The interior ministry on Friday denied reports about the “targeted deportation” of Pakistanis from the United Arab Emirates, asserting that no “country- or sect-specific” expulsions from any country, including the UAE, were being carried out.

The ministry’s statement contradicts claims on social media that Pakistanis were being deported from the UAE without any reason.

In recent days, several media outlets have also reported that Pakistanis are being deported from the UAE. Among them, The New York Times published a report earlier today stating that the Gulf country had begun a “large-scale expulsion” of Pakistani workers.

The US news outlet spoke to more than 20 Pakistani Shias who worked in the UAE, adding that “all said they were suddenly arrested, detained and deported in the past month”.

The article linked the reported expulsion to what it described as an apparent dent in the relationship between the two countries amid the ongoing Middle East conflict.

Following these reports, the interior ministry said in a post on X that it had taken notice of “speculative reporting in sections of media especially social media about targeted deportations of Pakistani nationals from brotherly Islamic country of UAE”.

“Having gone through the details and data, it is necessary to state that all such reporting is mala fide and part of vicious propaganda by vested interest. No country or sect specific deportations from any country including UAE are being carried out,” it asserted.

The ministry said deportations, if any, were a routine process in line with the host country regulations and legal system, violations of their laws and overstay/ illegal documentation.

“At the same time, Pakistani nationals, having fulfilled host country visa and work-based requirements, continue to visit/ access work visas in the UAE and other friendly countries without prejudice,” it said.

“Fake news being paddled to the contrary along with social media posts is malicious and fabricated with a purpose to serve ulterior motives.

“Any issue … with any Pakistani national is always taken up on a case to case basis with the country concerned through established foreign office channels,” it added.

During a weekly briefing on Thursday, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi was also asked about the “unusually high number” of emergency exit documents (ETD) or outpasses being issued by the Pakistani consulate in the UAE.

In his response, Andrabi said the development was “mainly driven by administrative actions, including immigration status violation and other legal infractions”.

“The Consulate General in Dubai … issued around 2,714 emergency travel documents, while the embassy in Abu Dhabi issued 780 of those, between January to April 2026. So this was the four-month record,” he said.

When asked to confirm whether the Pakistani authorities had made inquiries to the Emirati officials and law enforcement agencies about those reports of expulsions, he said: “Our embassy is in touch with the UAE authorities. Our mission has also ensured that in the wake of the hostilities in the Gulf region, and in the wake of very serious armed attacks against the UAE, which we have condemned, our community fully complies with the local laws, with the local instructions.”

He said the Pakistani community, by and large, except for maybe few sporadic cases, had been cooperating with the local authorities in the UAE.

“So, I think this is what the status is. The Ministry of Interior and relevant departments are also seized of this matter (repatriation). This matter is proceeding as per law. I do not see any political reason for their deportation. These are primarily legal cases, which are being taken care of, both by our diplomatic missions in UAE as well as by the UAE authorities.”

WASHINGTON: Nearly 30 Democratic lawmakers have urged US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to end Washington’s longstanding ambiguity over Israel’s alleged nuclear weapons programme, arguing that such secrecy has become untenable during the ongoing war on Iran.

Israel is widely believed to be in possession of nuclear weapons, though it neither acknowledges nor denies having a nuclear arsenal.

In a May 4 letter addressed to Secretary Rubio, the lawmakers said the US was “currently engaged in a war against Iran, a conflict with nuclear dimensions that the administration has not adequately addressed with Congress or the American public”.

The move is led by Congressman Joaquin Castro, a senior Democratic lawmaker from Texas who has served in the US House of Representatives since 2013 and is known for his work on foreign policy and intelligence-related issues, including his tenure on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

In a post on the social media platform X on Thursday, Castro said, “For nearly six decades, the US has voluntarily remained in the dark on Israel’s nuclear capabilities. The ambiguity ends now.

“There is too much at stake to accept ignorance. We are at war alongside Israel against Iran without knowing what their red lines are for using a nuclear weapon,” he said.

The letter repeatedly questioned the US government’s refusal to publicly acknowledge Israel’s alleged nuclear arsenal, while noting that multiple nuclear-armed states are directly involved in or affected by the conflict.

“The risks of miscalculation, escalation, and nuclear use in this environment are not theoretical,” the lawmakers warned, adding that Congress had a “constitutional responsibility to be fully informed about the nuclear balance in the Middle East”.

The lawmakers argued that “a policy of official ambiguity about the nuclear capabilities of one party to this conflict makes coherent nonproliferation policy in the Middle East impossible”.

The document is unusual because it openly presses the State Department to answer detailed questions about Israel’s alleged nuclear weapons capability, including warheads, launch systems, fissile material production, nuclear doctrine and possible thresholds for nuclear use.

“What nuclear weapons capability does Israel have?” the lawmakers asked directly. They also requested information on “any nuclear weapons systems that Israel fields, including warheads and launchers”.

The letter sought clarification on whether Israel possessed uranium enrichment capability and whether the Negev Nuclear Research Centre at Dimona produced fissile material or plutonium.

The lawmakers further asked whether Israel had communicated to US officials “any nuclear doctrine, red lines, or thresholds for nuclear use in the context of the current conflict with Iran”.

Another question asked: “Has the administration received any assurances from Israel that nuclear weapons will not be used?”

The lawmakers also sought to know whether there had been “any indications of Israel planning to use or deploy nuclear weapons during the recent Iran conflict or during other conflicts.”

The letter linked these concerns directly to the current war, noting that “The United States and Israel launched this war against Iran together on February 28, 2026.”

It added that “American and Israeli aircraft have conducted joint operations over Iran”, while decisions about ending the conflict were being made jointly. The lawmakers noted that Iranian missile strikes had targeted Dimona, saying the administration should assess the dangers of “radioactive harm to US citizens and personnel in the region” in the event of further attacks on Israeli nuclear facilities.

The letter also asked whether the administration had examined “what circumstances, including further Iranian strikes on Dimona or potential Israeli military setbacks, could lead Israel to consider nuclear use”.

The lawmakers cited a series of public statements and declassified US intelligence assessments to argue that Israel’s nuclear capability is already widely understood within official circles.

They referred to a 1974 Special National Intelligence Estimate that concluded that Israel “already has produced nuclear weapons”.

The letter also cited testimony given before Congress by former US defence secretary Robert Gates, who in 2006 said Iran was “surrounded by powers with nuclear weapons — Pakistan to their east, the Russians to the north, the Israelis to the west and us in the Persian Gulf”.

The lawmakers additionally referred to remarks by former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert, who in a 2006 interview listed Israel alongside “America, France, Israel, Russia” while discussing nuclear powers.

The document also mentioned Pakistan among the nuclear-armed states connected to the crisis. It noted that Pakistan signed a mutual defence agreement with Saudi Arabia in September 2025, while Riyadh itself had faced Iranian missile and drone attacks during the conflict.

The lawmakers argued that the involvement or proximity of multiple nuclear-capable states — including the United States, Britain, Russia, China, Pakistan, India, France and North Korea — made the current conflict exceptionally dangerous.

The letter concluded by questioning why senior State Department officials remain unable to publicly discuss Israel’s alleged nuclear capability. It cited testimony by Undersecretary of State Thomas DiNanno, who declined during a March 25 congressional hearing to answer questions on Israel’s nuclear status.

“What is the Department’s guidance to its employees on the discussion of any Israeli nuclear weapons capability?” the lawmakers asked.

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump’s decision to pause a US operation to escort commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz reportedly followed pressure from Saudi Arabia, according to an NBC News report citing two US officials.

The operation, dubbed Project Freedom, was unexpectedly announced by Trump on social media on Sunday and began on Monday. However, US allies in the Gulf were reportedly surprised by the announcement.

According to the officials, Saudi Arabia — one of Washington’s key regional partners— subsequently suspended the US military’s access to its bases and airspace needed to support the mission.

“Trump surprised Gulf allies by announcing ‘Project Freedom’ on social media Sunday afternoon, the officials said, angering leadership in Saudi Arabia,” NBC News reported. “In response, the Kingdom informed the US it would not allow the US military to fly aircraft from Prince Sultan Airbase southeast of Riyadh or fly through Saudi airspace to support the effort.”

Riyadh rejects media report on Trump ‘U-turn’

A call between Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman did not resolve the disagreement, the officials said, prompting the White House to pause the operation in order to restore access.

“Other close Gulf allies were also caught off guard; the president spoke with leaders in Qatar after the effort had already begun,” the report added.

A Saudi source, however, downplayed suggestions of surprise, saying Trump and the Crown Prince “have been in touch regularly”. The source added that Saudi officials were also in contact with senior US officials, including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Central Command.

When asked whether Saudi leadership was surprised, the source said: “The problem with that premise is that things are happening quickly in real time.” The source also said Riyadh was “very supportive of the diplomatic efforts” by Pakistan to mediate between Iran and the United States.

A Saudi source also rejected a US media report saying President Donald Trump announced a pause in an American military operation to guide stranded ships through the Strait of Hormuz following an intervention by Riyadh.

“This isn’t true,” a source close to the Saudi government said. The United States still has regular access to Saudi bases and airspace, the source added.

A White House official, meanwhile, insisted that “regional allies were notified in advance”.

A Middle Eastern diplomat said coordination had followed, rather than preceded, the announcement. “The US made an announcement and then coordinated with us,” the diplomat said, adding “we were not upset or angry”.

According to the report, Trump launched Project Freedom to facilitate maritime movement through the Strait of Hormuz amid tensions with Iran. The US military had begun deploying additional assets in the region and two US-flagged vessels had already transited the strait under the operation.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2026

Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said on Thursday that Islamabad was hopeful about and would expect an agreement between the US and Iran “sooner rather than later”.

He said this during a weekly briefing, where he was asked how soon the agreement could be expected.

“You have asked us how soon we can expect an agreement. We remain optimistic. A simple answer would be that we expect an agreement sooner rather than later. We hope that the parties will come to a peaceful, sustainable solution and bring peace, not just to our region but internationally as well,” he said.

In this regard, Andrabi also said Pakistan would welcome a settlement between Iran and the US wherever it may be reached.

“If an agreement is reached in Pakistan, it would be an honour for us,” he said.

The FO spokesperson also said he could not say whether the draft of the agreement would be one page or longer.

Asked whether the US government could be under pressure to end the war due to the upcoming mid-term elections, Andrabi said: “We want a peaceful settlement, a peaceful solution, irrespective of what the causes are and how the countries are compelled to reach a diplomatic solution. So, I think let’s not focus on the causes but focus on the effect. And the effect should be that there is peace, there is a peaceful settlement – we hope for that effect to take place.”

Andrabi’s remarks came after the US and Iran see­med to inch toward a peace deal on Wednesday. There were reports that Tehran was reviewing a fresh proposal from Washington for a peace following the suspension of ‘Project Freedom’ launc­hed by the US to open the Strait of Hormuz.

The FO spokesperson recalled in his weekly briefing that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had welcomed the “timely announcement” regarding the pause in ‘Project Freedom’ and noted that Pakistan remained firmly committed to supporting all efforts that promoted restraint and the peaceful resolution of conflict between the US and Iran through dialogue and diplomacy.

He added that PM had also expressed the hope that the “current momentum” would lead to a lasting agreement that would secure durable peace and stability for the region and beyond.

Andrabi further stated that “working with the same spirit of optimism and positive engagement”, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had remained in contact with his counterparts throughout the last week in an effort to pursue peace, diplomacy and a peaceful settlement between Washington and Tehran.

The latest episode of hostilities between the two sides began more than two months ago when the US and Israel launched strikes in Iran on February 28.

While a deal for a complete end to the war is yet to happen, the hostilities have been largely ceased since the two sides agreed on a Pakistan-brokered ceasefire on April 8.

