Pakistan, Saudi Arabia Urge Diplomacy as U.S.-Iran Tensions Escalate Following Qeshm Island Strike

ISLAMABAD: The foreign ministers of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia held telephone talks this week to assess escalating regional tensions, underscoring the necessity of dialogue and diplomacy to preserve stability as hostilities between the United States and Iran intensify.

The conversation between Pakistan’s Ishaq Dar and Saudi Arabia’s Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud came on the heels of a U.S. strike on Iran’s Qeshm Island on Monday. Washington described the action as a defensive measure to prevent Iranian attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, while Tehran warned of severe repercussions. Mohsen Rezaei, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, stated Wednesday that any party confronting Iran would pay a heavy price.

Both Islamabad and Riyadh have actively sought to mediate a peaceful resolution to the dispute. According to a statement from the Pakistani Foreign Office, the two ministers exchanged views on current regional and international developments, agreeing on the critical importance of sustained diplomatic engagement. They also committed to maintaining close contact and continuing consultations.

The current cycle of violence erupted in February following joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear and ballistic missile facilities—a move Tehran denied was justified, insisting its nuclear program is peaceful. Since then, Iran has retaliated against U.S. military positions and civilian infrastructure in the Gulf, disrupting vital maritime trade routes and driving up global energy prices.

The conflict has also spilled into Yemen, where renewed fighting has broken out between the internationally recognized government and Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who have also targeted civilian infrastructure in Saudi Arabia.

Diplomatic efforts suffered a setback this week when the Qeshm Island strikes undermined recent momentum from talks between Iranian and Qatari officials exploring prospects for a lasting peace. Adding to the volatility, Hamidreza Moghadamfar, an adviser to the Revolutionary Guard Corps commander-in-chief, warned Wednesday that Tehran would expand its response beyond U.S. military bases if Gulf states permit Washington to launch attacks from their territory.

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