ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Pakistan, which has been mediating peace talks between the United States and Iran, on Tuesday condemned Tehran’s latest drone and missile attacks on the United Arab Emirates (UAE), joining a growing list of international and regional actors denouncing the barrage. The strike marks the first such escalation in nearly a month, following a ceasefire that ended weeks of conflict.
“Pakistan strongly condemns the missile and drone attacks on civilian infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates last night,” Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in a post on X, expressing “full solidarity” with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The UAE, a close regional ally of the US, had endured repeated missile and drone attacks from Iran during the six-week conflict. After nearly a month of relative calm, the country again came under a renewed salvo from Tehran, with Abu Dhabi describing the strikes as “a dangerous escalation and an unacceptable transgression.”
Iran did not deny carrying out the attacks but said they were not premeditated.
“What happened was the product of US military adventurism aimed at creating a passage for ships to illegally pass through the Strait of Hormuz,” a senior Iranian official told state television. “The US military must be held accountable.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, often viewed as a moderate within the Islamic Republic, said the clashes underscored that there is “no military solution to a political crisis,” while pointing to Pakistan’s ongoing mediation efforts.
In his statement, Sharif reiterated Islamabad’s support for the UAE.
“Pakistan stands firmly with our Emirati brothers and sisters, as well as with the Government of the United Arab Emirates, at this difficult time,” he said.
The Pakistani premier stressed that it is “absolutely essential” for the ceasefire to be upheld, allowing diplomatic space for dialogue aimed at achieving lasting peace and stability in the region.
The latest escalation comes a day after the launch of a US-led maritime initiative, dubbed “Project Freedom,” aimed at escorting commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz following weeks of disruptions caused by attacks, sea mines, and heightened military activity.
According to a report by CBS News, two United States Navy destroyers transited the Strait and entered the Persian Gulf after navigating what US officials described as an Iranian barrage.
Tensions in the strategic waterway have remained high since late February, when the United States and Israel launched an aerial campaign against Iran on February 28. The move prompted Tehran to effectively restrict access to the Strait - one of the world’s most critical chokepoints for global energy supplies - leading to an increased US military presence and what observers have described as a de facto blockade.
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