Following the ceasefire, a first round of historic direct US-Iran talks was held in Islamabad on April 11 and 12, with Pakistan playing the role of a mediator. The talks had ended without an agreement, but also without a breakdown.

With challenges in convening a second round, Islamabad has shifted back to its role as a facilitator and go-between.

But, there were some positive signals on Wednesday, with Trump saying he had had “very good talks” with Iran over the past 24 hours. Meanwhile, Tehran appeared receptive to the fresh US proposal to end the war, saying that it was reviewing the agreement and a response would be relayed to Washington via Islamabad.

US news outlet Axios also claimed that Washington and Tehran were close to agreeing on a one-page memorandum of understanding to end the war and “set a framework for more detailed nuclear negotiations”.

Among main issues that remain a sticking point between the two sides are unrestricted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and Washington’s demand for long-term commitments on Iran’s nuclear programme, including constraints on enrichment and safeguards against weaponisation.

Marka-i-Haq

The FO spokesperson began the briefing by noting that it had been a year since Marka-i-Haq, “a defining moment in our national journey”.

Last year’s military conflict with India, starting from the April 22 Pahalgam attack to the end of Pakistan’s Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, with a ceasefire ending a military escalation between the two countries on May 10, has been called “Marka-i-Haq” (Battle of Truth) by the state.

Andrabi said the anniversary of the conflict was “not only about remembering the past; it is about shaping the future because – the spirit of Marka-i-Haq lives not just in our history, but in each of us”.

He said Pakistan’s response under Operation Bunyanum Marsoos after Indian attacks was measured, lawful, and in line with the UN Charter.

Referring to a briefing by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to diplomatic corps, he said, “What I can tell you is that the peace and security in South Asia remains a concern for our international partners. The belligerent statements that emanate from New Delhi are a cause of concern.”

The FO spokesperson said Marka-i-Haq’s first anniversary was an occasion to “reinforce the national resolve that sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence of the country would be defended with all means possible and with full resolve”.

“That message has resonated across our international partners. The belligerence emanating from our neighbour is not appreciated in any international capital,” he said, adding that Pakistan’s advocacy for diplomacy and dialogue was “appreciated all along”.

Answering another question, he said Pakistan had always supported dialogue and diplomacy, but “if an aggression, which took place exactly a year ago, is imposed on us, Pakistan will respond, and will respond with full strength and all means available”.

“This fact is amply clear, to our adversary in our neighbourhood as well.”

He also said Pakistan could not be blamed for no dialogue with India since the May 10 ceasefire.

“We have, on a number of occasions, expressed our opinion, our readiness for dialogue. But of course, it takes two to have a dialogue. Even a dialogue has to be meaningful; it has to be a dialogue and not a monologue.

“So, whilst we would not like to be seen to be asking for a dialogue, we have never shied away from holding one. As to who is responsible for no dialogue is for everybody to judge,” he said.

The FO spokesperson further stated that Pakistan had been keeping a “close watch” on the Indian arms buildup and force modernisation.

“Pakistan will ensure that our credible minimum deterrence is maintained. We are mindful of the impact of India’s force modernisation on strategic stability in South Asia. I can assure you that our military preparedness and our own defence acquisitions would be sufficient to maintain our robust defence … [and] our credible minimum deterrence with respect to India,” he said.

Answering another question, he said, “I can assure you that we are engaged with all our partners with respect to our relation in the area of defence. No diplomatic move by India can offset these relations, which have a trajectory and an institutional strength of their own.”

To a query about the unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, Andrabi said, “Pakistan reserves the right of exploring all legal political mechanisms enshrined in the treaty and under international law, to claim our right on the waters of the Indus basin system. We will explore all options, and of course, they remain on the table.

“Some of these options are under way in the context of the proceedings by the Indus Water commissioners. So, all options are on the table.”

He said Pakistan was also monitoring “how far the treaty was being implemented or violated, in favour of river flows, the patterns, the amount of water coming in, the variations (in the flow)”.

“Everything is being documented. So, this is an issue on which there is a complete focus, not just of our ministry, but of our Indus Water commissioners and all relevant government institutions. I can assure you that all efforts will be made and are being made, that not a drop of water is stolen from Pakistan from what is our right,” he said.

Repatriations from Cambodia

During today’s briefing, the FO spokesperson also addressed the detention of 54 Pakistanis in Cambodia following a raid on a scamming compound.

Earlier, it was reported that more than 200 Pakistanis were in the custody of Cambodian police in overcrowded facilities and facing a lack of basic facilities.

Andrabi said emergency travel documents had been issued to the detained individuals after ascertaining their nationalities.

“On our embassy’s request, the host authorities allowed all 54 individuals to travel back to Pakistan. And as of today, I understand 49 individuals have returned and three are being processed. And I understand this complete repatriation will take place soon,” he added.

He also said that 85 Pakistanis had been detained in Kampala, Uganda on April 27 by immigration authorities for “engaging in unauthorised employment while on visit visas”.

“It was established that these individuals had been working for approximately four months with unregistered online companies,” he said, adding that sentences awarded to the detainees had been waived following the Pakistan embassy’s intervention.

But a fine of $400 had been imposed on each of those individuals for violation of visa conditions, Andrabi added.

He said all 85 of those individuals had been repatriated to Pakistan.

Reports of deportation from UAE

The FO spokesperson was also asked about the “unusually high number” of emergency exit documents (ETD) or outpasses being issued by the Pakistani consulate in the United Arab Emirates.

To that, Andrabi replied: “Yes, these ETDs were issued, mainly driven by administrative actions, including immigration status violation and other legal infractions. The Consulate General in Dubai, for example, I can tell you, issued around 2,714 emergency travel documents, while the embassy in Abu Dhabi issued 780 of those, between January to April 2026.

“So this was the four-month record. I can further tell that deportation basically prompted by a royal court pardon on Eid enabled the release and repatriation of jailed individuals. So this (deportation) took place as a result of our royal pardon to some of these individuals who were held in prison.”

When asked to confirm whether the Pakistani authorities had made inquiries to the Emirati officials and law enforcement agencies about those reports of expulsions, he said: “Our embassy is in touch with the UAE authorities. Our mission has also ensured that in the wake of the hostilities in the Gulf region, and in the wake of very serious armed attacks against the UAE, which we have condemned, our community fully complies with the local laws, with the local instructions.”

He said the Pakistani community, by and large, except for maybe few sporadic cases, had been cooperating with the local authorities in the UAE.

“So, I think this is what the status is. The Ministry of Interior and relevant departments are also seized of this matter (repatriation). This matter is proceeding as per law. I do not see any political reason for their deportation. These are primarily legal cases, which are being taken care of, both by our diplomatic missions in UAE as well as by the UAE authorities.”

IT appears that despite confrontational rhetoric from both sides, a more long-term agreement on cessation of hostilities between the US and Iran may be within reach.

Matters had heated up on Monday in what US President Donald Trump called “a little skirmish” between his country and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz, while the UAE was also rocked by alleged Iranian attacks. However, soon after these events there were signs of de-escalation, as Mr Trump said that the so-called Project Freedom — under which the US was supposed to escort vessels through Hormuz — was wound up in just about 24 hours.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio similarly said that Operation Epic Fury, the codename of the joint US-Israeli attack on Iran launched on Feb 28, had also ended. Mr Trump said he had paused the Hormuz operation because of requests made by Pakistan and other countries. In reaction to the American move, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan remains committed to the diplomatic process.

While all these developments are positive, Mr Trump has refused to lift the blockade on Iranian ships, while adding later that if Iran fails to agree to a deal, “the bombing starts”. It is difficult to ascertain what the American leadership’s actual plan is: small steps to pave the way for peace, or more bluster and threats that will inevitably lead to reigniting the war?

For the sake of regional and global peace, it is certainly hoped that it is the former. Some observers have said that any possible deal will initially focus on lifting the mutual blockade of Hormuz, and that other issues, such as Iran’s nuclear programme, will be discussed later. The whole international community will certainly welcome the reopening of Hormuz, as global commerce has been rattled by its closure, with ordinary people particularly feeling the pain at the petrol pump, as their wallets are squeezed further.

In a related development, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was in China on Wednesday to meet his counterpart Wang Yi. Meanwhile, Mr Trump is due in Beijing next week. It is possible that China is working behind the scenes to convince both the US and Iran to settle the issue peacefully. China has a strong interest in seeing maritime commerce restored in the Gulf, and has significant economic ties with both the US and Iran, placing it in a position to push for peace.

The whole world would welcome an end to this pointless war. The US needs to lift its blockade of Iranian ports, and give Tehran sanctions relief and other CBMs, particularly a commitment not to attack it again, so that there can be a genuine move towards peace. And Iran, for its part, must ensure free movement to facilitate stable energy supplies.

Published in Dawn, May 7th, 2026

• Araghchi seeks Beijing’s backing for ‘post-war’ regional framework
• Chinese foreign minister pledges ‘greater role’ in easing Mideast tensions
• Top Saudi and Iranian diplomats hold talks by phone

BEIJING: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Wednesday that Tehran is seeking China’s support for a “new post-war” regional framework following its conflict with the United States, underscoring the deepening ties between the two nations as Beijing positions itself as a key Mideast peacemaker.

Reiterating Iran’s trust in China, Araghchi said his country “looks forward to” Beijing “supporting the establishment of a new post-war regional framework that can balance development and security”.

His visit comes just a week before US President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. In response to Iran’s request, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said his country would play a “greater role” in ending hostilities and restoring stability in the Middle East.

“China will work harder to ease tensions and end the fighting, continue to support the launch of peace talks and play a greater role in restoring peace and tranquility to the Middle East,” Wang told Araghchi in Beijing.

After the meeting, Iran’s foreign ministry said Araghchi briefed Wang on talks with the US and stressed a dual approach.

“Iran, just as it demonstrated strength in defending itself and remains fully prepared to confront any aggression, is also serious and steadfast in the field of diplomacy,” Araghchi said, according to the Iranian Students’ News Agency.

He added that Iran would only accept a “fair and comprehensive agreement”.

China’s foreign ministry said the talks occurred as “the current regional situation is at a critical juncture of transition from war to peace”.

“China considers that a complete cessation of fighting must be achieved without delay, that it is even more unacceptable to restart hostilities, and that continuing to negotiate remains essential,” Wang said in a ministry statement.

Beijing’s diplomacy is credited with playing an important role in the fragile ceasefire agreed between Washington and Tehran. Central to China’s concerns is the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for its energy imports.

More than half of the crude oil China imports by sea transits through the strait, according to maritime analytics firm Kpler. While China’s fuel reserves have shielded it from immediate shortages, the conflict has driven up costs for oil-derived materials.

Wang said China hopes “the parties concerned will respond as quickly as possible to the urgent call of the international community” for a resumption of normal and safe maritime traffic.

The diplomatic push comes as Trump said the US would pause its new operation escorting commercial ships through the Hormuz Strait, citing a desire to reach a peace deal. The US has demanded tight controls on Tehran’s nuclear program, a key sticking point in crumbling negotiations.

Addressing the issue, Wang said China’s position balances international concerns with sovereign rights. “China welcomes Iran’s commitment not to develop nuclear weapons, while considering that Iran has the legitimate right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy,” he said.

Trump’s planned visit to Beijing on May 14-15, which the White House has announced but Beijing has not confirmed, follows a flurry of diplomatic activity.

Xi has recently met with leaders from the Gulf, Europe and Southeast Asia, seeking to position China as a stable partner amid the US-led conflict.

In a separate diplomatic development, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan discussed regional security and stability in a phone call with Araghchi, the Saudi foreign ministry said in a statement. The call highlights broadening regional efforts to de-escalate tensions.

Analysts suggest China is working to ensure the Trump-Xi summit proceeds smoothly, leveraging its influence to encourage a return to negotiations.

Published in Dawn, May 7th, 2026

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar expressed hope on Wednesday that the indefinitely extended ceasefire between the United States and Iran could be made permanent.

