ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Saturday urged the United States and Iran to fully uphold their ceasefire commitments under the Islamabad MoU and avoid any actions that could further escalate regional tensions.
The Islamabad MoU was signed on June 18 by US President Donald Trump, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, following Islamabad brokered a ceasefire between Washington and Tehran.
Under the Islamabad MoU, the US and Iran committed to halt military operations, reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping, and negotiate a comprehensive agreement covering Iran’s nuclear programme, US sanctions, and a permanent ceasefire within 60 days.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar received a telephone call today from his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. During the telephone conversation, the two Foreign Ministers discussed the latest developments in the region, Pakistan’s Foreign Office said in a statement.
Ishaq Dar underscored the urgent need for de-escalation and stressed the importance of respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states. He emphasised that maintaining regional peace and security must remain the foremost priority.
Deputy PM Dar also underlined the importance of upholding ceasefire commitments under the Islamabad MoU and avoiding any actions that could further escalate tensions.
Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 received a telephone call today from the Foreign Minister of the State of Kuwait, H.E. Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.
The two Foreign Ministers discussed the latest developments in the region.… pic.twitter.com/ZxRFsczOoQ
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) July 18, 2026
Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah shared Kuwait’s serious concerns regarding the continued attacks on its territory and expressed hope that restraint would be exercised by all sides and that the Islamabad MoU would be fully implemented.
Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah also appreciated Pakistan’s constructive and mediatory role in promoting dialogue and regional stability. The two leaders agreed to remain in close contact on matters of mutual interest.
Kuwait condemns Iranian attacks
Meanwhile, Kuwait accused Iran on Saturday of targeting civilian sites and vital infrastructure in the country, after reporting attacks on an oil facility and a power and water plant.
Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry expressed Kuwait’s condemnation of the “Iranian aggression” that targeted the country’s territories this morning, striking another power generation and water desalination station, facilities affiliated with the oil sector, and a number of vital installations, resulting in outbreaks of fires and the infliction of severe damage to vital installations, civilian facilities, and residential buildings.
“The repeated targeting of these vital facilities reveals a systematic hostile approach targeting civilian sites and vital infrastructure that endangers the lives and safety of civilians,” the foreign ministry said.
The Ministry affirmed that the repeated targeting of vital installations reveals a systematic aggressive approach that targets civilian assets and essential infrastructure, endangering the lives and safety of civilians, in flagrant violation of international law, international humanitarian law, the United Nations Charter, and Security Council Resolution 2817. It further held Iran fully responsible for this treacherous aggression and its repercussions, demanding that it immediately cease its assaults.
بيان صادر عن وزارة الخارجية
السبت 18 يوليو 2026تُعرب وزارة الخارجية عن إدانة دولة الكويت واستنكارها، وبأشد العبارات، للعدوان الإيراني الآثم الذي استهدف أراضي البلاد صباح اليوم، وطال محطة أخرى من محطات القوى الكهربائية وتقطير المياه، ومنشآت تابعة لقطاع النفط، وعددٍ من المنشآت… pic.twitter.com/X9FAZSnqix
— وزارة الخارجية (@MOFAKuwait) July 18, 2026
Iran targets facilities in Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said on Saturday that it launched strikes on the US military bases in Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain.
IRGC said that its naval forces launched drone and missile strikes on a US fleet fuel support pier at Al Ahmadi port in Kuwait and Sheikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain.
The IRGC also claimed to have destroyed a US intelligence data centre in Bahrain, known as Batelco, as well as a US signals and communications centre in Kuwait, according to Iran’s semi-official news agency Tasnim.
Kuwait Petroleum Corporation said, “one of the vital sites in the oil sector was subjected to repeated brutal Iranian attacks, resulting in a number of injuries and significant material losses”.
“The injured were provided with medical assistance and the site was evacuated, while the response to the attack is being handled in coordination with the relevant state authorities,” the statement noted, according to the country’s Kuna news agency.
Islamabad MoU framework
Washington and Tehran have been testing the limits of escalation since Trump announced last week that the ceasefire agreement with Iran is over.
The US military’s Central Command said it concluded its latest round of attacks by hitting surveillance sites, military logistics infrastructure, underground weapons storage and maritime capabilities.
The Islamabad MoU was signed on June 18 by US President Donald Trump, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif after Pakistan brokered a ceasefire between Washington and Tehran.
Under the Islamabad MoU, the US and Iran committed to halt military operations, reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping and negotiate a comprehensive agreement covering Iran’s nuclear programme, US sanctions and a permanent ceasefire within 60 days.
Pakistan and Qatar subsequently co-mediated the first round of high-level negotiations in Lucerne, Switzerland, on June 21.
The talks were attended by US Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts
Pakistan is the principal mediator between the US and Iran after it secured a ceasefire on April 08 and hosted the highest level of talks between the two nations on April 12 and 13 in Islamabad.
Pakistan, which brokered the ceasefire and has continued to mediate between Washington and Tehran, has urged all parties to honour the agreement.
The first round of Pakistan and Qatar mediated US-Iran talks, led by US Vice President JD Vance and Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf, was held in Switzerland a week ago, and Washington waived sanctions on Tehran.
After the talks, Pakistan and Qatar announced significant progress in diplomatic efforts between the US and Iran following the conclusion of the first round of high-level talks in Switzerland.
