Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Ishaq Dar, engaged in a telephonic conversation with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi. During the call, Dar voiced strong condemnation of the “unwarranted attacks” against Iran and emphasized the urgent need to halt the escalating tensions. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that both leaders reviewed the rapidly unfolding situation in Iran and the wider regional dynamics. Dar underscored the importance of promptly resuming diplomatic engagement, advocating for de-escalation and a peaceful, negotiated resolution to the crisis. The exchange followed reported strikes by Israel and the United States on Iran, which have intensified military confrontations in the Middle East. President Donald Trump stated his intention to neutralize Iran’s missile capabilities and prevent its development of nuclear weapons. In response, Tehran launched a significant missile barrage targeting Gulf states and Israel, marking a considerable escalation in regional hostilities. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for strikes aimed at the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, additional American assets in the Gulf, and sites within Israel. Reports of explosions and air defense activity emerged from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Israel, and Iraq in the aftermath of the initial launches. This missile salvo came after Tehran had repeatedly warned of forceful retaliation if attacked. Several Gulf Arab nations confirmed they were targeted, with Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, and Jordan reporting that their air defense systems intercepted incoming Iranian missiles. UAE state media indicated one fatality in Abu Dhabi due to the strikes. In Iran, a strike on a school resulted in 24 deaths, according to a provincial official. In Israel, the army deployed search and rescue teams to various locations following reports of falling projectiles. Smoke was observed over Tehran’s Pasteur district, near the residence of Supreme Leader Khamenei, with a significant security presence in the capital. Israeli media suggested that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian were among the targets. Iranian state television, however, reported that President Pezeshkian was “safe and sound,” while the Fars news agency noted reports of “missile impacts in the Keshvardoost and Pasteur districts” of Tehran.