War returns to Iran with Israel, US strikes

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has received a phone call from Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, according to the Foreign Office (FO).

“The Bahraini FM congratulated DPM/FM on the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran, with Pakistan as witness. He also lauded Pakistan’s constructive mediation role in facilitating the understanding reached between the two sides,” the FO said.

“Both leaders felicitated each other on this important milestone and expressed hope that it would contribute to lasting peace and stability in the region,” it said.

“They reaffirmed the strong brotherly ties between Pakistan and Bahrain and underscored the importance of continued high-level engagement and close cooperation between the two countries,” it added.

The United States will restart military action and reimpose a blockade if Iran does not fulfil its commitments under its agreement with the US, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said, according to Reuters.

“The president has pointed out that we will be prepared to recommence if underneath the timeline of these talks, Iran does not do what it says it’s going to do,” Hegseth has said in Brussels after meeting North Atlantic Treaty Organisation defence ministers.

“If Iran doesn’t comply, then we’re more than able to reimpose an ironclad blockade.”

Saudi Arabian oil giant Aramco is considering expanding its storage capacity around the world after energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz were disrupted by the Iran war, Aramco Chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan says, according to Reuters.

“Aramco has storage facilities around the world especially in Asia, in Korea and Japan, and we are thinking seriously of having larger storage facilities all over the world,” said Rumayyan, who is also the governor of the Saudi sovereign wealth fund PIF.

Rumayyan was speaking at the FII PRIORITY Europe summit, hosted in Rome and organised by the Saudi non-profit institute Future Investment Initiative, which is backed by PIF.

International Energy Agency head Fatih Birol has welcomed the interim agreement to end the Iran war and called for the Strait of Hormuz to be reopened without conditions, Reuters reports.

Birol said several countries were reviewing their energy policies as it was clear that the waterway could potentially be shut again, given Iran had closed it during the war.

The IEA will discuss new strategies with several countries as the crisis has redrawn the global energy map, Birol said at an event in Istanbul, adding that “trust” is critical in global energy markets, where prices have fallen since the peace deal.

The strait must be reopened “without conditions” so that all parties “believe it is safe”, Birol said, adding: “We will now see the details of the agreement and the negotiation process, and what happens next”.

“The vase is broken,” he said. “Now all actors know that the Strait of Hormuz was closed once and it can be shut down again.”

Oil prices have fallen 2pc to their lowest since the first trading day of the Iran war, as a US-Iran interim deal to end the war, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and ease sanctions on Tehran boosted the global supply outlook, Reuters reports.

Brent crude futures were down $1.59, or 2pc, at $77.96 a barrel as of 8:11am GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate fell $1.83, or 2.38pc, to $74.96 a barrel.

“The sell-off extended as energy markets continued to aggressively price in a faster-than-expected return of Iranian barrels following the recent US-Iran memorandum of understanding,” IG market analyst Tony Sycamore said in a note.

Pre-war objectives abandoned, Iran’s power bolstered, tens of billions of dollars guzzled away: US media appear unanimous in condemning Donald Trump’s concessions to Iran in a deal meant to end the war, AFP reports.

“The White House agreed to this ceasefire extension that met none of its prewar objectives while providing enormous financial concessions to Tehran,” said US TV network MS NOW.

“Now, the administration is desperately trying to argue otherwise. Quite simply, Trump got played by the Iranians, and no one is buying his spin job.”

Fox News, the usually Trump-friendly news channel, cited critics who said the agreement gave Iran “huge financial benefits” without requiring the dismantlement of its nuclear program.

“President Donald Trump’s proposed Iran agreement is drawing sharp criticism from some of his strongest supporters, who argue the deal rewards Tehran before it has agreed to fully dismantle its nuclear program,” Fox said.

The network quoted British broadcaster Piers Morgan, who said the deal was “about as far removed from ‘unconditional surrender’ as any deal in the history of planet Earth”.

US President Donald Trump has slammed those who think he has not been “tough enough on Iran”.

“These fools, who think I haven’t been tough enough on Iran, when the Stock Market Just Hit A RECORD HIGH, and Oil prices are ‘tumbling’ down, are either jealous, bad people, or stupid,” he wrote on Truth Social.

Iran said that its missile programme would not be part of future negotiations with the United States, after the two sides agreed a framework deal for ending their war, AFP reports.

“Our missiles do not like at all to be talked about by anyone,” foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said in an interview with Iranian state television.

“Iranian missiles are only for firing, not for negotiations. Iran’s defence capability will not be discussed in any way, in any process or with any party,” he said.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, speaking to Geo News, also commended the efforts undertaken by PM Shehbaz Sharif and CDF Field Marshal Asim Munir.

He said top leadership from both countries had thanked and acknowledged Pakistan for its mediation efforts.

“Any act of mediation cannot be done without trust,” he said, adding that Pakistan had emerged “prominently” in the international arena.

When asked when the Pakistani delegation will leave for Switzerland for the signing ceremony, Tarar said, “We will communicate once confirmation comes in”.

Russia welcomes the ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, its foreign ministry says, Reuters reports.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar says that Pakistan’s role in the signing of the US-Iran agreement is a “moment of pride” for Pakistanis all across the globe.

Speaking to Geo News, the information minister underscored the significance of the day, stressing that the “historic day” will be remembered for all time to come.

“It was a difficult task to bring the US and Iran to an understanding,” he said, adding that the task had previously been considered “impossible”.

Three Saudi-flagged supertankers with six million barrels of crude onboard have sailed through the Strait of Hormuz, ship tracking data shows, according to Reuters.

The sailings from Saudi ports were the biggest departures through the strait in weeks, according to Reuters analysis of shipping movements.

