PM Shehbaz slams US strikes on Iran, cites violation of int’l law

Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday strongly condemned the United States' air strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, terming them a grave violation of international law and expressing full solidarity with Iran.

He emphasized that Tehran has the right to self-defence under the UN Charter and urged an immediate return to dialogue and diplomacy, calling it the only viable path forward.

According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, PM Shehbaz made these remarks during a telephone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday afternoon. The call came after former US President Donald Trump announced that American forces had launched strikes on key Iranian nuclear sites — including the Fordow enrichment plant, Natanz, and Isfahan — escalating tensions across the Middle East.

During the call, Prime Minister Shehbaz expressed Pakistan’s deep concerns over the attacks, which followed over a week of unprovoked Israeli aggression. He reiterated Islamabad's condemnation of the US strikes and conveyed heartfelt condolences over the loss of innocent lives. He also prayed for the swift recovery of the injured.

The premier voiced particular concern that the targeted sites were under the safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), stating that the strikes not only breached international law but also violated the IAEA Statute.

Highlighting Iran’s legitimate right to self-defence as outlined in Article 51 of the UN Charter, PM Shehbaz called for urgent international efforts to de-escalate the situation. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to playing a constructive role in promoting peace and stability.

President Pezeshkian expressed gratitude to Pakistan for its unwavering support and appreciated the solidarity shown by the government, military leadership, and people of Pakistan. Both leaders stressed the importance of unity among Muslim nations and agreed to maintain close contact in the coming days.