US Secretary of State Marco Rubio explored the ways of ensuring “a durable peace between Israel and Iran,” with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during a call on Thursday, according to Al Arabiya.
“The two leaders acknowledged the importance of working together to promote a durable peace between Israel and Iran,” the US State Department said in a statement.
During the call, Rubio stressed that Iran can never develop or acquire a nuclear weapon.
Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump unveiled a ceasefire between Israel and Iran to put an end to a war that began on June 13 when Israel attacked Iran.
Trump also held a meeting last week with Pakistan’s Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir at the White House to discuss the latest tensions between Israel and Iran.
Since Tehran does not have diplomatic relations with the US, a section of Pakistan’s embassy in Washington represents Iran’s interests in the US.
Escalating Tensions
On June 13, Israel launched a wave of airstrikes on Iran under the name of Operation Rising Lion. The military campaign targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities and killed top military commanders and nuclear scientists.
As a response, Iran launched a retaliatory wave of missiles against Israel and targeted Tel Aviv. Israel also killed several Iranian nuclear scientists in line with its goal to eliminate Iran’s nuclear program.
US Achieved No Gains
In his first public statement since the announcement of the ceasefire, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared victory over Israel that targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities on June 13, according to The Associated Press.
The Supreme Leader also stated that Iran has “delivered a hand slap to America’s face” on Thursday by attacking the US base in Qatar.
He revealed that the US intervention in the war was basically driven by its feeling “that if it did not intervene, the Zionist regime would be utterly destroyed.” However, the US had not achieved any gains from this war, he added.
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