US President Donald Trump has indefinitely extended what was initially a two-week ceasefire between the two countries, brokered with the help of Pakistan’s mediation, but the conflict — and its widespread economic fallout — remains unresolved.

Addressing the second session of the Ulema Council Conference in Islamabad, the foreign minister said that Pakistan’s efforts had been directed towards securing direct negotiations and a ceasefire — “first it happened, then it was extended, then extended a second time, then a third time”.

“At least the deaths of several hundred people a day — with the toll going into the thousands — has stopped,” he added.

He called on the council to pray for Pakistan’s efforts, saying that they were now geared towards turning the ceasefire into a “permanent end to the war”.

Dar also called on Muslim states to unite in case they had developed any rifts between them, stressing his belief that they would be stronger in their efforts if they worked together.

The deputy premier further noted Pakistan’s role in bringing the US and Iran to direct negotiations for the first time in 47 years. He said that Pakistan “played its full part” from February 28 until today in its response to the conflict.

“After 47 years, we brought the US and Iran to sit down at the same table,” he added, contrasting it with the indirect negotiations that had taken place previously, facilitated by Oman.

He highlighted that Pakistan had engaged with Iran on the issue of their strikes on US bases in other Middle Eastern countries that had heightened tensions in the region, stressing its part in the Muslim Ummah in an effort to halt the intra-regional hostilities.

US and Israeli forces launched the war against Iran on February 28, after which the Islamic republic closed the Strait of Hormuz — a vital route for oil and gas exports — while American forces later launched a blockade of Iranian ports.

The Islamabad Talks, which marked the highest engagement between the two sides since 1979, ended without an agreement, but also without a breakdown.

As the Pakistan-brokered two-week ceasefire agreed on April 8 neared its original deadline, Trump posted on social media that he had decided to extend it indefinitely “upon the request of [Chief of Defence Forces] Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif”.

However, further efforts to secure more face-to-face talks have fallen through, with Trump stating that the two sides could negotiate by phone call if necessary. The Strait of Hormuz and Iranian ports both remain blocked.

United States President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he would briefly pause an operation to help escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, citing “great progress” toward a comprehensive agreement with Iran.

Hours earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had outlined the effort that began on Monday to escort stranded tankers out of the Gulf. The strait has been virtually shut since the conflict began, blocking some 20 per cent of world oil supplies and igniting a global energy crisis.

“Based on the request of Pakistan and other Countries, the tremendous Military Success that we have had during the Campaign against the Country of Iran and, additionally, the fact that Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran, we have mutually agreed that, while the Blockade will remain in full force and effect, Project Freedom (The Movement of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz) will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalized and signed,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he was “grateful” to Trump for his “courageous leadership and timely announcement regarding the pause in Project Freedom in the Strait of Hormuz”.

He said that the US president’s “gracious response” to the request made by Pakistan and other brotherly countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, would “go a long way towards advancing regional peace, stability and reconciliation during this sensitive period”.

“Pakistan remains firmly committed to supporting all efforts that promote restraint and a peaceful resolution of conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy. We are very hopeful that the current momentum will lead to a lasting agreement that secures durable peace and stability for the region and beyond,” he said.

Shortly after Trump’s post, US crude oil futures fell $2.30 and broke below $100 per barrel, a much-watched threshold since the conflict sent energy prices soaring two months ago.

The White House did not immediately reply to a request for comment on what progress had been made, or how long the pause would last.

Rubio and other senior administration officials said earlier on Tuesday that Iran could not be allowed to control traffic through the strait.

Iran has effectively sealed off the strait since the US-Israeli campaign began at the end of February. The US has countered by blockading Iranian ports and mounting escorted transits for commercial vessels.

The US military escorts over the last day and a half — dubbed “Project Freedom” by Trump — drew Iranian attacks, threatening an already fragile ceasefire.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards navy warned of a “firm response” if ships deviated from its approved route through the strait, as the country’s chief negotiator said Tehran “had not even started yet,” following a spate of attacks in the crucial trade route.

Rubio says main operation is over

Rubio told reporters at the White House that the US had achieved its objectives in its military campaign, which was launched on February 28 alongside Israel.

“Operation Epic Fury is concluded,” Rubio said. “We’re not cheering for an additional situation to occur.”

“This is not an offensive operation; this is a defensive operation,” Rubio said. “And what that means is very simple — there’s no shooting unless we’re shot at first.”

Rubio said the United States has “achieved the objectives” of the war.

“These guys are facing, they are facing real, catastrophic destruction to their economy,” he said, while adding that Trump still preferred a negotiated deal with Iran.

One of Trump’s central objectives in launching military strikes against Iran was to ensure Tehran does not develop a nuclear weapon, something Tehran has denied seeking. However, Iran has not handed over more than 900 pounds of highly enriched uranium.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said earlier on Tuesday that the US had successfully secured a path through the waterway and that hundreds of commercial ships were lining up to pass through. The four-week-old truce with Iran was not over, he added.

“Right now the ceasefire certainly holds, but we’re going to be watching very, very closely,” he said.

General Dan Caine, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Iranian attacks against US forces fell “below the threshold of restarting major combat operations at this point”.

Asked what Iran would need to do to violate the ceasefire, Trump said: “They know what not to do.”

• Trump claims Iranians ‘know what to do’; warns of strikes if deal not reached
• Pentagon says ceasefire still holding, top general feels attacks still ‘below the threshold’ necessitating major combat response
• UAE continues to intercept drones, missiles for second straight day
• Tehran outlines mechanism for Hormuz navigation, warns ships against using unauthorised routes

WASHINGTON/TEHRAN: With the Uni­ted Arab Emirates being targeted for a second consecutive day on Tuesday, the ceasefire between the US and Iran was still holding despite skirmishes a day earlier, while Tehran denied invol­v­ement in the widely condemned drone and missile attacks on the UAE.

Iran’s foreign ministry said its “defensive act­ions” were only directed at the US forces, rejecting the UAE’s accusations that it fired drones and missiles against the Gulf country.

US President Donald Trump, meanwhile, desc­r­ibed the Monday confrontation with Iran as “a little skirmish” and did not see it as a violation of the ceasefire, even tho­ugh his allies, including the Euro­pean states, condemned Tehran for its alleged strikes on the UAE.

“You’ll find out, beca­use I’ll let you know. They (Iran) know what to do … and they know what not to do,” he said, adding that Iran did not violate the ceasefire. He also rep­e­ated his threat of strikes on Iran unless an agreement was reached, saying if Iran was unable to rea­ch a deal, “they won’t be successful. It’ll go very qu­i­ckly and methodically”.

He played down the Iranian attack on the US ships trying to enter the Strait of Hormuz and termed the incidents “a little skirmish”. “We’re in a little skirmish militarily. I call it a skirmish because Iran has no cha­nce. They never did. They know it,” President Tru­mp said during an event. He also asked Iran to surrender, claiming its military had been destroyed.

However, Iran claimed five civilians were killed in the US strikes, targeting its ships. Citing Iran­ian officials, Al Jazeera reported the boats that the Americans claimed to have hit were civilian vessels.

Truce intact

The Pentagon also addressed the episode, with Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth saying the truce was still intact. In a comment on ‘Project Freedom’, launched to break the Iranian hold on Hormuz, Hegseth said the operation to protect commercial ships was temporary. “We’re not looking for a fight,” he told a press conference. “Right now the ceasefire certainly holds, but we’re going to be watching very, very closely.”

However, US Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine said the forces were ready to resume major combat operations against Iran if they were ordered to do so, AFP reported. He said Iranian attacks against US forces fell “below the threshold of restarting major combat operations at this point”.

US Central Command “and the rest of the joint force remain ready to resume major combat operations against Iran if ordered to do so. No adversary should mistake our current restraint with a lack of resolve,” Gen Caine said. He claimed that Iran attacked Oman once and the UAE three times, including at the Fujairah oil terminal, over the past 24 hours.

Fielding questions from reporters at the Pentagon about ‘Project Freedom’, US War Secretary Pete Hegseth said Washington was “overtly and quietly” communicating with Iran to allow this operation to take place.

“There are some actions that the IRGC takes sometimes that are outside the bounds of what maybe Iranian negotiators would like; that’s their job to rein that in, and ultimately create a condition for a deal,” he said.

He added Washington was promising security for commercial vessels with a “red, white and blue dome” over the Strait of Hormuz, as part of the recently launched Project Freedom.

UAE intercepts drones

On Tuesday, the UAE said its air defence systems were “actively engaging with missiles and UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) threats”. “Sounds heard across the country were the result of ongoing engaging operations of missiles and UAV’s, the defence ministry said.

The Iranian military also denied any role in these attacks. “The armed forces…did not launch any missile or drone operation against the United Arab Emirates these past days,” the Khatam al-Anbiya central command said in a statement. He warned that any attacks launched from Emirati territory would be met with a “firm response”.

Against this backdrop, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei called on Gulf states to stop trying to borrow security from extra-regional powers, warning that the US military presence in the Middle East “serves only as a source of instability and endangers the very countries hosting those bases”. “The US military presence in the region is a liability and brings nothing but insecurity,” the spokesman stated.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will travel to Beijing for talks, the foreign ministry said. “During the visit, he will meet his Chinese counterpart (Wang Yi) to discuss bilateral ties and regional and international developments,” the ministry said in a brief statement.

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian also said that Iran represented “ethical, responsible power”, while its enemies embody “reckless and unchecked force”. In a post on X, Pezeshkian said: “If politics is reduced to power, the result is today’s world: chaos, oppression, injustice, and piracy.” He added that “power without ethics is hollow”.

The vital energy route continued to steer the conflict. Mr Hegseth said the military was in control of the Strait of Hormuz and that Iran “has a choice to make”.

“They know we’re in a strong position. We hope they make a wise choice, and there’s nobody better to make that deal, Mr President, than you,” he told Donald Trump in the Oval Office.

Iran’s navy, however, issued a statement warning vessels against transiting the Strait of Hormuz via any routes it had not authorised, saying they would face a “decisive response”, Al Jazeera reported.

“We warn all vessels that intend to transit the strait, the only safe route… is the corridor previously announced by Iran,” the statement, carried by Iran’s Fars news agency, said.

“The diversion of vessels to other routes is unsafe and will face a decisive response from the IRGC Navy.” Iran also launched a new mechanism for governing maritime traffic through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, state-run Press TV reported. Ships would need to adjust operations according to this new framework and obtain a transit permit before crossing the waterway.

Meanwhile, Iran’s chief negotiator warned the US against any further escalation in the Strait of Hormuz, after a spate of attacks risked reigniting the Middle East war.

“We know full well that the continuation of the status quo is intolerable for America; whilst we have not even started yet,” Bagher Ghalibaf, also the speaker in Iran’s parliament, wrote in a post on X.

Published in Dawn, May 6th, 2026

• Saudi Arabia, Qatar express solidarity with UAE, back mediation to reach political solution
• Germany, Britain condemn attack on Fujairah, call on Iran to comply with international law

TEHRAN/DUBAI: World leaders on Tuesday piled pressure on Tehran to stick to diplomacy to bring an end to the Middle East war, after a salvo of attacks in the region left a ceasefire crumbling.

The scramble for more talks came after Iran and the United States traded fire over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, while US ally the United Arab Emirates reported Iranian attacks for the first time since the truce was declared nearly a month ago. Iran targeted the Fujairah energy facility and an oil tanker in missile and drone strikes, in apparent response to the US military’s attempt to break the Hormuz blockade.

A senior Iranian military official had said the Islamic republic had “no pre-planned programme to attack the oil facilities in question”. “What happened was the product of the US military’s adventurism to create a passage for ships to illegally pass through” the Strait of Hormuz, the official said, according to state television. Iran also attacked the UAE on Tuesday.

