Pakistan on Sunday urged all parties to exercise restraint and reduce tensions following a sharp escalation between Iran and the United States in and around the Strait of Hormuz.
In a statement, the Foreign Office said it was monitoring the situation with deep concern and reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for diplomacy and the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.
The Foreign Office said the sovereignty and territorial integrity of regional countries must be respected and called on all sides to avoid further escalation. Islamabad urged both Washington and Tehran to honor their commitments under the Islamabad MoU and pursue dialogue as the primary means of resolving disputes.
The latest crisis intensified after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had taken action against a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz and declared the waterway closed until further notice. The Pentagon said US forces launched strikes after Iranian forces allegedly fired on a Cyprus-registered container ship.
According to United States Central Command, the vessel suffered fire and engine-room damage and one crew member remained missing. The British maritime security agency UKMTO said the crew abandoned the ship and boarded a lifeboat east of Oman.
Iranian media reported explosions in Bandar Abbas, Sirik, Jask, Qeshm Island, and Khuzestan Province. Regional media also reported sirens and explosions in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain, with Qatari and Emirati authorities saying missile attacks were intercepted.
Pakistan said the Islamabad MoU, signed in June 2026, remains the basis for de-escalation and renewed diplomacy between Iran and the United States. The Foreign Office said Pakistan remains committed to promoting lasting peace through dialogue and mutual understanding.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi on Sunday, urging restraint and calling for immediate de-escalation in line with the Islamabad MoU. Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s willingness to continue playing a constructive role in efforts to restore regional stability.
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