Pakistani premier reaffirms 'unwavering solidarity' with Iran, urges diplomacy after US strikes

​​​​​​​By Berk Kutay Gokmen

ISTANBUL (AA) – Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday reaffirmed “unwavering solidarity” with Iran, urging the need for returning to diplomacy following the US attack on Iran’s nuclear sites.

Sharif expressed condolences on the loss of lives during his phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, according to a statement by Pakistan’s Press Information Department.

He "conveyed Pakistan’s condemnation of the US attacks, which followed Israel’s unprovoked and unjustified aggression over the past eight days,” the statement said.

Sharif reiterated Pakistan's "unwavering solidarity" with the Iranian people and government, expressing concern that US strikes had targeted sites protected by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards.

“These attacks constituted a serious violation of international law and the IAEA Statute,” the premier said.

He cited Iran's right to self-defense under the UN Charter and called for "urgent collective efforts to de-escalate the situation."

Emphasizing the need to “return" to dialogue and diplomacy and "urgent collective efforts to de-escalate the situation," Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s "readiness to play a constructive role in this context."

Iranian President Pezeshkian, for his part, expressed "deep appreciation" for Pakistan's support of his country. He acknowledged and thanked Sharif, as well as the Pakistani people and government, for their solidarity with Iran.

Separately, Bangladesh expressed "deep concern" over US attacks on Iran's nuclear sites, saying that such developments "risk further destabilizing" an already fragile regional situation and heightening the threat to international peace and security.

The Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Bangladesh “urges all parties to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from any actions that could escalate tensions in the region,” noting that the country reaffirms support for peaceful conflict resolution.

The situation in the region further deteriorated after US President Donald Trump announced Sunday that American forces carried out "very successful" airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites, amid growing fears of a broader conflict in the region.

The US targeted Iran’s nuclear sites with six bunker-buster bombs dropped on the Fordo facility with B-2 stealth bombers, along with dozens of submarine-launched cruise missile strikes on the Natanz and Isfahan facilities.

Following the US strikes, Iran called on the UN Security Council to hold an emergency meeting to condemn the US aggression and to hold accountable those who violate international law.

Hostilities broke out on June 13 when Israel launched airstrikes on several sites across Iran, including military and nuclear facilities, prompting Tehran to launch retaliatory strikes.

Israeli authorities said at least 25 people have been killed and hundreds injured since then in Iranian missile attacks.

Meanwhile, in Iran, 430 people have been killed and more than 3,500 wounded in the Israeli assault, according to the Iranian Health Ministry.

​​​​​​​*SM Najmus Sakib contributed from Dhaka