Anwar Gargash, adviser to the UAE’s president, called Iran the “aggressor party”, claiming that Tehran was responsible for exacerbating the crisis in the Gulf, besides being the source of danger and threat to its security and stability. He said the UAE appreciated messages of solidarity from the Gulf, Arab, and international communities.

The move had drawn widespread condemnations, with several world leaders asking Iran to stick to talks instead of escalating tensions in the region.

Saudi Arabia called for de-escalation and “diplomatic efforts to reach a political solution”. Riyadh said it supported Pakistan’s “mediation and diplomatic efforts to reach a political solution that prevents the region from sliding into further tension and instability, which would not serve the interests of the region and the world”.

The kingdom stressed the “importance of restoring freedom of international maritime navigation” in the Strait of Hormuz to its pre-war state, and called for ensuring the safe passage of vessels without restriction.

Qatar’s emir also spoke to the UAE president over the phone, where he expressed “strong condemnation of the Iranian attacks targeting civilian sites and facilities in the UAE.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, meanwhile, implored Tehran to “return to the negotiating table and stop holding the region and the world hostage”, echoing calls from French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

PM Starmer said his country would continue to “stand in solidarity with the UAE and will continue to support the defence of our partners in the Gulf”. “Iran needs to engage meaningfully in negotiations to ensure the ceasefire in the Middle East endures, and a long-term diplomatic solution is achieved,” he said.

European Council President Antonio Costa also expressed solidarity with the UAE following missile and drone strikes on its civilian infrastructure. “These violations of sovereignty and international law are unacceptable and need to stop,” Costa wrote on X.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also condemned Iranian attacks on the UAE, calling them a “clear violation of sovereignty and international law”. “Security in the region has direct consequences for Europe,” she said.

The attack on the UAE energy facility had also injured three Indian nationals – which New Delhi termed unacceptable. “We call for the immediate cessation of these hostilities and the targeting of civilian infrastructure and innocent civilians,” its foreign ministry said, calling for free and unimpeded navigation and commerce through the Strait of Hormuz.

Published in Dawn, May 6th, 2026

The United States is “not looking for a fight” over the Strait of Hormuz, and its ceasefire with Iran still holds, but any attack on commercial shipping will be met with a “devastating” response, the Pentagon chief said on Tuesday.

The warning from Pete Hegseth came on the second day of a US effort, dubbed ‘Project Freedom’, to facilitate the transit of commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran had closed in response to the US-Israeli war on the Islamic republic.

“We’re not looking for a fight. But Iran also cannot be allowed to block innocent countries and their goods from an international waterway,” Hegseth told reporters.

“If you attack American troops or innocent commercial shipping, you will face overwhelming and devastating American firepower.”

The Pentagon chief added that Washington is promising security for commercial vessels with a “red, white and blue dome” over the Strait of Hormuz.

“As a direct gift from the United States to the world, we have established a powerful red, white and blue dome over the Strait,” Hegseth said, noting that US destroyers are on station providing overwatch for commercial shipping, in conjunction with combat and surveillance aircraft.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, meanwhile, said US forces are ready to resume major combat operations against Iran if ordered to do so.

“No adversary should mistake our current restraint with a lack of resolve,” said Gen Caine, flanked by Hegseth.

Admiral Brad Cooper, the commander responsible for US troops in the Middle East, said on Monday that Washington’s forces had intercepted missiles and drones fired by Iran and also destroyed six small Iranian boats that threatened shipping.

But both Caine and Hegseth downplayed those hostilities, with the US’ top general describing it as “low harassing fire” and the Pentagon chief saying that “right now, the ceasefire certainly holds.”

“Since the ceasefire was announced, Iran has fired at commercial vessels nine times and seized two container ships, and they have attacked US forces more than 10 times, all below the threshold of restarting major combat operations at this time,” Gen Caine said.

US and Israeli forces launched the war against Iran on February 28, after which the Islamic republic closed the Strait of Hormuz — a vital route for oil and gas exports — while American forces later launched a blockade of Iranian ports.

President Donald Trump has indefinitely extended what was initially a two-week ceasefire, but the conflict — and its widespread economic fallout — remains unresolved.

Caine said there are currently “22,500 mariners embarked on more than 1,550 commercial vessels trapped in the Arabian Gulf, unable to transit.”

Cooper said on Monday that the United States is not directly escorting ships but rather had cleared a safe path through the Strait of Hormuz and then put in place multi-layered defences, including ships, aircraft and electronic warfare to respond to any threats.

Hegseth made clear in his remarks that the operation will not be open-ended.

“We’re stabilising the situation so commerce can flow again, but we expect the world to step up. At the appropriate time, and soon, we will hand responsibility back to you,” he said.

Army’s top leadership asserted on Tuesday that peace and stability in the region were intrinsically linked to collective restraint, responsibility and respect for sovereignty, a statement issued by the military’s media affairs wing after the 275th Corps Commanders’ Conference said.

Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir presided over the meeting at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, the Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR) said.

The military leadership’s observation comes against the backdrop of a conflict between the US and Iran. It began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February and later broadened into a regional crisis, involving disruption of traffic in shipping lanes attacks on Gulf countries.

The conflict is paused for now, following a fragile ceasefire that continues to be tested.

The Corps Commanders’ Conference, while deliberating on the broader regional security environment, “noted that emerging geopolitical developments carry significant implications for regional stability,” the ISPR statement said.

The top brass emphasised the importance of restraint and “avoidance of escalation” and “acknowledged Pakistan’s continued responsible role in advocating stability and supporting efforts aimed at preventing further deterioration of the situation”.

As per ISPR, the conference “reiterated that peace and stability in the region are intrinsically linked to collective restraint, responsibility and respect for sovereignty”.

Chairing the meeting, CDF Munir “expressed satisfaction over the high standards of operational preparedness, professionalism, and combat readiness of Pakistan’s armed forces”.

He commended “commanders and formations for their unwavering commitment, vigilance, and success” in counter-terrorism operations across the country.

Operation Ghazab lil-Haq

The ISPR statement said the meeting comprehensively reviewed the internal and external security environment and “resolved to maintain current operational tempo to decisively dismantle terrorist networks, disrupt their support infrastructure, and deny them any operational space within Pakistan”.

Participants of the meeting also noted “continued degradation of terrorists and their support infrastructure” by means of Operation Ghazab lil-Haq.

Operation Ghazab lil-Haq was launched by Pakistan’s armed forces on the night of Feb 26 following cross-border firing by the Afghan Taliban. The military action also targets terrorists’ hideouts.

Islamabad has repeatedly accused Kabul of providing space to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban. UN monitoring reports over the past two years have noted the TTP’s presence in eastern Afghanistan, though the Taliban deny offering support to them.

According to ISPR, the Corps Commanders’ Conference noted that the “irrational and perverted policy of the Afghan Taliban regime to provide safe havens to khawarij and other terrorist organisations, with total disregard to [the] interests of [the] Afghan people, is increasingly backfiring and stands fully exposed”.

ISPR said that the forum also took note of the “propaganda campaign” by the Afghan Taliban to “falsely portray Pakistan as targeting civilians inside Afghanistan”.

The army’s top brass termed “such misleading narratives a part of a coordinated disinformation strategy by the regime to distract attention from their internal failures and play [the] victim card”.

“The forum categorically rejected these frivolous allegations and reaffirmed that Pakistan’s defensive actions remain focused, precise, and directed solely against infiltrators, terrorist hideouts and support infrastructures,” the ISPR statement said.

Marka-i-Haq

ISPR added that participants of the meeting also congratulated the nation and the armed forces on the first anniversary of Marka-i-Haq, recognising it as a “defining moment reflecting national unity, collective resolve, and an unyielding commitment to safeguard Pakistan’s sovereignty at all costs”.

Marka-i-Haq refers to the period of conflict between Pakistan and India last year. It began with the Pahalgam attack in occupied Kashmir on April 22 and ended with the conclusion of Pakistan’s Operation Bunyanum Marsoos and a ceasefire on May 10.

According to ISPR, the conference underscored that the “national commemoration of Marka-i-Haq serves as a clear message to [the] Indian hubristic political mindset that the Pakistani nation stands united, resilient, and fully prepared”.

“It signifies the unshakeable harmony between the people, government and armed forces of Pakistan, which stand together as ‘Bunyanum Marsoos’ against all internal and external challenges.”

Moreover, the military’s top brass “strongly condemned ongoing atrocities, extrajudicial killings, and demographic changes” in India-occupied Kashmir, reaffirming Pakistan’s unwavering diplomatic, political, and moral support for the just struggle of the Kashmiri people, the statement said.

It further stated that the forum paid rich tribute to the “martyrs of the armed forces, law enforcement agencies, and innocent civilians who laid down their lives in defence of the motherland”.

“Paying profound tribute to their unmatched sacrifices, the forum reaffirmed that the enduring legacy of the martyrs continues to serve as the bedrock of Pakistan’s national security, unity, and resilience,” the statement read.

Concluding the meeting, CDF Munir “directed commanders to maintain the highest levels of vigilance, operational readiness, and adaptability in the face of evolving threats”.

He emphasised the need for “continued focus on professional excellence, integrated response mechanisms, and proactive measures to counter both conventional and non-conventional challenges”, the ISPR statement said.

• US says destroyed ‘several Iranian boats’ after Iran claims strike on warship in Hormuz
• Trump warns Iranian forces will be ‘blown off the face of earth’ if they try to intercept US vessels
• Fire at UAE port after drone attack, three Indian nationals hurt; Korean ship damaged in strait
• Shipping group says transit through strait ‘still not possible’
• Iran says US ceasefire proposal ‘under review’
• Dar, Cooper discuss situation

WASHINGTON/DUBAI: After weeks of simmering tensions, hostilities broke out once again in the Strait of Hormuz, as the US military claimed to have destroyed six Iranian boats while Tehran targeted a US warship entering the strait, besides firing several missiles and drones towards the United Arab Emirates.

Both sides, however, denied any damage to their military assets.

Tensions remained high in the blockaded Strait of Hormuz after the US launched an operation, announced by US President Donald Trump on Sunday, to “guide out” commercial ships stranded in the Gulf due to the US-Israel’s war on Iran.

Iran, however, told the stranded vessels to refrain from any movement not coordinated with Tehran and fired warning shots to prevent the vessels from crossing the strait.

On Monday, the US said its ships entered the Gulf through the strait to guide the ships — a claim contested by Tehran. US guided-missile destroyers have entered the Gulf as part of the mission to escort ships through the vital Strait of Hormuz waterway, the US military said.

However, Iran said it had forced a US warship to turn back from entering the Hormuz and at least two missiles reportedly hit the military vessel. A senior Iranian official told Reuters Iran had fired a warning shot and it was unclear whether the warship had been damaged.

Iran’s Fars news agency, however, said two missiles had hit the warship near the port of Jask at the southern entrance to the strait, but the US military denied that any warship had been struck.

President Trump also said their ship had not sustained any damage as a result of Tehran’s strikes, and also warned its forces would be “blown off the face of the earth” if they attempted to target US vessels guiding ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

In an interview with Fox News, President Trump also said he sees two paths forward in his war: either reaching a good-faith deal or resuming military operations. He claimed that the United States shot down “seven small” Iranian boats after Tehran took shots at several ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

‘Potential missile threats’

Authorities in the UAE’s Fujairah said that a fire broke out at the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone following what they described as a drone attack originating from Iran, Reuters reported. New Delhi said three Indian nationals were injured in the attack.

Meanwhile, the UAE also accused Iran of attacking an empty crude oil tanker belonging to the Abu Dhabi state oil firm ADNOC with drones as it attempted to pass through the strait.

It also issued a mobile phone alert for a potential missile attack on Monday before cancelling it.

Fire on Korean ship

Meanwhile, the foreign ministry of South Korea sa­­id, “An explosion and fire occurred on a vessel operated by a South Korean shipping company… ancho­­­red in waters near the Unit­­ed Arab Emirates inside the Strait of Hormuz”.

