The US and Israel on Feb 28 launched what they described as a “pre-emptive” joint strike against Iranian targets, with Trump announcing start of “major combat operations”
Pakistan hosted the first round of face-to-face talks between the US and Iran in 47 years in April; the talks ended without a breakthrough, but also without a breakdown
Trump rejects Iran’s response to latest US proposal that would stop the fighting but leave the most contentious issues unresolved for now
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has told Pakistan’s ambassadors posted in the GCC that Pakistan “remains committed to proactive diplomacy”.
In a post on X, DPM Dar welcomed the ambassadors at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the “Regional Envoys’ Conference”.
Dar told the diplomats that, “at a time of evolving regional and global dynamics, Pakistan remains committed to proactive diplomacy, stronger strategic partnerships, enhanced economic cooperation with our brotherly countries, and continued efforts for regional peace and stability”.
Dar further wrote: “I stressed the importance of focused and productive deliberations during the conference”.
He added that he also instructed the envoys to “present practical recommendations to further advance Pakistan’s diplomatic and economic priorities in the region”.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has accused the United Arab Emirates of direct involvement in military attacks against Iran and said the country should reconsider its “alliance with Israel,” Al Jazeera reports.
He made the comments at the BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting in New Delhi, according to a post on his official Telegram channel.
“I must say that the UAE was directly involved in the act of aggression against my country…They allowed their territory to be used to fire artillery and equipment against us,” said Araghchi.
He went on to denounce the UAE’s relations with Israel.
“Your alliance with the Israelis did not protect you either, and reconsider your policy towards Iran,” said Araghchi.
Chief of Staff and Deputy Coordinator of Iran’s army Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari says the US will “face defeat in any war against Iran,” Tasnim reports.
He said that the “failure will be etched in history”.
A Hezbollah drone strike has injured several Israeli civilians, the Israeli military said, hours before US-brokered talks between Israel and Lebanon are set to begin in Washington, according to AFP.
“A short while ago, an explosive drone that was launched by the Hezbollah terrorist organisation fell within Israeli territory, near the Israel-Lebanon border,” the military said.
“As a result, several Israeli civilians were injured and evacuated to receive medical treatment at the hospital.”
US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping have agreed that the Strait of Hormuz “must remain open”, the White House said, as the two leaders met in Beijing, according to AFP.
“The two sides agreed that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open to support the free flow of energy,” the White House said.
Israel’s military said it launched strikes against Hezbollah targets across southern Lebanon, hours before US-brokered talks between the two countries were set to begin in Washington, AFP reports.
“The IDF has begun striking Hezbollah terror infrastructure sites in several areas in southern Lebanon,” the military said after issuing evacuation warnings for a number of villages in the area.
Smoke rises, amid ongoing cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, in Tyre, southern Lebanon, September 23. — Reuters/File
India said that an Indian-flagged ship had been attacked off the coast of Oman on Wednesday and all crew on board were safe, Reuters reports.
“The attack … is unacceptable and we deplore the fact that commercial shipping and civilian mariners continue to be targeted,” India’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
The statement did not say who had carried out the attack.
Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry has said that Pakistan’s ties with the UAE are “absolutely fine”.
Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly, he said, “Now, I do not know why we ourselves are trying to build a narrative against a country that people are being deported from there based on their sect.
“There is no such thing,” he added, recalling that the government has already “denied it categorically with great responsibility”.
“Our ties with the UAE are absolutely fine,” Chaudhry said, pointing out that the Gulf country ranked the second — just behind Saudi Arabia — in the remittances sent to Pakistan “this month”.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in comments carried by Reuters, has said: “From our perspective, the Strait of Hormuz is open to all commercial ships, but they must cooperate with our naval forces.”
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi attends the Brics foreign ministers’ meeting at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, India on May 14, 2026. — Reuters
Turkish Central Bank Governor Fatih Karahan said the bank believes that an inflationary impact will remain present in the short term due to tensions in the region amid the Iran war, Reuters reports.
Presenting the central bank’s quarterly inflation report in Istanbul, Karahan said there would be no compromise on the bank’s determination to bring down inflation and it will continue to use all available tools for disinflation.
Qatar’s Ambassador to Pakistan Ali Mubarak Ali Essa Al-Khater has said his government has directed the provision of “every possible” facilitation to meet Pakistan’s energy needs, according to state-run PTV News.
