Pakistan strongly condemns Israel's attacks on Iran, says they undermine regional stability
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday condemned Israel's 'unjustified' attacks against Iran, warning that it undermines regional stability hours after Tel Aviv targeted the country's nuclear program and raised the potential for an all-out war between the two Middle East adversaries.
Israel launched strikes on Tehran early Friday, with black smoke being seen rising from the nation's main nuclear enrichment facility. Multiple sites around the country were hit, with the leader of Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard confirmed dead, Iranian state television reported. The development would serve as a body blow to Tehran's governing theocracy and an immediate escalation of the nations' long-simmering conflict.
Israeli leaders cast the preemptive assault as a fight for the nation's survival and necessary to head off what they described as an imminent threat that Iran would build nuclear bombs. It remains unclear how close the country is to achieving that.
'Strongly condemn unjustified Israeli attacks on Islamic Republic of Iran which is a brazen violation of Iran's sovereignty,' Dar wrote on social media platform X.
Dar said the 'abhorrent action' had violated international law and 'gravely undermines' regional stability and international security.
'Pakistan stands in solidarity with the Government & the people of Iran,' he added.
Strongly condemn unjustified Israeli attacks on Islamic republic of Iran which is a brazen violation of Iran's sovereignty. This abhorrent action has shaken foundations of international law as well as conscience of humanity; and gravely undermines regional stability & int'l…
— Ishaq Dar (@MIshaqDar50) June 13, 2025
In a separate statement, Pakistan's foreign office said Iran has the right to self-defense under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.
'The international community and the United Nations bear responsibility to uphold international law, stop this aggression immediately and hold the aggressor accountable for its actions,' the statement read.
Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry also condemned the attack, saying that it violated international laws.
'While the Kingdom condemns these heinous attacks, it affirms that the international community and the (UN) Security Council bear a great responsibility to immediately halt this aggression,' the Saudi foreign ministry said.
#Statement | The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expresses its strong condemnation and denunciation of the blatant Israeli aggressions against the brotherly Islamic Republic of Iran, which undermine its sovereignty and security and constitute a clear violation of international laws and… pic.twitter.com/OYuWXwiE5y
— Foreign Ministry (@KSAmofaEN) June 13, 2025
Iran's retaliation appeared to be underway immediately, as Israel's military said Tehran had launched more than 100 drones toward its territory. All of Israel's aerial defenses had been activated, military spokesperson Effie Defrin said, adding, 'we're expecting difficult hours.'
Iran's state TV offered few details about Gen. Hossein Salami, the head of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps who various international news websites reported had been killed, but said another top Guard official, as well as two nuclear scientists, were also feared dead.
In Washington, the Trump administration, which had cautioned Israel against an attack during continued negotiations over Iran's nuclear enrichment program, said it had not been involved and warned against any retaliation targeting US interests or personnel.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Israel took 'unilateral action against Iran' and that Israel advised the US that it believed the strikes were necessary for its self-defense.
'We are not involved in strikes against Iran, and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region,' Rubio said in a statement released by the White House.
The potential for an attack had been apparent for weeks. President Donald Trump on Thursday said that he did not believe an attack was imminent but also acknowledged that it 'could very well happen.' As tensions rose, the US pulled some diplomats from Iraq's capital and offered voluntary evacuations for the families of US troops in the wider Middle East.
With additional input from Associated Press
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