There had been “no casualties to date” among the 24 crew members on board, who include six South Koreans and 18 foreign nationals, it added.

The vessel, the HMM Namu, is a cargo ship of almost 180 metres sailing under the flag of Panama, data from tracking site MarineTraffic showed.

Hundreds of commercial vessels and as many as 20,000 seafarers have been unable to transit the strait during the conflict, the International Maritime Organisation said.

Container shipping group Hapag-Lloyd said its risk assessment was unchanged and that transit through the strait was still not possible.

Numerous executives from the shipping and oil industries have said they need an end to hostilities and some form of peace deal because military convoys are not enough to facilitate normal traffic.

US proposal under review

Meanwhile, Iranian state media said Washington had conveyed its response to a 14-point Iranian proposal via Pakistan, and that Tehran was now reviewing it. Neither side gave details.

A senior Iranian official has confirmed that Tehran envisages ending the war on all fronts — including Israel’s attacks on Lebanon — and resolving the shipping standoff first, while leaving talks on Iran’s nuclear programme for later.

Dar, Cooper discuss regional situation

Later, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also spoke with UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and discussed matters of mutual interest, including the evolving regional developments.

Cooper reiterated appreciation of Pakistan’s efforts to promote engagement and mediation between the parties for lasting peace in the region, while Dar reaffirmed the country’s commitment to dialogue and diplomacy in pursuit of regional and global peace and stability.

They also discussed global economic implications and other wider impacts of the conflict. Both sides agreed to remain in close contact on bilateral matters, as well as regional and international developments.

Published in Dawn, May 5th, 2026

• Centcom deploys destroyers, over 100 aircraft and 15,000 troops
• Trump frames operation as ‘humanitarian gesture’ to free trapped commercial fleets
• Iran warns it will attack any US or foreign military forces entering the strait

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump has launched a maritime military initiative “Project Freedom”, ordering US forces to ‘assist’ commercial vessels currently trapped within the Strait of Hormuz following an ongoing blockage by Iranian forces in swift response to the US-Israel war on Iran.

The move signifies an escalation in US involvement in the region, positioning thousands of troops and substantial naval hardware at the world’s most critical maritime chokepoint.

Trump framed the operation as a “rescue mission” for mariners caught in the crossfire of escalating tensions.

According to the US president, multiple nations worldwide requested American assistance to free their commercial fleets from what he characterised as humanitarian distress.

“The ship movement is merely meant to free up people, companies, and countries that have done absolutely nothing wrong — They are victims of circumstance,” Trump wrote.

He noted that vessels were experiencing critical supply shortages, with crews “running low on food, and everything else necessary for large-scale crews to stay on board in a healthy and sanitary manner.”

He added this was “a Humanitarian gesture on behalf of the United States, Middle Eastern Countries but, in particular, the Country of Iran” - as many of these vessels were “running low on food, and everything else necessary for largescale crews to stay on board in a healthy and sanitary manner”.

According to BBC News, Trump’s announcement appears mild compared to previous statements against Iran.

It even makes it sound like Iran is a party to the operation — the president went as far as to say “Project Freedom” was being undertaken on behalf of Iran, too.

But that is not how Iran sees the operation. Tehran rejected the US characterisation and issued stark warnings against American intervention.

Maj Gen Ali Abdollahi, commander of Iran’s central command, declared that Iranian forces would attack “any foreign armed force” attempting to enter the Strait, singling out “the aggressive US army” specifically.

The military leadership emphasised that Iranian military authorities maintain complete control over the waterway and that all transit must receive coordination from Tehran “under all circumstances”, according to statements from Iran’s command structure.

Detailed troop allocations soon followed Trump’s online announcement. US Central Command confirmed via public records that a task force comprising guided-missile destroyers, more than 100 land-based and sea-based aircraft, multi-domain unmanned platform fleets, and 15,000 US service members would be operationalised.

While Centcom officials did not clarify exactly how destroyers and fighter aircraft would facilitate transit without potentially clashing with Iranian sensors and blockade units, the scale of deployment indicates a shift toward tactical superiority in the Gulf waters.

Initial reports on the implementation of guidance yielded contradictory statements on Monday. In an announcement later in the afternoon, US Central Command noted its guided-missile destroyers had successfully transited the strait to support ship manoeuvres.

“As a first step, 2 US-flagged merchant vessels have successfully transited through the Strait of Hormuz and are safely headed on their journey,” Centcom reported.

The agency stated that military elements are “actively assisting efforts to restore transit” but declined to list exact identifiers for the successfully rescued commercial vessels.

Meanwhile, the Iranian military claimed it had “prevented” the entry of American and Israeli warships into the strait, with a “firm warning”.

Centcom also denied Iranian military claims that two missiles had successfully struck an American destroyer.

However, non-combatants continue to remain at risk in the transition zone. Adnoc, the state-owned oil enterprise of the United Arab Emirates, reported that one of its tankers was targeted by two drones while moving through the corridor.

No injuries were reported in that engagement, but the ministry from Abu Dhabi refrained from clarifying if that vessel was moving as part of the formal ‘Project Freedom’ guidelines.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre issued an updated bulletin classifying transit safety as “critical”, highlighting current mining dangers along established lanes.

Published in Dawn, May 5th, 2026

The US and Israel launched strikes on Iran in late February without the United Nations Security Council’s authorisation. The strikes were in violation of international law, the United Nations Charter, and the principles of “Just War” — a theory that provides a framework for determining whether a war is morally justifiable.

The consequences of the US and Israel’s actions included a potential collapse of the international order and immeasurable harm to the global economy. The United Nations confers upon the Security Council the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security and the prevention of precisely such outcomes. However, it has been seen that this responsibility remains at the mercy of the UNSC’s permanent members, who can exercise their veto power to overrule it.

As fighting continued following the February 28 strikes by the US and Israel, none of Washington’s historical allies — nor the UN, Nato or the rest of the liberal West — were able to effect a cessation of hostilities, let alone initiate a process for peace talks.

Until, to the surprise of the world and the dismay of many, Pakistan played an instrumental role in securing an initial cessation of hostilities and setting the stage for US-Iran negotiations.

Pakistan has previously facilitated talks between the US and its adversaries as well. In 1971, Pakistan was instrumental in arranging a secret visit of then-US National Security adviser Henry Kissinger to China. About a year later, then-US president Richard Nixon met Chairman Mao Zedong in China. The rest, as they say, is history.

Pakistan is well-regarded for its United Nations peacekeeping missions in various parts of the world. Since the 1960s, it has also been a net security provider and regional stabiliser for Jordan and the Gulf States.

Given that history, it was not unusual for Pakistan to lead the efforts for peace in the ongoing conflict.

Field Marshal Asim Munir and Pakistan’s powerful Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) have been quietly revisiting Pakistan’s strategic role in facilitating a rapprochement between the West and the East. The efforts for a peaceful resolution of the long-running conflict between the US and Iran, for example, have involved a long and arduous process which began well before the first bombs fell on Iran this February. Those efforts continued during the blitz with greater resolve and were what eventually helped secure a ceasefire between the two nations.

Director-General ISI Gen Asim Malik, along with Maj Gen Faisal Naseer, the head of counterintelligence, liaised continuously with their US counterparts to de-escalate the crisis. Throughout the process, Natalie A. Baker, the US charge d’affaires in Islamabad, worked closely with Pakistan. Islamabad and Washington worked in perfect sync.

What Pakistan’s leadership initially aimed to achieve seemed beyond the realm of possibility. It is not easy to influence zealots driven by religious certainty, and there were many to contend with in Iran, Israel and the US. A nuanced and delicate balance had to be maintained to keep the antagonists at the table amid an ongoing war.

The US and Iran lacked, and still lack, mutual trust. The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have been poles apart. The rest of the Gulf states perceived themselves as the victims of aggression. Israel was and continues to be the unrelenting spoiler. Meanwhile, China has been and remains active behind the scenes to secure peace.

Apart from Israel, which seemed determined to continue the war, every other state involved seemed to repose its trust in Pakistan. This was motivation enough for the country to assume the role of honest peace-broker.

Acting as an intermediary, Pakistan initially conveyed a 15-point US peace plan to Iran, which Tehran found unacceptable. Subsequently, China’s help was sought for mediation, and a five-point peace plan was agreed upon as a basis for negotiations.

Field Marshal Munir’s commitment to pursue and further what appeared to be a hopeless cause was what ultimately delivered a two-week ceasefire, which was followed by Pakistan mediating and hosting direct peace talks between the US and Iran in Islamabad.

Unfortunately, the talks hit a dead end after a promising first round. Perhaps this should have been expected: the path to peace is typically just as uncertain as the vicissitudes of war.

As the situation stands now, the US military’s tactical successes have ensured that it will not suffer a defeat. However, the US has also failed to achieve its pre-war aims. Iran is in ruins, but remains unsubdued. The US has suffered a strategic setback.

Field Marshal Munir enjoys trust and goodwill in Washington as well as in Tehran. The Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, trust him. This makes him uniquely qualified to serve as an honest peacemaker and bring the warring parties back to the table.

The first round of peace talks did not culminate in a peace treaty. No surprises there. It is more important that the ceasefire still holds. The ceasefire, it may be recalled, came a mere 90 minutes before the onset of a feared ‘Armageddon’ that promised to wipe out an entire civilisation. An apocalyptic level of destruction was averted.

The Strait of Hormuz remains a precarious and contentious issue. Iran’s possession of enriched uranium is also a core point of contention. And, as ever, Israel’s penchant to sabotage peace seems undiminished.

There is a distinction between a temporary deadlock on a core issue and the breakdown of peace negotiations. The former, per se, does not negate the latter. It is not very common for peace talks to succeed in a single round. There will be several rounds of peace talks before an agreement is achieved.

The arguments for peace are very powerful. International law and the United Nations demand peace. The pope has spoken for peace. The global economy demands peace. Only the Messianic zealots of Eretz Israel are against it.

Sixty-one days since the US-Israel attack on Iran, the imperatives for peace are obvious. The stage is set, and the peace process ought to succeed. The continuing ceasefire has expanded to include Israel and Lebanon as well. Iranian airspace is open to civilian aviation.

Israel has failed to subdue Hamas, Iran, Hezbollah and the Houthis. Their resilience turned a “blitzkrieg” into a war of attrition. No amount of US-Israel blustering or sophistry can hide this strategic debacle despite their tactical successes. It must now be understood that unmet war aims cannot be attained at a peace table.

In 1812, Napoleon’s Grand Army occupied Moscow after defeating Russian forces. Napoleon ensconced himself within the Kremlin’s walls and waited for peace to come to him. But there was to be no peace. The Russians refused to surrender. The episode marked the beginning of the end of the Napoleonic Era. Let’s not forget the lesson it left: military dominance does not always bring peace.

The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and not necessarily representative of Dawn or its editorial staff.

Iranian sailors, who had been evacuated to Pakistan after being released by the United States, crossed the border and entered their home territory on Monday, reported Iranian state media.

According to IRNA, 15 of the 22 sailors crossed through the Rimdan border terminal in Sistan-Baluchistan.

Earlier, the Foreign Office (FO) said that as a “confidence-building measure” by the US, 22 crew members on an Iranian ship seized by US forces had been evacuated to Pakistan.

The statement came hours after American outlet ABC News reported that an Iranian ship seized by the US after it “failed to comply” with the blockade imposed by the country on Iranian ports had been transferred to Pakistan for repatriation.

“US forces completed the transfer of 22 crew members of M/V Touska to Pakistan for repatriation,“ the report quoted US Central Command Spokesperson Captain Tim Hawkins as saying.

“Six other passengers were already transferred to a regional country for repatriation last week,” he said. According to the report, Iranian state media identified the six as family members of some of the crew.