The envoy made the remarks during a meeting with Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, who thanked the former for Qatar’s timely facilitation of Pakistan’s LNG supply.
The minister said that Pakistan’s priority was to secure supplies from friendly countries with the necessary approvals.
The Qatari envoy also lauded Islamabad’s “constructive role” in promoting peace and dialogue during the Iran war.
“It was agreed during the meeting to remain in close contact to secure further LNG supply,” PTV News said.
The UN’s agency for children, Unicef, has warned that hundreds of thousands of Lebanese children are at risk of developing chronic mental health issues due to persistent conflict in the country and mass displacement, Al Jazeera reports.
In a statement, Unicef estimates that more than 770,000 children are enduring “heightened distress from repeated exposure to violence, loss and displacement”.
“Without urgent support, the psychological scars of this compounded crisis may stay with them for years, affecting not only their wellbeing, but their future and the future of the country,” said Unicef regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, Edouard Beigbeder.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has said it received a report of an incident 38 nautical miles (70 km) northeast of the United Arab Emirates port of Fujairah, Reuters reports.
It has said the vessel was boarded by unauthorised personnel while at anchor and is now heading toward Iranian territorial waters.
Israel’s defence ministry has signed a $34 million deal with Elbit Systems to develop external fuel tanks aimed at extending the range and endurance of F-35 fighter jets, Reuters reports, citing the ministry.
After months under a near-total internet blackout during the Middle East war, Iranian tech worker Amir Hassan was finally able to get back online, but only through a privileged service that has sparked public criticism, AFP reports.
Millions like the 39-year-old have been unable to access the internet since February 28, punishing the pockets of online entrepreneurs and workers.
But Hassan did not hesitate when a message offered him the chance to get back online by purchasing the so-called “Pro Internet” system, designed for certain professionals and business owners.
“It was out of necessity. I was forced to get internet so I could ensure the flow of my income,” he told AFP, adding that he paid around $11 for an initial 50-gigabyte package.
The blackout since the war broke out has left most in the dark online, except for some limited local websites, banking services and state-approved applications.
Iran called on Brics member states to condemn what it says are violations of international law by the United States and Israel, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said in a statement on his Telegram account, AFP reports.
He also called on the Brics nations to prevent the politicisation of international institutions.
“The West’s false sense of superiority and immunity must be shattered by all of us.” Brics nations include Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia
Hezbollah says it has carried out several attacks on Israeli army positions in or near the southern Lebanese town of Biyyada, Al Jazeera reports, citing the Lebanese National News Agency.
The Lebanese group said it targeted Israeli soldiers and army vehicles inside the town, as well as troops heading from Biyyada towards Naqoura further south.
In addition, Hezbollah said it targeted an Israeli Merkava tank in Tel al-Nahas just outside Kfar Kila.
Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar has said that “safe, unimpeded maritime flows” through international waters, including the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, are vital for global economic well-being, according to Reuters.
“We must also address the increasing resort to unilateral coercive measures and sanctions inconsistent with international law and the UN Charter,” Jaishankar has said in his speech at the meeting of BRICS foreign ministers in New Delhi.
Iran has hosted a World Cup departure rally attended by thousands of fans in Tehran’s Enqelab Square, even if concerns remain about the team getting into the United States and competing at the tournament, Reuters reports.
The players, who will continue their preparations at a training camp in Turkiye next week, were cheered by the crowd as they made patriotic statements from a stage and the kit they will wear at the June 11 to July 19 tournament was unveiled.
Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reports that a series of Israeli overnight and early morning attacks have targeted multiple locations across southern Lebanon, Al Jazeera reports.
Air strikes on residential neighbourhoods in the Zibqin area injured nine people, including four women. All were evacuated to hospitals in Tyre for treatment, according to NNA.
A Panama-flagged crude oil tanker managed by Japanese refining group Eneos has passed through the Strait of Hormuz, ship-tracking data from LSEG showed, the second instance of such a Japan-linked ship making it through, Reuters reports.
The Eneos-managed tanker is carrying 1.2 million barrels of Kuwait crude and 700,000 barrels of Emirati Das Blend oil loaded in late February, Kpler data showed. The vessel is expected to arrive in Japan on June 3, according to Kpler.
