War returns to Iran with Israel, US strikes

The EU says that it has “no immediate” energy supply concerns linked to the widening Iran war, with the bloc’s underground gas storage at “adequate levels” of around 30 per cent of capacity, AFP reports.

“Our analysis is that there is no immediate security of supply concern for the European Union,” European Commission spokeswoman Anna-Kaisa Itkonen told journalists, adding Brussels had asked member states to share their national assessments by the end of the day.

“So, we’re not taking any emergency measures or anything like this. There is no shortage. There is no emergency. Our gas imports are well diversified,” she added.

Two drones headed towards a British base in Cyprus have been intercepted, a Cyprus government spokesman said, AFP reports.

“Two unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) heading toward the British Bases in Akrotiri were dealt with in a timely manner,” spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis posted on X.

A concerted attack by Iran on Saudi oil infrastructure could trigger a military response from the kingdom, a source close to the Saudi government told AFP.

Saudi Arabia would target “Iranian oil facilities if Iran mounts a concerted attack on Aramco”, the source told AFP, referring to the state oil giant.

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also addressed the Gaza conflict and the Board of Peace membership.

“All the efforts aimed to bring peace in the Middle East, particularly in Gaza, Pakistan has been a contributor in all those efforts,” Dar affirmed, recalling the efforts of the Muslim bloc of eight countries since September 2025.

“We don’t mince words; we call a spade a spade. Wherever you know principle demands, we do act accordingly,” he emphasised.

Dar highlighted that the Omani foreign minister was “absolutely satisfied” with the US-Iran talks, as well as the IAEA authorities whom the Pakistani leadership met 10 days ago in Austria.

“So it is puzzling that what necessitated all of a sudden the decision to attack,” Dar said, apparently referring to the US and Israeli joint strikes on Iran.

The minister also noted that a Pakistani national died as a result of a retaliatory attack in Abu Dhabi.

“Our missions in the region remain fully engaged with the diaspora, and remain in close contact with local authorities for facilitation,” he affirmed.

FM Ishaq Dar termed the developments in the last 72 hours “really very very worrisome”.

“In our outreach, at the leadership level, we have called for an immediate halt to escalation through urgent resumption of diplomacy to achieve a peaceful, negotiated resolution to the crisis,” the foreign minister noted.

“Pakistan stands ready to extend support towards peaceful resolution of outstanding issues,” he declared.

Noting Oman’s mediation efforts, Dar said, “Our effort has been to encourage both the US and Iran to get engaged in dialogue, diplomacy, and resolve the issue. […] We are privy to the demands and the responses.

“We have been encouraging to make it viable, win-win for both the United States and Iran, and I think we are very close in counselling both countries on this subject.”

“Pakistan also stands in full solidarity with all our brotherly countries and underscores the need to exercise maximum restraint,” Dar said, adding that PM Shehbaz, and Field Marshal Asim Munir in conversation with his counterparts, have been conveying the same.

The foreign minister stated: “We acknowledge that the main target of Iran’s retaliatory strikes were in self-defence, but Pakistan deeply regrets and condemns the strikes on brotherly countries, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE and Oman.

“We can’t have double standards,” he said, recalling that Pakistan was one of the first to condemn the attacks on Iran, but the self-defence actions “compounded and complicated the situation on the ground”.

Dar further said, “They (Iran) are a sovereign state and it’s their decision, they say ‘we have not attacked those countries, we attacked the American base there or their installation there’.

“But there is still no justification because of the panic, see what’s the turmoil in the entire region … I myself had to find ways to get back to the country and the entire airspace was closed.”

Deputy PM and FM Ishaq Dar noted that he had spoken with various foreign ministers on the ongoing situation.

“I think I have not talked to anyone who disagrees that dialogue and diplomacy is the only way forward, not only for this region but wherever there is any conflict.

“There are forums available, there are systems in place post-World War Two, so it seems to be a very turbulent time in the diplomatic space and the diplomatic world, which we all need to work together to bring it back to the original agreed principles,” Dar said.

FM Dar noted that Pakistan’s position had been clear and persistent that “all countries must abide by the principles of the UN Charter and international law, including respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other states, as well as international humanitarian law”.

The minister recalled that he had conveyed Pakistan’s “condemnation of the attacks” to Iran FM Abbas Araghchi in a phone call with him on February 28.

Dar noted that his Iranian counterpart had responded “positively” to his call for restraint and dialogue, adding: “But on ground, we are seeing that things are not yet settling or easing out.”

Three US warplanes were mistakenly shot down by Kuwait air defences late on Sunday night, the US Central Command (Centcom) has said, an incident that occurred during active fighting that included Iranian attacks, AFP reports.

“Three US F-15E Strike Eagles flying in support of Operation Epic Fury went down over Kuwait due to an apparent friendly fire incident. During active combat — that included attacks from Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles, and drones — the U.S. Air Force fighter jets were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defences,” Centcom said Monday, adding that all six aircrew ejected and were safe.

“Kuwait has acknowledged this incident, and we are grateful for the efforts of the Kuwaiti defence forces and their support in this ongoing operation,” it added.

The Israeli military has said its air force has begun “an additional broad strike” in central Tehran, targeting the government, Al Jazeera reports.

It further reported that loud explosions have been heard in several parts of the Iranian capital.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, FM Ishaq Dar pointed out: “Obviously, these serious developments have taken place at a time when diplomatic efforts were underway to reach a peaceful and negotiated solution.

