Pakistan condemns Israel-US attack on Iran

By Islamuddin Sajid

ISLAMABAD (AA) - Pakistan on Saturday condemned Israel-US attacks on Iran and called for an immediate halt to the escalation.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar received a phone call from Iranian counterpart Seyed Abbas Araghchi and they discussed the latest situation, a Pakistani Foreign Ministry statement said.

Dar "strongly condemned the unwarranted attacks against Iran and called for an immediate halt to escalation through urgent resumption of diplomacy to achieve a peaceful, negotiated resolution to the crisis," the statement added.

Israel and the US early Saturday launched a joint operation against Iran, citing "threats" posed by the "Iranian regime."

Iran accused the US and Israel of military aggression, calling the strikes a violation of its sovereignty and a breach of Article 2(4) of the UN Charter.

Stressing the right to self-defense under the UN Charter, Tehran said it had prioritized diplomacy to prevent war but “the time has now come to defend the homeland,” and that the armed forces would respond in a “decisive and powerful manner.