Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar urged restraint and dialogue during a phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi on Sunday, as tensions escalated across the Middle East.
Dar stressed de-escalation in line with the June 2026 Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, according to Pakistan's Foreign Office.
Why did Pakistan urge restraint in its call with Iran?
Dar's call reflected Pakistan's effort to calm an escalating conflict between Iran and the United States. He invoked commitments made under the Islamabad MoU, signed in June 2026, and said dialogue and diplomacy remained the only effective means of resolving differences and achieving lasting regional stability.
What did Dar and Araghchi agree on?
The two foreign ministers exchanged views on the evolving regional situation, the Foreign Office said. Dar reaffirmed Pakistan's readiness to continue playing a constructive role in promoting regional peace. Both ministers agreed to remain in close contact as developments continue to unfold.
What is happening at the Strait of Hormuz?
The call came as Iran and the United States exchanged military actions linked to the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway connecting the Gulf to global shipping routes. Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Sunday they had struck a second vessel in the strait and announced its closure until further notice, according to Iranian state media. The Guards said the vessel had violated regulations and also announced attacks on U.S. military facilities in the Gulf region.
The Pentagon said U.S. forces struck Iran after Iranian forces fired on a Cyprus-registered container ship in the strait. U.S. Central Command said a crew member was missing and the vessel was disabled by fire and engine room damage. British maritime agency UKMTO said the crew had abandoned ship and were in a lifeboat east of Oman.
How has the wider Gulf region been affected?
Iranian state media reported explosions in several locations, including Bandar Abbas, Sirik, Jask, Qeshm Island and Khuzestan province, with no immediate casualties reported. Authorities and journalists reported sirens and explosions in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. Qatar and the UAE said they intercepted missile attacks, while Bahrain reported air raid sirens.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards later said they had targeted U.S. bases and radar sites in Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar with ballistic missiles and drones. The latest developments have raised concerns over regional stability and the future of diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis.
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