Ceasefire Appeal Amid Ongoing Tensions
Following President Donald Trump’s announcement of a ceasefire between the United States and Iran, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, urged both nations to honor the agreement. He voiced his concerns in a post on X, highlighting that there have already been reports of violations in various areas involved in the conflict.
Sharif’s appeal came shortly after Trump’s announcement, which he shared on Truth Social. “I sincerely urge all parties to exercise restraint and respect the two-week ceasefire as agreed, so that diplomacy can play a leading role towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict,” Sharif stated. He tagged several officials, including Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance.
Sharif’s call for restraint came in light of Iranian attacks targeting Israel shortly after the ceasefire was declared. Mike Tobin, a correspondent based in Tel Aviv, reported that missile alerts began almost immediately. “It took less than five minutes from the Truth Social post to when my phone started alerting me that missiles had been launched from Iran,” he stated.
According to the United Arab Emirates, Iranian strikes had expanded across the Gulf. The UAE Ministry of Defense reported that since the ceasefire began, 17 ballistic missiles and 35 drones had targeted the country. Meanwhile, Kuwait’s Ministry of Defense claimed to have intercepted 28 Iranian drones aimed at oil facilities, citing significant damage to energy infrastructure.
Warnings were issued in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia shortly after the ceasefire was announced, advising residents to seek shelter as sirens sounded. The parameters of the ceasefire remain unclear, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stating that the two-week pause “does not include Lebanon.” This is in contrast to Sharif’s assertion that the ceasefire would apply everywhere, including Lebanon.
Trump linked the ceasefire to Iran fully reopening the Strait of Hormuz. He also indicated that any nation supplying arms to Iran would face a 50% tariff. Both the U.S. and Iran plan to send delegations to Islamabad for formal negotiations on Friday, according to sources.