“Custody of Touska is currently being transferred back to its original ownership after the ship was intercepted and seized when attempting to violate the US naval blockade against Iran last month,” Hawkins said.

Subsequently, FO Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said on the social media platform X, “As a confidence-building measure by the United States of America, twenty-two crew members held aboard the seized Iranian container ship, ‘MV Touska’, have been evacuated to Pakistan.”

“The individuals, who were flown to Pakistan last night, will be handed over to the Iranian authorities today,” he said.

“The Iranian ship will also be backloaded to Pakistani territorial waters for return to its original owners after necessary repairs,” Andrabi said, adding that these returns were being coordinated in tandem with the support of both sides.

“Pakistan welcomes such confidence-building measures and will continue to facilitate dialogue and diplomacy while pursuing ongoing mediation efforts for regional peace and security,” he said.

Reiterating the details on X, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar observed that the developments “surely constitute an important confidence-building measure”.

Expressing Pakistan’s appreciation to the US and Iran, Dar affirmed that Islamabad remained “committed to facilitating dialogue, diplomacy, and mediation for the regional peace and security”.

The ship was boarded and seized by US forces on April 19. The small container ship, which was part of the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) group that has been hit with US sanctions, was boarded off the coast of Iran’s Chabahar port in the Gulf of Oman.

At the time, the US Central Command said the ship’s crew “failed to comply with repeated warnings over a six-hour period”.

“American forces issued multiple warnings and informed the Iranian-flagged vessel it was in violation of the US blockade,” it said.

Iran’s foreign ministry had condemned the incident as “unlawful and a violation” of international law and demanded the immediate release of the vessel, its sailors and their families. Iran’s military had said the ship had been travelling from China and accused ​the US of “armed piracy”.

Hormuz, a key shipping lane off the coast of Iran, has been virtually blocked by Tehran since the United States and Israel started bombing Iran on February 28.

Some vessels attempting to transit the Strait have reported being fired on, and Iran seized several other ships. Last month, the US imposed its own blockade of ships from Iranian ports.

US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the country would start helping free ships stranded in the Gulf.

Trump provided few details about the plan, dubbed “Operation Freedom”, which he said would start on Monday to aid ships and their crews that have been “locked up” in the vital waterway and are running low on food and other supplies.

“We have told these Countries that we will guide their Ships safely out of these restricted Waterways, so that they can freely and ably get on with their business,” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social site.

Hundreds of ships and as many as 20,000 seafarers have been unable to transit the strait during the conflict, according to the International Maritime Organisation.

US Central Command said it would support the effort with 15,000 US military personnel, more than 100 land and sea-based aircraft along with warships and drones. The operation aims to “restore freedom of navigation for commercial shipping” through the strait, it said in a statement.

In response to Trump’s announcement, a senior Iranian official warned on Monday that Tehran would consider any US attempt to interfere in the Strait of Hormuz a breach of the ongoing ceasefire.

“Any American interference in the new maritime regime of the Strait of Hormuz will be considered a violation of the ceasefire,” Ebrahim Azizi, head of the national security commission in Iran’s parliament, posted on X.

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that his representatives were having “very positive discussions” with Iran that could “lead to something very positive for all”.

He made these remarks in a Truth Social Post, also announcing an initiative to guide vessels stuck in the Strait of Hormuz out of the waterway, hours after Tehran said on Sunday that the United States had responded to its 14-point proposal via Pakistan.

Iranian state media quoted a foreign ministry spokesperson as saying that Tehran was reviewing the response.

Later, US Special Envoy on Middle East Steve Witkoff told CNN the US was “in conversation” with Iran as they weighed negotiations to end the war.

This was followed by Trump’s post on Truth Social, where he said: “I am fully aware that my Representatives are having very positive discussions with the Country of Iran, and that these discussions could lead to something very positive for all.”

He also said that countries from across the world, “almost all of which are not involved in the Middle Eastern dispute going on so visibly, and violently, for all to see, have asked the United States if we could help free up their Ships, which are locked up in the Strait of Hormuz”.

“For the good of Iran, the Middle East, and the United States, we have told these Countries that we will guide their Ships safely out of these restricted Waterways, so that they can freely and ably get on with their business.”

He added, “I have told my Representatives to inform them that we will use best efforts to get their Ships and Crews safely out of the Strait. In all cases, they said they will not be returning until the area becomes safe for navigation, and everything else”.

Trump announced that this process, “Project Freedom, will begin Monday morning, Middle East time”.

“The Ship movement is merely meant to free up people, companies, and Countries that have done absolutely nothing wrong — They are victims of circumstance. This is a Humanitarian gesture on behalf of the United States, Middle Eastern Countries but, in particular, the Country of Iran.

“Many of these Ships are running low on food, and everything else necessary for largescale crews to stay on board in a healthy and sanitary manner. I think it would go a long way in showing Goodwill on behalf of all of those who have been fighting so strenuously over the last number of months. If, in any way, this Humanitarian process is interfered with, that interference will, unfortunately, have to be dealt with forcefully,” he added.

The proposal

Negotiations between the US and Iran had been deadlocked since a ceasefire, brokered by Pakistan, came into effect on April 8, with only one round of direct peace talks held in Islamabad so far.

And after it was reported that Iran had submitted its 14-point proposal, Trump was initially quick to cast doubt on it.

“I will soon be reviewing the plan that Iran has just sent to us, but can’t imagine that it would be acceptable in that they have not yet paid a big enough price for what they have done to Humanity, and the World, over the last 47 years,” he had said on his Truth Social platform.

US news website Axios reported, citing two sources briefed on the proposal, that it set “a one-month deadline for negotiations on a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, end the US naval blockade and permanently end the war in Iran and in Lebanon”.

Separately, Al Jazeera reported, citing sources, that the proposal envisaged three main stages, aiming to “transform the ceasefire into an end to the war within 30 days”.

According to the report, the proposal “envisions a pledge of nonaggression, including from Israel, to ensure there’s no return to war and an end to fighting throughout the Middle East”.

It said the proposal suggested the gradual reopening of the Strait of Hormuz in the first phase, as well as lifting of the US blockade of Iranian ports.

Under the proposed plan, Tehran would take charge of dealing with sea mines, the report said.

It added that the second phase was proposed to include “Iran’s return to uranium enrichment after the time limit at 3.6 per cent in accordance with the ‘zero-storage principle’“.

Moreover, the plan includes the US and Israel refraining from attacking Iran and its allies in exchange for Iran refraining from launching strikes, the report said, adding that Iran had also rejected “dismantling nuclear infrastructure or destroying Iran’s facilities”.

“Lifting sanctions includes the gradual release of frozen funds,” it said.

In the third phase, Tehran proposed to enter “into a strategic dialogue with Arab neighbours and building a security system that includes the entire Middle East”, the report stated.

‘Impossible operation or bad deal’

Following Trump’s remarks about the proposal likely being unacceptable, the Revolutionary Guards said he must choose between “an impossible operation or a bad deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran”.

“The room for US decision-making has narrowed,” they said.

The day before, Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi told diplomats in Tehran that “the ball is in the United States’ court to choose the path of diplomacy or the continuation of a confrontational approach”.

Iran, he said, was “prepared for both paths”.

‘If they misbehave’

In a brief interview with reporters in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Saturday, the US president declined to specify what could trigger new American military action.

“If they misbehave, if they do something bad, but right now, we’ll see,” he said. “But it’s a possibility that could happen, certainly.”

Mohsen Rezaei, a military adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, said Iranian forces would sink US ships.

“The US is the only pirate in the world that possesses aircraft carriers. Our ability to confront pirates is no less than our ability to sink warships. Prepare to face a graveyard of your carriers and forces,” he posted on X.

His remarks came after Trump, while addressing a rally in Florida, compared the US action in the sea to that of pirates. “We’re like pirates” as he described an earlier helicopter raid on an oil tanker under the US blockade of Iranian ports.

“We … landed on top of it, and we took over the ship. We took over the cargo, took over the oil. It’s a very profitable business,” he remarked.

On Sunday, Iran’s envoy to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam also said that the continuation of talks between Tehran and Washington depended on the latter’s behaviour.

He expressed these views while speaking to Iranian official news agency IRNA.

The envoy said Iran had shared a comprehensive plan with the US, but “progress hinges on the US’s sincerity and willingness to resolve issues through genuine diplomatic efforts”.

He reiterated Iran’s commitment to safeguarding its national interests and defending its rights.

Moghadam also appreciated Pakistan for its efforts in facilitating dialogue between the US and Iran, and criticised US behavior, describing it as “unpredictable and aggressive”.

Opec+ agreed on Sunday on a modest oil output hike for June, an increase that will remain largely on paper as long as the US-Israeli war on Iran continues to disrupt Gulf oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz.

Seven Opec+ countries will raise oil output targets by 188,000 barrels per day in June, the third consecutive monthly increase, Opec+ said in a statement after an online meeting. The increase is the same as that agreed for May minus the share of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which left the group on May 1.

The move is designed to show the group is ready to raise supplies once the war stops and signals that Opec+ is pressing on with a business-as-usual approach despite the departure of the UAE from Opec+, sources associated with the alliance and analysts said.

Opec+ is sending a two-layer message to the market: continuity despite the UAE’s exit, and control despite limited physical impact, said Jorge Leon, an analyst at Rystad and former Opec official.

While output is increasing on paper, the real impact on physical supply remains very limited, given the Strait of Hormuz constraints. This is less about adding barrels and more about signaling that Opec+ still calls the shots.

Top Opec+ producer Saudi Arabia’s quota will rise to 10.291 million bpd in June under the agreement, far above actual production. The kingdom reported actual production of 7.76m bpd to Opec in March.

The seven members who met on Sunday were Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Algeria, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Oman.

With the UAE leaving, Opec+ comprises 21 members, including Iran. But in recent years, only the seven nations plus the UAE have been involved in monthly production decisions.

Hike remains largely symbolic until Hormuz reopens

The US-Israeli war on Iran, which began on February 28, and the resulting closure of the Hormuz strait have throttled exports from Opec+ members Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Kuwait, as well as from the UAE. Before the conflict, these producers were the only countries in the group able to raise production.

Even when shipping through the Strait of Hormuz reopens, it will take several weeks if not months for flows to normalise, oil executives from the Gulf and global oil traders have said.

The supply disruption has propelled oil prices to a four-year high above $125 per barrel as analysts begin to predict widespread jet fuel shortages in one to two months and a spike in global inflation.

Crude oil output from all Opec+ members averaged 35.06m bpd in March, down 7.70m bpd from February, Opec said in a report last month, with Iraq and Saudi Arabia making the biggest cuts due to constrained exports.

• Analysts say inflation may exceed 11pc, CAD could rise above $8bn
• GDP expansion may slow to 2.5-3.0pc in FY27

KARACHI: Pakistan’s inflation is likely to remain in double digits if the surge in oil prices persists amid the unresolved Middle East conflict, analysts warned, adding that rising costs and disrupted imports are already straining the country’s external position.

Topline Securities Ltd released its latest “Pakistan Strategy” report on Saturday, analysing the impact of soaring oil prices amid regional tensions and their implications for Pakistan’s economy and stock market. The brokerage said the situation is prolonged and evolving, with outcomes hinging on whether the conflict ends or a peaceful resolution is reached.

The report projected that if current conditions persist, Pakistan’s inflation over the next 12 months could average 9-10 per cent, with fourth-quarter FY26 inflation surpassing 11pc. These forecasts are based on an oil price of $100 per barrel, with every $10 increase adding roughly 50 basis points to inflation estimates. At $120 per barrel, average annual inflation could reach 10-11pc, prompting the State Bank of Pakistan to consider further policy rate hikes to protect real returns.

