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Pakistan launches strikes inside Iran against militant targets

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Pakistan conducted strikes inside Iran on Thursday, targeting separatist militants, the Pakistani foreign ministry said, two days after Tehran said it attacked Israel-linked militant bases inside Pakistani territory, Reuters reported.

Iranian media said several missiles hit a village in the Sistan-Baluchistan province that borders Pakistan, killing three women and four children, all non-Iranians.

“A number of terrorists were killed during the intelligence-based operation,” the Pakistani ministry said in a statement, describing it as a “series of highly coordinated and specifically targeted precision military strikes against terrorist hideouts”.

It added, “Pakistan fully respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

“The sole objective of today’s act was in pursuit of Pakistan’s own security and national interest, which is paramount and cannot be compromised.”

A Pakistani intelligence source told Reuters the strikes were carried out by military aircraft, read the report.

“Our forces have conducted strikes to target Baloch militants inside Iran,” the intelligence official in Islamabad, the Pakistani capital, said.

“The targeted militants belong to BLF,” he added, referring to the Balochistan Liberation Front, which seeks independence for Pakistan’s Balochistan province.

Iran said on Tuesday it had targeted Israel-linked militant bases inside Pakistan. Pakistan said civilians had been hit and two children killed, warning of consequences for which Tehran would be responsible.

Islamabad recalled its ambassador from Iran on Wednesday, Reuters reported.

Pakistan and Iran have in the past had rocky relations, but the strikes are the highest-profile cross-border intrusion in recent years.

Pakistan recalls envoy from Iran after ‘unprovoked’ missile strikes

Pakistan recalled its ambassador from neighbouring Iran on Wednesday to protest at a “blatant breach” of its sovereignty after Tehran said it launched missile attacks on militant bases in southwestern Pakistan.

Iran’s foreign minister said it hit militants in “missile and drone” strikes. State media said Iranian missiles struck two bases of the Sunni Muslim group Jaish al-Adl, designated a “foreign terrorist organisation” by the U.S. State Department.

Nuclear-armed Pakistan said a violation of its airspace resulted in the deaths of two children but has not confirmed the nature of the violation, or the location of the strikes.

Only militants were hit, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said in Davos, Switzerland, where he was attending the World Economic Forum, alleging those attacked were linked to Israel, read the report.

Pakistan and Iran have in the past had rocky relations, but the strikes are the highest-profile cross-border intrusion in recent years.

The strikes were launched a day after similar attacks carried out by Tehran inside other neighbours, Iraq and Syria. Baghdad recalled its ambassador from Tehran after Iran’s state-backed media said it had hit an Israeli espionage centre.

Provincial officials in Pakistan said two children were killed and several others injured in strikes near the Iran border.

The violation was unprovoked and unacceptable, said Pakistani foreign ministry spokeswoman, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch. Pakistan reserved “the right to respond to this illegal act”, a message it had conveyed to the Iranian government, she said.

Pakistan would not allow Iran’s ambassador, currently visiting his home country, to return, Baloch said.

A joint border trade committee meeting had been canceled, and a Pakistani trade delegation had been recalled from Chabahar in Iran, said government official Aurangzeb Badini.

“Further escalation is possible, though Islamabad has strong incentives to be cautious,” said Michael Kugelman, director of the Wilson Center’s South Asia Institute, adding that Beijing might also step in to help mediate.

“China has close ties to both Iran and Pakistan, and it has a strong interest in the crisis not spiraling out of control …it will likely quietly press the two sides to step back from the brink” he said.

Jaish al-Adl has in the past mounted attacks on Iranian security forces in the border area with Pakistan.

Officials in Pakistan’s southwestern province of Balochistan, which borders Iran, said that four missiles had hit the Panjgur district close to the border.

“Four missiles were fired in the village of Koh-i-Sabaz which is around 50 km (31 miles) inside Pakistan soil,” a senior official of the Panjgur administration told Reuters.

“A mosque and three houses were damaged in the attack,” another official said, adding that two young girls were killed and three other people injured.

