Pakistan, Kuwait call for de-escalation amid widening US-Iran conflict

Pakistan and Kuwait on Saturday stressed the urgent need for de-escalation in the Middle East amid the recent outbreak of fresh hostilities between the United States and Iran, while calling on all sides to exercise restraint.

According to a statement issued by the Foreign Office, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar received a telephone call from Kuwait's FM Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, during which the two leaders discussed the latest developments in the region.

“Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah shared Kuwait’s serious concerns regarding the continued attacks on its territory,” the statement said, adding that he hoped restraint would be exercised by all sides and that the Islamabad MoU would be fully implemented.

He also appreciated Pakistan’s constructive and mediatory role in promoting dialogue and regional stability.

During the conversation, Dar underscored the urgent need for de-escalation, stressed the importance of respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states, and emphasised that maintaining regional peace and security must remain the foremost priority.

He also underlined the importance of upholding ceasefire commitments under the Islamabad MoU and avoiding any actions that could further escalate tensions.

The two leaders agreed to remain in close contact on matters of mutual interest.

Read: Iran has suspended implementation of Islamabad MoU: Deputy FM Gharibabadi

The conversation came as Iran launched strikes on United States military bases in Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain, while an adviser to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said the conflict would enter a more “aggressive” and “destructive” phase.

Kuwait Petroleum Corporation said “one of the vital sites in the oil sector was subjected to repeated brutal Iranian attacks, resulting in a number of injuries and significant material losses”, according to Al Jazeera.

“The injured were provided with medical assistance and the site was evacuated, while the response to the attack is being handled in coordination with the relevant state authorities,” the statement noted, according to the country's KUNA news agency.

Separately, Kuwait Airways announced that takeoff and landing operations at Kuwait International Airport had been temporarily suspended, adding that most of its flights had been rescheduled because of the measure.

“Most flights have been rescheduled due to the temporary suspension of takeoffs and landings at Kuwait International Airport as a result of the Iranian aggression,” the airline said in a statement carried by KUNA.

Iran launched renewed attacks on US Gulf allies on Saturday after a seventh consecutive night of US strikes targeting Iranian military sites, including logistics infrastructure, escalating the conflict one week after a fragile ceasefire agreement collapsed.

Also Read: Iran renews attacks on Gulf states after another night of US strikes

Both sides also targeted shipping traffic, with the United States saying it was enforcing a naval blockade, while Iran said it was targeting vessels that violated its rules governing navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for around one-fifth of global oil supplies.

Oil prices climbed more than 4% on Friday to their highest level in more than a month, increasing political pressure on US President Donald Trump as his Republican Party seeks to retain control in the November congressional elections.

Washington and Tehran have continued testing the limits of escalation since the ceasefire agreement broke down last week, raising concerns over a return to full-scale war.

Former IRGC commander-in-chief Mohsen Rezaei stated early on Saturday that “both diplomacy and negotiations, as well as war, are over.”

“If America continues the war in the next 2-3 days, we will enter the stage of the enemy's ‘full-scale invasion and annihilation,’” he stated.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was also concerned about the escalation, particularly “attacks on civilian infrastructure in Iran and across the region”, his spokesperson said.