Rising energy costs and inflation are expected to weigh heavily on economic growth. Topline Securities lowered its GDP forecast for FY27 to 2.5-3.0pc, down from an earlier 4.0pc, reflecting a 100-120bps impact. FY26 growth is maintained at 3.5-4.0pc, in line with the central bank’s revised guidelines.

Industrial growth could fall to 1pc from 3.9pc, agriculture to 4.0pc from 4.4pc, and services to 2.8pc from 4.0pc if the conflict continues. By contrast, if tensions ease by FY27, growth could stabilise around 3.5-4.0pc.

Fiscal outlook

Analysts at Topline Securities expect the current account deficit (CAD) for FY27 to remain below $3.5 billion (0.8pc of GDP) with administrative measures. However, slippages or lax import controls could push it above $8bn (1.9pc of GDP), straining foreign exchange reserves.

The consolidated fiscal deficit for FY26 is expected to remain in the range of 4.0-4.5pc of GDP due to relief spending, slightly above the IMF target of 4.0pc. A similar range is anticipated for FY27.

A measured government response could keep FY27 currency depreciation around 5-6pc. Without intervention, supply-demand pressures could accelerate losses.

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) has suffered amid regional turmoil and rising oil prices, ranking the third worst performer globally in the January-March quarter with a 15pc decline. India and Indonesia posted larger falls of 19.4 and 19.0pc, respectively. Heavy dependence on imported energy, Pakistan imports 85pc of its requirements, is cited as a key factor. Petroleum imports are projected at $15bn for FY26, roughly 22pc of total imports.

Topline Securities recommended remaining overweight in exploration and production (E&P) firms, fertilisers, and banks, while adopting a market-weight stance on pharmaceuticals and consumer goods. Caution is advised in cyclical sectors due to potential GDP slowdown.

Imports/remittances

Non-oil imports, expected to reach $48-50bn in FY26, could threaten macroeconomic reforms if unrestrained. Historically, administrative measures have played a key role in curbing imports during crises, including FY09, FY19, FY20, and FY23. Topline Securities forecasts an 8pc fall in non-oil imports for FY27 with government intervention, alongside a 12pc decline in petroleum product consumption due to higher prices.

Remittances are projected to fall 3.5pc, reflecting a 10pc decline from the Gulf Cooperation Council region and modest growth elsewhere. Exports are expected to drop 4pc. With these assumptions, the FY27 current account deficit is estimated at $3.5bn (0.8pc of GDP).

Policy rate

The SBP raised its policy rate by 100bps to 11.5pc on April 27. If oil prices remain at $120 per barrel, further rate hikes may be necessary. The rupee-dollar exchange rate is forecast to close FY26 at Rs280-282 and FY27 at Rs294-298 (average Rs289). Persistent conflict could drive depreciation above the historic 5-6pc average.

The benchmark KSE-100 index is down 7pc year-to-date and 14pc from its January 2026 peak, with geopolitical tensions, rising oil prices, and profit-taking contributing to declines. Key sectors poised to benefit include E&Ps, fertilisers, and banks.

Domestic E&P companies could ramp up production by 500-900 mmcfd over two years, partly offsetting reliance on imported RLNG. Fertiliser companies may benefit from rising international urea prices and restored domestic margins. Banks are expected to see improved spreads due to higher interest rates.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2026

• Iranian military warns renewed hostilities with Washington ‘likely’
• Trump boasts of Hormuz blockade, says ‘we are like pirates’
• Tehran reaches out to Qatar, South Korea to discuss ongoing negotiations
• Israeli strikes in Lebanon kill over 12 people, injure dozens; Lebanese army chief meets US general

TEHRAN/BEIRUT: Amid a surge in deadly strikes by Israeli forces in southern Lebanon and little headway in talks between the US and Iran, an Iranian military official warned against the ‘likely’ resumption of hostilities whereas diplomats in Tehran were told that the ball was in US court to pick fight or return to table after US President Donald Trump had rejected yet another Iranian proposal.

An Iranian proposal so far rejected by the Trump administration would open shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and end the US blockade of Iran while leaving talks on Iran’s nuclear programme for later, a senior Iranian official said.

A day earlier, the US rejected the fresh peace offer from Tehran, with President Donald Trump saying Iran had made “strides” in the latest proposal, but he was “still not satisfied”.

Iran on Saturday responded that it was up to the US if it wanted to pursue a negotiated settlement or return to war. “Now the ball is in the United States’ court to choose the path of diplomacy or the continuation of a confrontational approach,” Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi told diplomats in Tehran, according to state broadcaster IRIB. “Iran, with the aim of securing its national interests and security, is prepared for both paths,” he said.

The war, launched by the United States and Israel on Feb 28, has been on hold since April 8, with one round of peace talks having taken place in Pakistan since then.

Axios reported that US envoy Steve Witkoff had submitted amendments to a previous proposal, putting Tehran’s nuclear programme back on the negotiating table.

The changes reportedly included demands that Iran not move enriched uranium from bombed sites or resume activity there during talks.

Besides the nuclear programme, a major bone of contention between the two is the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.

Interestingly, Trump while addressing a rally in Florida compared the US action in the sea to that of pirates. “We’re like pirates” as he described an earlier helicopter raid on an oil tanker under the blockade.

“We… land on top of it and we took over the ship. We took over the cargo, took over the oil. It’s a very profitable business,” he remarked.

Iranian engagements with allies

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani discussed the ongoing negotiations between Tehran and the US in a telephone call, according to Doha’s foreign ministry.

The Qatari PM “affirmed the State of Qatar’s full support for mediation efforts aimed at resolving the crisis through peaceful means, emphasising the need for all parties to engage with these efforts in a way that contributes to creating the appropriate conditions for progress in the negotiations and limits the possibilities of renewed escalation”.

Mr Araghchi and South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun also discussed bilateral relations, as well as the latest regional developments and initiatives related to diplomacy aimed at ending the US-Israeli war on Iran, Al Jazeera reported.

While the situation remains highly volatile with the fragile ceasefire in Iran war, the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and a surge in deadly attacks by Israel in southern Lebanon have created fear that the regional conflict could turn into a prolonged war.

13 killed in Lebanon

Despite the ceasefire in the Gulf, fighting continued in Lebanon, where Israel has carried out deadly strikes even though it signed a US-backed truce to end the Lebanon war. Lebanon’s health ministry said 13 people were killed in the latest strikes in the south, including in a town where Israel’s army had issued an evacuation order despite a ceasefire.

The strikes in Habboush killed eight people, including a child and two women, and wounded 21 others, the ministry said, raising an earlier toll. Other strikes in Zrariyeh killed four people, two of them women, and wounded four more, it said. The ministry also reported a strike in Ain Baal near the coastal city of Tyre killed one person and wounded seven others.

In Habboush, where the Israeli evacuation warning was issued, a photographer saw clouds of smoke rising after the raids. The state-run National News Agency reported that Israeli warplanes “launched a series of heavy strikes… less than an hour after” the warning. The NNA also reported Israeli strikes and artillery fire on other south Lebanon locations, including Tyre.

The NNA said Israeli troops carried out detonations in the southern town of Shamaa, and “demolished a monastery and a school” run by a religious order in the town of Yaroun.

Lebanon’s health ministry raised the toll from Israeli strikes since March 2 to 2,600 dead, including 103 emergency workers and paramedics.

Lebanese army chief meets US general

On Saturday, Lebanese armed forces commander General Rudolf Haykal and US General Joseph Clearfield met in Beirut to discuss the security situation in Lebanon and regional developments, the army said.

Clearfield heads a committee monitoring a US-backed ceasefire in fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2026

United States President Donald Trump’s administration has bypassed congressional review to approve military sales totalling over $8.6 billion to Middle Eastern allies Israel, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The State Department announcements on Friday came as the US and Israel’s war against Iran marked nine weeks since its start and more than three weeks since a fragile ceasefire came into effect.

The State Department said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio determined that an emergency existed that required immediate sales to those countries and waived the congressional review requirements for the sales.

The announcements included approving military sales to Qatar of Patriot air and missile defence replenishment services costing $4.01bn and of Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems (APKWS) costing $992.4 million.

They also included approval of the sale to Kuwait of an integrated battle command system costing $2.5bn and to Israel of APKWS costing $992.4m. The State Department approved a sale to the UAE of APKWS for $147.6m.

The US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28. Iran responded with its own strikes on Israel and Gulf states that host US bases. US-Israeli strikes on Iran and Israeli attacks in Lebanon have killed thousands and displaced millions.

The principal contractor in the APKWS sales to Qatar, Israel and the UAE was BAE Systems, the State Department said.

RTX and Lockheed Martin were the principal contractors in the integrated battle command system sale to Kuwait and in the Patriot air and missile defence replenishment sale to Qatar, the State Department added.

Northrop Grumman was also a principal contractor in the Kuwaiti sale.

US support for Israel has come under scrutiny from rights experts, particularly over Israel’s assault on Gaza that has killed over 70,000 Palestinians, led to assessments of genocide and starvation from scholars and a UN inquiry.

Israel insists its actions are in “self-defence” after Hamas-led fighters killed 1,200 people in an October 2023 attack. Washington has maintained support for its allies.

More than two months into a conflict that has failed to deliver a decisive military or diplomatic win, United States President Donald Trump faces the risk that a standoff with Iran will drag on indefinitely and leave an even bigger problem for the US and the world than before he launched the war.

With both sides outwardly confident they hold the upper hand and their positions far apart, there is no obvious off-ramp in sight, even as Iran submitted a fresh proposal to restart negotiations. Trump quickly rejected it on Friday.

For the US president and his Republican Party, the implications of a continued impasse are grim.

An unresolved conflict would likely mean the global economic fallout, including high US gasoline prices, will persist, putting further pressure on Trump, whose poll numbers are falling, and darkening Republican candidates’ prospects ahead of November’s midterm congressional elections.

Unmet goals

Those costs highlight a deeper problem: the war has failed to achieve many of Trump’s stated goals.

While there is little doubt that waves of US and Israeli strikes heavily degraded Iran’s military capabilities, many of Trump’s often-shifting war objectives — from regime change to shutting Iran’s path to a nuclear weapon — remain unfulfilled.

Fears for a more protracted deadlock have grown since Trump called off a trip by his negotiators to Islamabad last weekend and then dismissed an Iranian offer to halt the war, suspended since April 8 under a ceasefire agreement.

Tehran proposed setting aside discussion of its nuclear programme until the conflict is formally ended and a deal is reached on reopening the Strait of Hormuz. That was a non-starter for Trump, who has demanded the nuclear issue be dealt with at the outset.

There was a glimmer of hope on Friday when state news agency IRNA reported Tehran had sent a revised proposal through Pakistani mediators, causing a drop in global oil prices that had risen sharply since Iran effectively closed the strait.

Trump told reporters he was “not satisfied” with the offer, though he said there were ongoing contacts by phone.

A failure to wrest the vital oil-shipping waterway from Iranian control at the conclusion of the conflict would be a major blow to Trump’s legacy.

He’d be remembered as the US president who made the world less safe, said Laura Blumenfeld, a Middle East expert at Johns Hopkins University in Washington.

White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales said Iran’s “desperation” is increasing due to military and economic pressure, and Trump “holds all the cards and has all the time he needs to make the best deal”.

Resumption of hostilities?

With his next steps uncertain and no clear endgame, Trump has, in private meetings, raised the prospect of a prolonged naval blockade of Iran, possibly for months more, aimed at further squeezing off its oil exports and forcing it to reach a denuclearisation agreement, a White House official said on condition of anonymity.

At the same time, he has left the door open to resuming military action. The US Central Command has prepared options for a “short and powerful” series of strikes as well as for taking over part of the strait to reopen it to shipping, Axios reported on Thursday.

European diplomats said their governments, whose relations with Trump have been strained by the war, expect the current situation with Iran to persist.

“It’s hard to see how this will end soon,” said one, speaking on condition of anonymity. Iran has remained defiant.

