Islamabad (TDI): Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar spoke with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Wednesday to discuss rising tensions in the Middle East, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a post on X.
According to the ministry, both sides expressed serious concern over the escalating situation and stressed the urgent need for de-escalation. Dar highlighted that constructive dialogue and diplomacy remain the only effective means to resolve conflicts and promote regional peace and stability.
The discussion comes as the US and Israel continue military operations against Iran, further destabilizing the region. Iranian state television reported that Tehran targeted Tel Aviv with missiles carrying cluster warheads in retaliation for Israel’s assassination of Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani.
Iran will also hold funerals for Larijani and Gholamreza Soleimani, head of the Basij paramilitary force, both killed in Israeli strikes.
Read More: Dar Heads to Riyadh as Pakistan Pushes Diplomacy Amid Middle East Crisis
Beyond military actions, Iran has exerted economic pressure by disrupting the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global crude shipments, pushing oil prices toward $100 per barrel. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that the global impact of the conflict is just beginning and will affect all markets.
In response, the US military conducted targeted strikes on hardened Iranian missile sites near the coast, deploying several 5,000-pound bombs, each estimated to cost $288,000, to protect international shipping routes in the Gulf of Oman.
Read More: Dar Discusses Regional Situation with Azerbaijani Counterpart
Turkiye also reported intercepting a ballistic missile from Iran over its territory last Friday, with the Defense Ministry confirming NATO forces shot down the projectile.
