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Pakistan, Iran pledge continued cooperation amid US-Iran strikes

By The South Asia Times

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar held a telephone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on late Friday, reaffirming Pakistan's commitment to playing a constructive role in achieving lasting peace and stability in the region.

The phone call came just hours after the United States conducted strikes on Iranian targets around the Strait of Hormuz in response to a suspected drone attack on a cargo ship.

On Friday, US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced it had struck Iranian missile and drone storage facilities and coastal radar positions.

The strikes were described as "a powerful response" to a one-way attack drone that struck a Singapore-flagged cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday.

President Donald Trump called the Iranian drone strike "a foolish violation of our Ceasefire Agreement" in a post on Truth Social.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) condemned the US action, stating that the "treaty-breaking US regime" had "launched an airstrike on the coast of the Islamic Republic of Iran under various pretexts". The IRGC warned that "if the aggression is repeated our response will be more extensive than this".

Despite the military escalation, Foreign Minister Araghchi expressed appreciation for Pakistan's continued support in advancing the peace process. He also thanked Pakistan for facilitating the safe and smooth repatriation of Iranian crew members and fishermen to their homeland.

Deputy Prime Minister Dar briefed Araghchi on Pakistan's efforts to secure the release and return of Iranian crew members from the vessel Lenore-Davina, which was interdicted by US authorities earlier this month. The repatriation effort follows earlier confidence-building measures undertaken by Islamabad, including the return of eight Iranian fishermen rescued at sea.

The two foreign ministers reviewed the latest regional developments and the current diplomatic track, stressing continued close cooperation and consultations aimed at establishing lasting peace and stability. They agreed to remain in close contact.