Tehran/Islamabad — A senior Iranian commander has claimed that Pakistan has assured Iran of a nuclear response against Israel if Israel uses nuclear weapons on Iranian soil. The statement, made by Mohsen Rezaei, a high-ranking member of Iran’s National Security Council, was aired on Iranian state television earlier this week.
“Pakistan has assured us that if Israel uses a nuclear bomb on Iran, they will attack Israel with a nuclear bomb,” Rezaei said.
However, no Pakistani official has confirmed or commented on this assertion. The government of Pakistan has remained silent on the alleged nuclear assurance, and no official statement has been issued from Islamabad.
Warming Ties Between Iran and Pakistan
The comments come months after a brief but tense missile exchange between Iran and Pakistan in early 2024. Since then, both countries have taken steps to repair diplomatic ties, with recent public expressions of solidarity and strategic alignment.
Rezaei claimed that Pakistan now “stands by Iran” and emphasized the need for Muslim unity, stating that Tehran possesses undisclosed capabilities not known to the global community.
Defence Minister Urges Muslim Unity
On June 14, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, addressing the National Assembly, echoed similar sentiments, though without any reference to nuclear weapons.
“Israel has targeted Iran, Yemen, and Palestine. If Muslim nations don’t unite now, each will face the same fate,” Asif warned.
He called for Muslim countries maintaining diplomatic ties with Israel to sever those relations immediately and urged the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to convene a joint response strategy.
Conflict Escalates: Dozens Dead
This political rhetoric follows a deadly escalation of violence in the region. On Friday, Israel launched coordinated airstrikes on key military and nuclear sites in Iran. Iran retaliated with missile attacks, triggering a wave of hostilities that has resulted in heavy casualties on both sides.
- Iranian casualties: 128 dead, nearly 900 injured
- Israeli casualties: 13 dead, over 370 injured
The situation remains fluid, with growing concerns that further escalation could ignite a broader regional war.