Mediator Pakistan says renewed US-Iran conflict is ‘in no one’s interest’

What Happened

The United States carried out a second consecutive night of attacks on Iran, striking approximately 90 sites including coastal radar installations, missile and drone storage facilities, and naval assets. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) retaliated with drone and missile attacks on US military bases in Kuwait (Camp Arifjan) and Bahrain (Fifth Fleet headquarters in Juffair), and launched drones towards a site in Qatar. Iranian state media reported the deaths of a soldier in Iranshahr and eight air force and navy personnel in Bandar Abbas and Bushehr. The escalation followed Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday and Tuesday, including a Qatari-owned tanker. In response, Washington reimposed sanctions on Iranian oil exports, revoking a waiver granted under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Pakistan, which brokered the MoU in April, urged both sides to honour their commitments and said it remains ready to play a mediating role.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The collapse of the fragile ceasefire and the new wave of strikes and counterstrikes raise fears of a wider regional conflict, directly involving US bases in Gulf states and threatening the free flow of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Pakistan’s role as a mediator is under severe strain but remains critical, as both sides show limited flexibility. The escalation also coincides with Iran’s leadership transition after the reported killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, adding internal instability to an already volatile situation.

Watch For

Whether the US and Iran will de-escalate or continue military exchanges, including potential US action against Kharg Island or a naval blockade. The fate of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding and any renewed diplomatic outreach, particularly from Pakistan, Qatar, or other regional states. Iran’s response to sanctions and the impact on oil markets, as well as any further attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.