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IRAN VOWS WILL NEVER ‘BOW’ AS TRUMP THREATENS ‘VERY HARD’ STRIKES AMID SOARING MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT Sunday, 8 March, 2026 | 18 Ramazan, 1447
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PRESIDENT PEZESHKIAN SAYS IRAN WILL NOT TARGET NEIGHBOURS UNLESS ATTACKED FIRST AT LEAST 41 KILLED IN ISRAELI RAIDS ON LEBANON’S NABI CHIT; SAUDI ARABIA INTERCEPTS MISSILES AND DRONES
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IRGC WARNS ALL US-ISRAEL BASES IN REGION ARE ‘PRIMARY TARGETS’ IF HOSTILITIES CONTINUE IRANIAN MISSILES AND DRONES STRIKE NORTHERN ISRAEL, HAIFA HIT WITH KHEIBAR SHEKAN GUIDED MISSILES
pakistan intensifies regional diplomacy as dar engages gulf, iran to ease Me tension
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XVI No 243 | 8 Pages | Lahore Edition
CdF Munir, Saudi minister pledge joint measures under defence pact Security forces kill 15 TTP, BLA terrorists in Balochistan IBOs
TEHRAN/WASHINGTON/TEL AVIV agencies / staff report
S the war launched by the United States and Israel enters its second week, tensions across the Middle East continue to escalate with no signs of abating. US President Donald Trump has threatened “very hard” strikes on Iran, while Iran maintains it will never surrender to foreign pressures. President Masoud Pezeshkian stressed that Iran will not target neighbouring countries unless attacks originate from there, rejecting Trump’s demand for “unconditional surrender” as Tehran continues drone and missile strikes on targets in Israel and the Gulf region. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned that all US and Israeli military bases and interests in the region would be considered primary targets should attacks on Iran continue. Casualties and regional strikes At least 41 people have been killed in Israeli air and ground raids on the Lebanese town of Nabi
Chit in the eastern Bekaa Valley. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles aimed at Prince Sultan airbase, as well as drones targeting the Shaybah oilfield. President Pezeshkian confirmed that Iran’s interim leadership council had approved stopping strikes on neighbouring nations and issued apologies for any recent collateral effects. “Iran’s actions target US military bases, facilities, and installations, not neighbouring countries,” he clarified on X. Trump escalated tensions on Saturday, posting on Truth Social: “Today Iran will be hit very hard! Under serious consideration for complete destruction and certain death… areas and groups of people that were not considered for targeting up until this moment in time.” He also claimed the US had “knocked out 42 Iranian warships in three days,” while an Iranian army spokesman warned that any “enemy” ships entering the Gulf would end up “at the bottom of the sea.”
ISLAMABAD
staff report
RAWALPINDI
staff report
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday held highlevel talks with counterparts from the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Iran and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary General on regional security, stability, and peace amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East, the Foreign Office said. Tensions in the region surged last week after US and Israeli air strikes killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with several senior officials, prompting retaliatory attacks from Tehran and significantly broadening the confrontation.
Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir held a key meeting with Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman Al Saud in Saudi Arabia on Saturday to review the rapidly evolving Middle East security situation, particularly Iran’s recent missile and drone attacks on the Kingdom. According to a statement issued by the ISPR, the two leaders discussed the seriousness of the security situation arising from Iranian strikes and deliberated on coordinated measures to counter them under the framework of the strategic mutual defence agreement signed between Pakistan and Saudia last year.
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Pezeshkian rejected Trump’s demands: “That we surrender unconditionally is a dream that they must take with themselves to the
grave. We adhere to international laws and humanitarian frameworks.”
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RAWALPINDI
staff report
Pakistan’s security forces killed at least 15 militants linked to the Tehreek-eTaliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) during two intelligence-based operations in Balochistan, the military said on Saturday. According to a statement issued by the InterServices Public Relations (ISPR), the first operation was carried out in Harnai District after intelligence reports indicated the presence of militants described by authorities as “Fitna al Khwarij”.
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