems stopped incoming Iranian missiles. UAE state media reported that one person was killed in Abu Dhabi.

In Iran, a strike on a school killed 24 people. In Israel, the army sent search and rescue teams to different areas after reports of falling missiles.

Smoke was seen rising over Tehran’s Pasteur district, where Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has his residence, and security was increased in the capital. Israeli media claimed that Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian were among the targets. However, Iranian state television said Pezeshkian was “safe and sound”, and the Fars news agency reported that “missile impacts were reported in the Keshvardoost and Pasteur districts” of Tehran.