Saudi Arabia has mainly used its Red Sea port terminal of Yanbu to ship out oil due to the conflict.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said that it was as ready to begin defining the “concrete steps” that will need to be taken to implement a US-Iran deal, AFP reports.

“Now it’s for us to sit down with our American colleagues, our Iranian colleagues, and start formulating the concrete steps that will have to be to be taken,” IAEA chief Rafael Grossi told reporters in Geneva.

Communications Minister and founder Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) has congratulated PM Shehbaz on signing of the US-Iran agreement, terming it a “monumental breakthrough”.

In a post on X, he said, “The signing of the ‘Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding’ between the US and the Islamic Republic of Iran represents a monumental breakthrough, demonstrating that dialogue and strategic diplomacy can triumph over conflict.

“By successfully mediating this historic accord, Pakistan has reaffirmed its pivotal role as a cornerstone of regional peace and global stability,” he added.

He congratulated PM Shehbaz for his “visionary statesmanship, tireless leadership, and unwavering commitment to conflict resolution,” adding that under his leadership, Pakistan’s diplomacy had reached “unprecedented heights”.

China has said it “welcomes” news that the United States and Iran signed a deal to end the Middle East war, urging both sides to continue their cooperation in a second round of negotiations, AFP reports.

“China welcomes this development and hopes that all relevant parties —including the US and Iran — will uphold the spirit of their agreement and earnestly honour their commitments,” foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian told a news conference, urging Washington and Tehran to “meet each other halfway” in the next stage of talks.

An Israeli drone has carried out an attack on the town of Kfar Tebnit in the Nabatieh district of southern Lebanon, Al Jazeera reports.

Iran’s Abbas Araghchi and Italy’s Antonio Tajani have discussed the Memorandum of Understanding signed by Tehran and Washington in a telephone call, Al Jazeera reports.

The ministers agreed on the importance of maintaining regional stability and security, and emphasised the opportunity created by the deal to consolidate peace, a statement on Araghchi’s Telegram channel said.

Initial talks between the United States and Iran are planned at the Buergenstock mountaintop resort in Switzerland on Friday, following the signing of a ceasefire agreement between Tehran and Washington, the Swiss government has said, Reuters reports.

“As things stand, the plan is still for the US and Iran, along with mediators Pakistan and Qatar and other involved countries, to meet tomorrow at Buergenstock for initial negotiations about implementing the agreement.

“No further information is currently available regarding the schedule and details of this meeting,” the Swiss foreign ministry said in a statement.

The United Nations says its UNIFIL peacekeepers have observed continued “extensive” Israeli military activity in southern Lebanon despite a “reduction in the intensity of hostilities in the area of operations,” Al Jazeera reports.

“This includes high-density armoured movements, large-scale engineering and demolition works, and sustained logistical traffic across the area,” the UN secretary-general’s spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters in New York.

Germany is deploying two ships to the Red Sea in preparation for a possible military mission in the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reports, citing Germany’s Defence minister Boris Pistorius.

“As we speak, our minesweeper Fulda and the supply ship Mosel are sailing through the Suez Canal towards the Red Sea,” he told reporters as he arrived for a meeting with his Nato counterparts in Brussels.

Pistorius said approval would be needed from Iran and Oman before any participation in a minesweeping operation, and added any mission would also depend on the developments in further talks between Iran and the US.

Estonia’s Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur, speaking at a Nato meeting in Brussels, said that European nations must take part in ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reports.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar held a phone call last night with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand, during which they discussed recent diplomatic developments, according the Foreign Office (FO).

“FM Anita Anand commended Pakistan’s constructive role in supporting diplomatic engagement and mediation efforts between the United States and Iran, which helped facilitate the understanding reached between the two parties,” the FO says in a post on X.

They also discussed the forthcoming engagement between the parties in Burgenstock, Switzerland on Friday.

“Appreciating the positive momentum in Pakistan–Canada relations, they reaffirmed their commitment to expanding cooperation across areas of mutual interest,” it said.

President Asif Ali Zardari has warmly welcomed the signing of the ‘Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding MoU’ between the United States of America and Iran, describing it as an historic moment for the region and the world, according to the President’s Secretariat.

“In his message, the president said that the conflict which began in February 2026 inflicted immense suffering upon the peoples of the region and caused severe disruption to global energy supplies, trade and economic stability.

“He expressed hope that such a tragedy would never be repeated and that the nations of the region would now devote their energies to development, prosperity and the well-being of their peoples,” the statement said.

Zardari paid tribute to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir and Minister for Interior Mohsin Naqvi for their “tireless diplomatic efforts that contributed significantly to bringing the parties to an agreement”.

“He noted that Pakistan had played a principled, balanced and constructive role throughout the crisis, consistently calling for dialogue, restraint and a peaceful resolution of disputes while maintaining engagement with all parties concerned,” the statement said.

Zardari also appreciated the leadership of US President Donald Trump, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi for “ensuring a diplomatic resolution of the conflict and advancing the cause of peace”.

He also acknowledged the support of brotherly nations, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Egypt, as well as Russia and China, whose “efforts and encouragement of dialogue contributed to the pursuit of peace”.

He called upon all parties to implement the MoU fully and expedite efforts to reach the final agreement within the stipulated timeframe to ensure lasting peace and progress. He expressed the hope that this MoU would serve as the foundation for a durable and comprehensive peace in the region, enabling nations to focus on economic development, energy cooperation and the advancement of their peoples.

“War brings nothing but destruction and misery. Peace is the only path to progress,” the president was quoted as saying. “Pakistan will continue to stand in solidarity with all brotherly nations of the region in their collective journey towards peace and prosperity.”