Pakistan urges US-Iran restraint as West Asia conflict widens

Ishaq Dar spoke with Iran's foreign minister and urged restraint after fresh US-Iran strikes. Pakistan says only diplomacy can prevent a wider regional spillover and restore stability.

In Short

• Dar spoke with Iran's foreign minister amid rapidly worsening regional tensions
• Washington struck Iran after a vessel attack in the Strait of Hormuz
• Tehran reportedly targeted Gulf nations including Qatar, Bahrain and the UAE

Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Sunday urged the United States and Iran to exercise restraint after the conflict in West Asia escalated sharply. The appeal came after the US carried out targeted strikes on Iran and Tehran responded by targeting neighbouring Gulf countries.

Dar, who is also Pakistan's foreign minister, spoke to his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi over the phone and expressed concern over the developing situation, according to a statement issued by the Foreign Office in Islamabad. The two leaders also agreed to remain in close contact, the statement said.

According to the report, the United States launched strikes against Iran on Sunday morning after Iran struck a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, setting the container on fire. AP reported that Iran then responded to the US attacks by targeting the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman. The escalation came days after President Donald Trump said that the deal with Iran is over.

The Foreign Office said, "Both leaders exchanged views on the evolving regional situation. DPM/FM stressed upon the parties to follow the path of de-escalation and show restraint, as agreed in the Islamabad MOU in June 2026." The Islamabad MoU is an interim agreement signed by the US and Iran last month to bring peace in West Asia, with Pakistan also signing it as a mediator.

Dar said dialogue and diplomacy are the only viable path to resolve disputes and achieve peace and stability in the region. He also reiterated Pakistan's readiness to continue playing a "constructive role" as a mediator. Meanwhile, AP reported that Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, said in his first statement since the funeral of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Saturday that Iranians would avenge his father's killing. Overall, the developments marked a sharp widening of tensions in the region, with Pakistan calling for immediate de-escalation and continued diplomatic engagement.

With PTI Inputs

- Ends