War of words intensifies

World sinks deeper into crisis as peace efforts go nowhere

The US-Israel-Iran war did not see any new field developments, but did witness any intensification of the war of words between Tehran and Washington. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who is ex officio one of the three members of the council that exercises the functions of the Supreme Leader now that that office is vacant, has said that Iran will not attack the Gulf States unless attacks originate from them, but has refused the US call for ‘unconditional surrender’. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump repeated that call for unconditional surrender, warning that ‘Iran will be hit very hard!’ Mr Trump seems offended by Iran’s refusal to do his bidding, despite a bombing campaign which has not just killed the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, but also more than 1000 other people. The Iranian declaration that it will not target the Gulf States if attacks do not originate there seems designed to address concerns that the war was spreading, while it also put pressure on the USA, which will now face pressure from its hosts not to use those bases for attacks on Iran.

Another development has been the meeting of the Saudi Defence Minister, Prince Khalid ibn Salman, with the Pakistani Chief of Defence Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir. Though the military and defence agreement between the two was not formally invoked by Saudi Arabia, it did come under discussion between the two. Pakistan is clearly in an awkward position, for it does not find the possibility of having to act against Iran palatable, especially when it will be acting against Iranian attacks on US military bases in Saudi Arabia. It is perhaps no wonder that Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held consultations with his counterparts from the UAE, Malaysia and Iran, and the Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

However, all of these consultations do not seem to be making much headway in the face of US stubbornness, bolstered by Israeli intransigence. The peace of the world is endangered, because Mr Trump could perhaps go to any extent, and is behaving a little like a spoilt child who is not being given what he wants. Pakistan must do what it can to stop the conflict, especially now that it threatens to draw it in. Instead of concerting measures to improve its economy, it has to try to conserve fuel, as the PM told ministers to prepare plans for this.