Pakistan’s foreign ministry stated on Thursday that talks between Iran and the United States remain active, despite Washington’s large‑scale strikes against Iran in response to recent attacks on Jordan.
In the past two days, Saudi Arabia has joined the United States in striking militant groups in Iraq, and Egypt experienced its first drone attack at a Mediterranean port.
Early Thursday, Jordan said it intercepted a second consecutive wave of Iranian missiles, while Kuwait reported that an Iranian attack on a building owned by a Chinese firm resulted in one fatality.
The resumption of direct hostilities followed a short lull in fighting that had been intended to facilitate negotiations.
Andrabi told reporters that negotiations are continuing, especially concerning the Strait of Hormuz and de‑escalation measures.
Pakistan previously mediated a deal that laid the groundwork for a permanent resolution, and Andrabi emphasized that Pakistan is doing its utmost to bring all parties back to the technical talks stipulated by the agreement.
Earlier talks after an April truce stalled, the ceasefire collapsed earlier this month, and Iran once again closed the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for Middle Eastern oil and gas.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard reported on Thursday that two oil tankers, escorted by the United States, turned back after one of them caught fire while attempting to pass the Strait of Hormuz.
– Strikes in Iran –
The U.S. military announced that it had successfully carried out a heavy wave of strikes against Iran, targeting dozens of Revolutionary Guard facilities, including command centres.
President Donald Trump pledged a strong response after Tehran’s recent attack on Jordan, which marked the first Iranian strike in the region in several days.
Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported that several cities in Khuzestan province, as well as Qeshm Island in the Gulf, were hit.
The agency said that areas surrounding Abadan, Shadegan, Arvandkenar and Ahvaz — all within Khuzestan — were struck, according to provincial authorities.
Jordan’s army reported a new volley of Iranian missiles on Thursday morning, noting that five were intercepted with no casualties.
Kuwait’s defence ministry condemned what it described as a heinous Iranian attack on a building belonging to a Chinese company in the north of the country, which killed one worker and caused extensive material damage.
– Egypt hit –
The conflict, which began in February with a wave of U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, has now affected every country in the region and several beyond its borders.
Although energy infrastructure elsewhere in the region has been repeatedly targeted by drones and missiles, Egypt remained untouched until Wednesday, when an attack on a gas import hub ignited a fire that damaged two vessels.
The government confirmed on Thursday that a drone caused the fire and stated that no group had claimed responsibility.
It added that an investigation is under way to determine the incident’s circumstances and to take steps to protect Egypt’s interests and national security.
Maritime tracking firm Kpler identified the damaged vessels as the Energos Winter storage and regasification ship and the GasLog Salem tanker, noting that both had been moved offshore following the incident.
UK‑based private security monitor Ambrey reported that the U.S.-owned floating storage vessel had been struck by at least one drone.
The port authority said the facility remained fully operational, with all terminals and berths handling regular vessel arrivals and departures, as well as continuous loading, unloading, and cargo handling of all types.
