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Pakistan said Thursday that talks between the United States and Iran were still underway, even as both sides returned to direct military action and attacks spread into several countries across the Middle East.
Pakistan says negotiations between Washington and Tehran remain active despite renewed US strikes on Iran, Iranian missile attacks on Jordan and Kuwait, and a drone strike that damaged ships at Egypt’s Damietta port.
Pakistan said Thursday that talks between the United States and Iran were still underway, even as both sides returned to direct military action and attacks spread into several countries across the Middle East.
Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi said negotiations were continuing, with discussions focused on the Strait of Hormuz and broader efforts to reduce tensions.
“Negotiations between parties are ongoing, particularly on the Strait of Hormuz and to de-escalate,” Andrabi told reporters in Islamabad.
Pakistan helped broker the temporary arrangement that opened the door to renewed negotiations. Andrabi said Islamabad was working to bring the parties back to technical discussions aimed at reaching a permanent agreement.
The US military said it completed a major wave of strikes against Iran, hitting dozens of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targets, including military command centers.
The strikes followed renewed Iranian attacks on Jordan. President Donald Trump had warned that Tehran would be hit hard after Iran targeted the kingdom.
Iranian state media reported strikes in southwestern Khuzestan province and on Qeshm Island in the Persian Gulf. Locations near Abadan, Shadegan, Arvandkenar and Ahvaz were reportedly hit.
The Revolutionary Guards said three of its members were killed in a separate US strike in Zanjan province.
Jordan’s military said its air defenses intercepted five missiles launched from Iran early Thursday. No casualties were reported.
The IRGC said it targeted the US-operated Azraq base in Jordan in retaliation for American strikes on Iranian territory.
Iran also claimed that US strikes on Qeshm Island hit residential homes, killing two adults and a child while wounding two other children. The United States did not immediately confirm that account.
Kuwait’s Defense Ministry condemned what it described as an Iranian attack on a building owned by a Chinese company in the country’s north.
The ministry said one worker was killed and the building sustained severe damage.
Egypt confirmed that a drone caused a fire at the Damietta gas import hub, damaging two ships. Egyptian authorities did not publicly identify who launched the drone and said an investigation was underway.
Maritime tracking firm Kpler identified the damaged vessels as the Energos Winter storage and regasification vessel and the GasLog Salem tanker. Both ships were later moved offshore.
British maritime security company Ambrey reported that the floating storage vessel was struck by at least one drone.
Damietta port authorities said the facility remained fully operational, with normal ship arrivals, departures and cargo activity continuing.
Two unnamed Iranian sources cited by The New York Times suggested the attack was intended to demonstrate Tehran’s ability to disrupt international shipping and regional energy supplies. They did not explicitly confirm whether Iran or one of its terror proxies carried out the strike.
The renewed fighting followed a brief pause intended to support diplomatic efforts. Previous negotiations after an April ceasefire stalled, and the truce collapsed earlier this month.
Iran then moved again to restrict access through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil and natural gas shipments.
The Revolutionary Guards said two oil tankers attempting to cross the strait with US support turned back after one vessel caught fire.
Despite Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts, the latest attacks show that Iran continues to threaten regional states, international shipping and critical energy infrastructure while using military pressure as leverage in negotiations.
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