Jaish al-Adl, which says it seeks greater rights and better living conditions for ethnic minority Baluchis, has claimed responsibility for several attacks in recent years on Iranian security forces in Iran’s southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchestan.

In its previous iteration as Jundallah, the group had pledged allegiance to Iraq- and Syria-based jihadist group the Islamic State.

Iran’s Amirabdollahian had a phone call with his Pakistani counterpart Jalil Abbas Jilani, according to an Iranian foreign ministry statement, and stressed Tehran’s respect for Pakistan’s sovereignty, Reuters reported.

“Iran’s security has been repeatedly targeted by Jaish al- Adl terrorist group from Pakistani soil and we are hopeful that stronger security cooperation between the two countries continue,” Amirabdollahian said.

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Global leaders react to announcement of US-Iran peace agreement

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer: “We are clear that ​toll-free freedom of navigation must now be restored in the Strait of Hormuz… Iran must never have a nuclear weapon.”

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U.S. and Iranian officials said on Sunday they have agreed on a deal to end their war, halt the U.S. blockade of Iran and reopen the Strait ​of Hormuz, possibly leading to lower energy prices once oil shipments resume through the critical ‌waterway, Reuters reported.

Below is international reaction to the agreement:

A spokesperson for U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres:

“The Secretary-General welcomes the announcement that the United States and Iran have agreed on a peace deal that provides for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the reopening of the ​Strait of Hormuz, as well as a framework for further negotiations. This represents a critical step ​towards the peaceful settlement of the conflict.”

Joint statement from E4 leaders Britain, France, Germany ⁠and Italy:

“Iran must never acquire a nuclear weapon. We stand ready to work with the U.S., Iran ​and the IAEA to this end.”

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“The Australian Government welcomes the agreement by the United ​States and Iran. Australia has long called for de-escalation and an end to the conflict, including in Lebanon. As we have said, the longer this war goes on, the greater the impact will be. Continued restraint and constructive engagement will be ​essential to prevent further escalation and secure a lasting agreement.”

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer:

“We are clear that ​toll-free freedom of navigation must now be restored in the Strait of Hormuz… Iran must never have a nuclear weapon.”

French ‌President Emmanuel ⁠Macron:

“I welcome the agreement reached between the United States and Iran, the result of a diplomatic effort to which several partners contributed. I call for its swift and full implementation by all belligerents. This agreement must allow for the urgent and unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which the international mission established with ​the United Kingdom is ​ready to support.”

German Chancellor ⁠Friedrich Merz:

“I welcome the agreement between the U.S. and Iran and congratulate President Trump and the Iranian side on this diplomatic breakthrough. This can pave the way ​towards a reinvigorated global economy and a more secure Middle East. It is ​crucial to implement ⁠it with determination.”

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi:

Japan “strongly hopes” that “free and safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz will be ensured in practice, and that a final agreement on Iran’s nuclear issue and other matters will be reached ⁠as soon ​as possible.”

New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters:

“This pivotal, constructive deal ​is a step towards reducing tensions and promoting stability in a region that is critical to global economic security… Dialogue and diplomacy remain ​the most effective means of resolving longstanding issues.”

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Iran banks hit by major cyber attack

Officials said a technical investigation confirmed that the disruptions were the result of a cyberattack.

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Several major Iranian banks experienced service disruptions on Saturday following a cyberattack, according to the Coordinating Committee of Iran’s state-owned banks.

The outage affected four major financial institutions, including Bank Melli Iran, Bank Saderat Iran, and Bank Tejarat, causing interruptions to mobile and online banking services, automated teller machines (ATMs), point-of-sale (POS) terminals, and some card transactions.

Officials said a technical investigation confirmed that the disruptions were the result of a cyberattack.

The affected banks stated that their technical teams immediately implemented precautionary measures after detecting the incident in an effort to safeguard customer information and protect banking infrastructure.

Qatasi, secretary of the Coordinating Committee of Iran’s state-owned banks, said necessary recovery and repair measures had been carried out.

Authorities said there is currently no evidence that customer data was accessed without authorization, and no data breach has been reported.