It has exerted powerful leverage against the US and its allies, triggering an unprecedented energy supply shock by choking off shipping in the strait, where tanker traffic flowed freely before the war, carrying a fifth of the world’s oil.

Analysts say Iran will be emboldened knowing that it will have this weapon at its disposal even after the war.

“Iran has realised that, even in a weakened state, it can shut off the strait at will,” said Jon Alterman of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. “That knowledge leaves Iran stronger than it was before the war.”

Uranium stockpile remains

Trump — who took office promising to avoid entanglement in foreign interventions — has also failed to achieve his main stated aim in attacking Iran on February 28: to close off its path to a nuclear weapon.

A stockpile of highly enriched uranium is believed to remain buried following US and Israeli airstrikes last June and could be recovered and further processed into bomb-grade material. Iran says it wants the US to recognise its right to enrich uranium for what it says are peaceful purposes.

Wales, the White House spokeswoman, said Trump had “met or surpassed” all military objectives, including action “to ensure that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon”.

Another of Trump’s declared war goals, forcing Iran to stop support for proxy groups such as Lebanon’s Hezbollah, Yemen’s Houthis and Palestinian Hamas also remains unmet.

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, in congressional testimony, denied the conflict had become a quagmire, despite Trump having initially predicted it would be over in four to six weeks.

Renewed peace talks are unlikely to yield a quick resolution, given the large gaps.

Though Trump has said he will accept nothing less than a long-term solution to the threat posed by Iran, he has at times shown signs of seeking an exit plan from an unpopular conflict. At the request of Trump’s aides, intelligence agencies are studying how Iran would respond if he declared a unilateral victory and pulled back, US officials have told Reuters.

Independent analysts say Tehran would interpret that as its own strategic success for having survived the military onslaught.

At the same time, European and Gulf Arab diplomats have expressed concern that Trump might eventually agree to a flawed deal that would allow a wounded Iran to remain a threat.

Risk of ‘frozen conflict’

With negotiations deadlocked, some analysts have suggested the war could devolve into a frozen conflict that would defy a permanent solution. That could prevent Trump from significantly scaling down forces in the Middle East.

The US is already paying new strategic costs.

Those include fractures with traditional European allies, who were not consulted before Trump went to war.

He has harshly criticised Nato partners for not sending their navies to help open the strait, and in the past week spoke about possibly drawing down troops in Germany, Spain and Italy.

Trump also must deal with a more hardline Iranian leadership, dominated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, that took over after US-Israeli strikes killed several figures, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The president’s call at the start of the conflict for the Iranian people to overthrow their rulers has gone unheeded.

At home, Trump is under pressure to end a war that has dragged his approval rating to the lowest level of his term 34 per cent, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll and spiked gasoline prices above $4 a gallon ahead of the midterms, in which Republicans are at risk of losing control of Congress.

A second White House spokeswoman, Taylor Rogers, said Trump was committed to maintaining his party’s congressional majority and that high gasoline prices were only “short-term disruptions” that would be overcome as the conflict subsides.

The Iranians, however, are mindful of Trump’s domestic troubles and may be prepared to wait him out, but the question remains how long they can stave off economic calamity.

Iran isn’t fractured or folding, it’s playing for time, Sina Toossi, a senior fellow at the Centre for International Policy think tank in Washington, wrote on X.

Nato said on Saturday it was working with the United States to understand Washington’s decision to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany as a rift in transatlantic ties deepens over the Middle East war.

The Pentagon’s announcement of the troop withdrawal follows a spat between US President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said on Monday that Iran was “humiliating” Washington at the negotiating table.

Trump fired back by saying that Merz “doesn’t know what he’s talking about”.

It also came as Trump announced that tariffs on cars and trucks from the European Union will increase to 25 per cent next week over accusations that the bloc did not comply with a trade deal signed last summer.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said on Friday the withdrawal of around 5,000 troops from Germany was expected “to be completed over the next six to twelve months”.

“This decision follows a thorough review of the Department’s force posture in Europe and is in recognition of theater requirements and conditions on the ground,” Parnell said in a statement.

There were 36,436 active-duty US troops in Nato ally Germany as of December 31, 2025, compared to 12,662 in Italy and 3,814 in Spain.

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said on Saturday the US troop withdrawal “from Europe and also from Germany was to be expected”.

Nato said it was “working with the US to understand the details of their decision on force posture in Germany”.

“This adjustment underscores the need for Europe to continue to invest more in defence and take on a greater share of the responsibility for our shared security,” Nato spokeswoman Allison Hart wrote on X.

‘Why shouldn’t I?’

Trump has made a number of threats to slash US troop numbers in Germany and other European allies during both his terms in office, saying he wants Europe to take on greater responsibility for its defence rather than depending on Washington.

He now appears determined to punish allies who have failed to back the Middle East war or contribute to a peacekeeping force in the crucial Strait of Hormuz waterway, which Tehran’s forces have effectively closed.

Trump also accused German automakers such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW of ripping off Americans, saying on Friday that Germany and “other European nations have not adhered to our trade deal”.

Germany would likely be hit hard by a sharp vehicle tariff because it is responsible for a significant portion of EU auto exports.

Such tariffs would impose “enormous costs on the Germany and European automobile industry,” the head of Germany’s VDA lobby group for the sector, Hildegard Mueller, said in a statement sent to AFP.

She called for an “urgent” de-escalation and speedy negotiations on the issue.

Trump said on Thursday he might pull US troops from Italy and Spain due to their opposition to the war.

“Italy has not been of any help to us and Spain has been horrible, absolutely horrible,” he told reporters in the Oval Office.

“Yeah, probably, I probably will. Why shouldn’t I?” Trump said.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said on Thursday during a visit to Morocco that Germany was “prepared” for a reduction in US troops and was “discussing it closely and in a spirit of trust in all Nato bodies”.

However, Wadephul said large American bases in Germany are “not up for discussion at all” and cited the example of Ramstein Air Base, which he said has “an irreplaceable function for the United States and for us alike”.

Ukraine support

The EU said on Thursday the deployment of US troops in Europe was in Washington’s interest, and that the US was “a vital partner in contributing to Europe’s security and defence”.

Trump, however, took aim at Merz again, telling him to focus on ending the Ukraine war instead of “interfering” on Iran.

European powers have been on alert since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. A spate of drone incursions in the past year, as well as US promises to move away from defending the continent, have pushed the issue to the top of the agenda.

Merz has made national security a priority, announcing unprecedented investments in an army that has been underfunded and under-equipped for decades. He has also reaffirmed support for Ukraine.

• Pakistan hands over Iran’s latest proposal to US, refuses to divulge contents
• Trump says Iran ‘made strides’ in talks, claims process marred by ‘tremendous discord’; appreciates PM Shehbaz, FM Munir’s role
• Diplomats describe transmission of proposals as a positive step, despite no immediate signs of progress

ISLAMABAD: After Pakistan shared a new proposal by Iran with the US, President Donald Trump on Friday said he was still not satisfied with their offer to end the Middle East conflict, which started after the US and Israel struck Iran on Feb 28.

The text of the proposal was handed to Islamabad on Thursday evening, the state-run IRNA news agency reported on Friday. Pakistan officials also confirmed that they had shared the proposal with the US, but refused to divulge its contents.

“At this moment, I’m not satisfied with what they’re offering,” Presi­dent Trump said late on Friday night. Asked why he was unsatisfied with the Iranian offer, he said: “They’re asking for things that I can’t agree.” He gave no details.

Trump was asked what he would do if there was no deal but refused to say whether he would launch more strikes. “Do we want to go and just blast the hell out of them and finish them forever — or do we want to try and make a deal? I mean, those are the options,” he said. He added that he would “prefer not” to launch a huge offensive.

Trump said Iran had “made strides” in negotiations, but added that there was “tremendous discord” in the Islamic Republic’s leadership and warned: “I’m not sure if they ever get there.” During his remarks, the US president said he had “great respect” for Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir.

Meanwhile, Pakistani officials remained tight-lipped about the contents of the proposal, but indicated that established channels were used and that Pakistan’s role remained facilitative. This discretion by Pakistani officials reflected both the sensitivity of the process and the lack of convergence between the two principal parties.

Iranian authorities insist that their latest thinking placed priority on halting hostilities and creating space for a broader political process, before engaging on more contentious issues. Diplomatic sources said the proposals emphasised immediate de-escalation in the Gulf, including steps linked to maritime security and the restoration of commercial activity along critical sea lanes.

A source claimed that there was no significant movement on the issue of negotiations on the nuclear file right away. However, another source said that the new proposal nevertheless contained limited interim assurances related to the nuclear programme, though these fall short of the comprehensive commitments sought by the US.

Therefore, the gap over sequencing still remained wide, with Iran seeking relief and security guarantees upfront, while the US continued to press for verifiable constraints on nuclear activity as part of any meaningful arrangement.

Washington has maintained its position that any durable agreement must address concerns about Iran’s nuclear ambitions in a substantive and verifiable manner. The US also said that the naval blockade would remain in place until it sees sufficient movement from Tehran on the nuclear front.

Iran, for its part, has underscored the need for an end to military pressure and economic constraints before engaging deeply on nuclear issues. Iranian officials repeatedly pointed to trust deficits stemming from past negotiations, arguing that guarantees would be necessary to sustain any future arrangement.

The divergence over sequencing and priorities has been a central obstacle in recent weeks, with both sides appearing unwilling to shift their core positions. In this context, intermediaries such as Pakistan have focused on keeping lines of communication open and preventing further escalation.

Foreign Office spokesman Tahir Andrabi said at his weekly briefing on Thursday that Pakistan was continuing efforts to facilitate dialogue between the US and Iran. He had expressed cautious optimism that engagement between the two sides could still produce an agreement.

Regional diplomatic activity has, meanwhile, picked up pace alongside the backchannel contacts. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi contacted counterparts across the region, sharing Tehran’s latest positions and seeking support for efforts aimed at ending the conflict.

A fragile ceasefire has held unevenly since early April. While large scale hostilities have subsided, tensions remain elevated, particularly around maritime access and economic restrictions in the Gulf.

Diplomatic observers said the transmission of fresh proposals, even without immediate progress, suggested that neither side was prepared to abandon the possibility of a negotiated outcome. Instead, the process appeared to be moving in incremental steps, with indirect messaging continuing as both sides test each other’s positions.

With input from Agencies

Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2026

WASHINGTON: The United States on Friday imposed sanctions on a Chinese oil terminal as part of a slew of new measures on Iran, as it warned of repercussions for ships paying “tolls” demanded by Tehran.

The new measures come amid a standstill in diplomacy after Trump halted US-Israeli attacks against Iran, and were announced just two weeks before Trump visits China, a key customer for Iran’s oil.

The US, since President Donald Trump’s first term, has unilaterally sought to stop all other countries from buying oil from Iran, whose ruling clerics are sworn foes of Israel and the United States.

The State Department said the United States was imposing sanctions on Qingdao Haiye Oil Terminal Co., Ltd., which it said has imported “tens of millions of barrels” of Iranian crude oil, helping Iran generate billions of dollars.

“So long as Iran attempts to generate oil revenues to fund its destabilising activities, the United States will hold both Iran and all its sanctions-evading partners accountable,” the State Department said.

The sanctions will criminalise any transactions involving the United States through the terminal operator, part of the major maritime hub of Qingdao on the Yellow Sea.

Last year, the United States imposed similar sanctions on another entity in the area, Qingdao Port Haiye Dongjiakou Oil Products Co.

Global oil prices have soared since the US-Israeli attack after Iran in retaliation virtually blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for energy transit.

Iran has demanded that the United States end sanctions and a naval blockade. It has vowed to impose “tolls” for ships going through the Strait of Hormuz, despite loud protests from Trump.

The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control issued an alert to warn people from and outside the United States about sanctions risks of making payments to Iran’s government for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2026