“But what triggered all of a sudden this action, which has now engulfed almost all countries. As late as this morning, we understand that Saudi Arabia has also now, in self-defence, responded to Iran, though there is no reported casualties.”

Referring to a meeting chaired by PM Shehbaz yesterday, Dar reiterated that Pakistan was “concerned over violation of norms and the international law and the age-old tradition that the heads of state and the government” should not be targeted, as seen now.

“Things are on the ground moving very differently, which obviously is worrisome because we believe that the international law must prevail and the conventions must be respected,” he noted.

“We had consistently urged that the door to dialogue and diplomacy must not be closed,” the foreign minister stressed.

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has said that Pakistan was making “full diplomatic efforts” for de-escalation in the Middle East.

“This recent escalation has obviously now significantly heightened tensions in an already volatile and fragile environment.

“We are doing our full diplomatic efforts and are requesting all parties to de-escalate and refrain from this process.”

Israel has bombarded Lebanon, several American warplanes have crashed in Kuwait and Iran continues to lash out against the region with missiles, as the war with Israel and the US expands.

Israel and the US have struck targets across Iran since Saturday.

Lebanon was dragged into the Middle East war after Hezbollah fired rockets towards Israel in support of Iran and to avenge Khamenei’s killing.

Lebanese authorities said Israeli strikes killed at least 31 people, while Israeli military claimed it had struck a senior Hezbollah operative in Beirut.

Explosions rocked Beirut while in southern Lebanon residents fled, according to AFP journalists, after the Israeli military announced it was striking both parts of the country.

In the southern city of Sidon, cars of families fled on packed roads, an AFP journalist said, adding that some vehicles had mattresses tied to the roof.

A total of 555 people have been killed across Iran in US and Israeli strikes that began two days ago, the Iranian Red Crescent has said, AFP reports.

“Following the Zionist-American terrorist attacks carried out in various regions of our country, 131 cities have been affected to date and, regrettably, 555 of our compatriots have been killed,” the humanitarian group said in a post on Telegram.

Debris has fallen in the al-Hamra village of UAE’s Ras Al Khaimah following the successful interception of a drone by air defence systems, Al Jazeera reports, citing authorities.

“No injuries were reported,” the media office said.

Bangladesh has extended heartfelt condolences to the people of Iran on the assassination of Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, terming it a “violation of international law and norms”.

In a statement issued by its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government is saddened to learn of the assassination of the Iranian leader.

“Bangladesh believes that conflict brings no solution and only dialogue, mutual respect, and adherence to the international law can resolve disputes,” the statement said.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have said their missile attacks have targeted the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the headquarters of the Israeli air force commander, AFP reports.

“The office of the criminal prime minister of the Zionist regime and the headquarters of the regime’s air force commander were targeted,” the Guards said in a statement carried by Fars news agency.

It said Kheibar missiles were used in the attack.

Two US military bases in Iraq have been targeted in drone attacks, the Qatar News Agency reports.

Citing an Iraqi security source, the report said the US base near Erbil International Airport in the Kurdistan region and Victoria Base near Baghdad International Airport were targeted.

At the base near Erbil, air defence systems intercepted and shot down several of the drones before they reached their targets, while two drones were also downed at Victoria Base, QNA said.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has spoken with Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq on the evolving regional situation “that had been aggravated following Israel’s attack on Iran as well as subsequent hostilities that had endangered the peace and security of the entire region”.

“Appreciated Oman’s sincere efforts, over the past years, to promote dialogue and reduce tensions, especially at this critical time,” the premier said on X.

“We agreed on the urgent need to prevent further escalation and restore the path of diplomacy for lasting peace and stability in our region,” he added.

Long queues have formed at fuel stations across Sri Lanka as the conflict in Iran fed fears of oil shortages in the island nation, which is still recovering from a deep financial crisis, Reuters reports.

Many people were panic buying despite assurances from the authorities that Sri Lanka had enough stocks of diesel and petrol to last 35 and 37 days, respectively — the full amount that the country usually stores.

“There is fuel. People are panicking because of the war and they are themselves creating these lines. So people are just flocking to the stations, but there is enough fuel in Sri Lanka,” said Mohammed Aslem, a 36-year-old three-wheeler driver standing in a fuel queue in Colombo.

“Sri Lanka does not have enough storage facilities to store fuel beyond the next few weeks, but there are sufficient confirmed shipments till the end of this month,” said S. Rajakaruna, chairman of the state-run Ceylon Petroleum Corporation told reporters.

Iranian missiles targeting an air base near the Saudi capital of Riyadh have been intercepted, a Gulf source briefed on the matter told AFP.

“Iranian missiles targeting Prince Sultan Air Base were intercepted again on Monday morning,” said the source.

Two witnesses also told AFP they heard explosions over the city of Kharj, southeast of Riyadh.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar spoke to Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Alzayani, according to the Foreign Office.

“They discussed rapidly unfolding regional situation,” the FO said. It added that Dar emphasised “efforts towards de-escalation, and advancing peace and stability in the region”.

“The two leaders agreed to remain in touch,” the statement said.

Oman’s Embassy in Bahrain has urged Omani citizens stranded in the country who wish to return to Oman to contact the embassy as soon as possible on +973 38855442.