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US, Iran inch closer to deal, timing remains unclear

Trump wrote on Truth Social that after a framework ​deal is signed, the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global oil supplies that Iran has blocked, would immediately be “open to all.”

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U.S. and Pakistani leaders forecast a Sunday signing of a long-elusive framework agreement ​to end fighting between the United States and Iran, but Tehran cast doubt over the timing and hardline protesters in Iran voiced opposition, Reuters reported.

President Donald Trump posted on social media ‌on Saturday that the deal with Iran was scheduled to be signed the next day, his 80th birthday. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the two sides had agreed on a framework for a peace deal and that Islamabad was preparing for an electronic signing on Sunday, to be followed by technical-level talks in the coming week.

But Iran did not confirm a Sunday signing. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei, speaking before Trump’s post, had cautioned against commenting on ​the timing of the signing but was quoted by state media saying, “It will not be tomorrow,” but could happen “in the coming days.”

Trump wrote on Truth Social that after a framework ​deal is signed, the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global oil supplies that Iran has blocked, would immediately be “open to all.”

While U.S. bombings have heavily degraded Iran’s military-industrial base and damaged its military, experts say the war has left hardline Revolutionary Guard dominance more firmly entrenched than before.

Videos on social media and Iranian ​news websites showed opponents of an agreement gathering in squares and in front of the Foreign Ministry in Tehran, appearing to blame Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi as they chanted, “Araqchi have some shame, let ​go of America!”

Reuters could not immediately verify the videos.

When the U.S. and Israel launched the war against Iran on February 28, Trump called on Iranians to rise up and take over state institutions.

Even as the U.S. and Iran appeared to be moving toward an agreement over the past two days, clashes have continued, as the U.S. military imposes a blockade on Iran and seeks to loosen Iran’s chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, which was the conduit for ​20% of the world’s oil shipments before the war.

Early on Saturday, U.S. forces shot down multiple Iranian one-way attack drones heading toward the strait, the U.S. military said. Israel, which says it is not ​a party to the U.S.-Iran deal, said on Saturday that it had struck more than 70 sites over a 24-hour period in Lebanon against Iranian ally Hezbollah, Reuters reported.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has clashed with Trump over U.S. ‌demands that Israel ⁠curb military action in Lebanon to allow Washington to reach a deal with Tehran.

On Friday, Araqchi said that while changes in the deal were still possible, the tentative agreement showed his country had emerged stronger from the conflict.

At pro-government rallies held across Iran on Saturday night, residents and news agencies reported that hardliners opposed to the framework agreement loudly voiced their dissatisfaction.

A resident in the northeastern city of Mashhad told Reuters that some protesters chanted: “Death to the compromiser,” in an apparent reference to Araqchi. “Compromiser, resign, resign.”

The proposed memorandum of understanding calls for reopening the strait and ​lifting the U.S. naval blockade, sources on all ​sides of the talks said. Negotiations over Iran’s ⁠nuclear program — a key rationale Trump has given for the war — would take place afterwards.

“Iran is going to open up the Strait of Hormuz, that’s a requirement. It could be open with no tolls. As they do that, we will lift our blockade,” a U.S. official told reporters.

“It’s going to ​happen in conjunction, and part of the next step, the phase after that, is going to be the demining of the straits,” the official ​said, indicating countries in the ⁠Group of Seven major powers could have a role in this.

Trump discussed the efforts to end the Iran conflict in a call with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Downing Street said on Saturday.

Draft terms described to Reuters by multiple sources indicate the U.S. would begin releasing billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets and waive sanctions on its oil exports, in return for Iran opening the strait.

Iran’s Fars news agency quoted Baghaei ⁠as saying ​the release of Iran’s frozen assets was an integral part of the agreement and also that Iran would have to ​charge for services in the Strait of Hormuz, read the report.

He said foreign military bases in the region must end, the agency reported, without providing details.

Iran’s nuclear program would be addressed during a 60-day period of talks. A U.S. official said the agreement would ultimately ​lead to the dismantling of Iran’s nuclear program, with its stockpile of highly enriched uranium to be destroyed and removed.

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