Pakistan Is No Qatar: Islamabad Warns Israel After Strikes Near Embassy in Tehran

Islamabad has issued a sharp warning to Israel following reports that recent United States-Israeli airstrikes in Iran's capital came close to the Pakistani embassy.

In a strongly worded statement, Pakistan cautioned that any harm to its diplomats, whether in Iran or elsewhere, would provoke a decisive response. The warning came after explosions were reported in central Tehran, including areas near the residence of Pakistan's ambassador and the embassy compound.

According to initial information, the Pakistani mission itself was not directly hit and no staff were injured. However, the intensity of the blasts reportedly shook nearby buildings, triggering alarm within diplomatic circles.

The developments come as the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran enters its fourth week, with sustained aerial bombardments reported across multiple Iranian cities, including Tehran, Kashan and Abadan.

At the same time, Pakistan has emerged as an increasingly significant diplomatic intermediary in the crisis. A Pakistani official told Reuters that Israel had briefly considered targeting senior Iranian leaders, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and parliamentary speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, but refrained after Islamabad urged Washington to intervene.

"The Israelis had their coordinates and wanted to take them out... we told the US that if they were eliminated, there would be no one left to negotiate," the official said, indicating that the United States subsequently asked Israel to hold back.

Diplomatic efforts have continued behind the scenes, with Pakistan reportedly facilitating communication between Washington and Tehran. A proposed 15-point ceasefire plan has been conveyed through Islamabad, positioning the country as a key conduit in attempts to de-escalate the conflict.

However, there are conflicting signals over the prospects for talks. While US President Donald Trump has claimed that negotiations are ongoing and that Iran is keen to reach an agreement, Tehran has publicly denied engaging in any such dialogue.

Iranian Foreign Minister Araqchi stated that messages relayed through third countries do not constitute formal negotiations, insisting that Tehran has no plans to enter talks under current conditions.

Despite this, reports suggest that Iranian officials may be open to indirect engagement, with discussions possibly taking place in Pakistan in the coming days. However, Tehran is said to be unwilling to consider a temporary ceasefire as part of any agreement.

Meanwhile, the broader geopolitical and economic impact of the war continues to intensify. Iran's actions in and around the Strait of Hormuz-one of the world's most critical oil transit routes-have disrupted global energy supplies, sending crude prices soaring by over 40 per cent since the conflict began.

Global leaders have voiced growing concern over the economic fallout. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius described the situation as "a catastrophe for the world's economies", warning that prolonged hostilities could trigger a wider crisis.