In a joint statement released on Wednesday, Iran and Pakistan called on the United Nations Security Council to take countermeasures, accusing Israel of “unlawfully” targeting neighboring countries and foreign diplomatic facilities.
The joint statement was issued by Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs following Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s three-day visit to the country amid heightened tensions in the Middle East.
Last Friday, explosions were heard over the Iranian city of Isfahan, which sources said was an Israeli attack. However, the Iranian government downplayed the incident and said there were no plans for retaliation.
“Recognizing that the irresponsible actions of the Israeli regime’s forces are a serious escalation in an already volatile region, both sides urge the United Nations Security Council to attack the Israeli regime’s adventurism in the region and its neighbors. We called on Iran and Pakistan to stop this illegal activity,” Iran and Pakistan said in a joint statement.
repair the bond
Muslim neighbors Iran and Pakistan are seeking to mend relations following unprecedented retaliatory military attacks this year.
Raisi, who flew to Sri Lanka on Wednesday after his visit, vowed to expand trade between Iran and Pakistan to $10 billion a year.
During his visit to Pakistan, Raisi was quoted by Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency as saying that further Israeli attacks on Iranian territory could fundamentally change the balance of power and result in nothing remaining for the “Zionist regime.”
On April 13, the Iranian government launched a barrage of missiles and drones toward Israel in retaliation for the April 1 Israeli attack that allegedly fatally wounded the Iranian embassy compound in Damascus. They fired artillery fire, but nearly all were shot down.
Pakistan had previously called for de-escalation by “all parties”.
Iran and Pakistan vowed during Raisi’s visit to step up trade and energy cooperation, including on a major gas pipeline deal that has faced delays due to geopolitical issues and international sanctions.
