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US-Iran conflIct eScalateS aS HormUz crISIS tHreatenS peace effortS Tuesday, 14 July, 2026 | 28 Muharram, 1448
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FRESH WAVE OF STRIKES MARKS FIERCEST FIGHTING SINCE APRIL CEASEFIRE
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TEHRAN WARNS ISLAMABAD MOU IN CRISIS BUT SAYS MEDIATION WITH PAKISTAN, QATAR AND OMAN CONTINUES
Rs 50.00 | Vol XVII No 109 | 48 Pages | Islamabad Edition
WASHINGTON TO ENFORCE MARITIME BLOCKADE ON IRAN AS TENSIONS MOUNT IN STRAIT OF HORMUZ g
IRGC ANNOUNCES RETALIATORY STRIKES TARGETING BAHRAIN, JORDAN, KUWAIT AND OMAN
Iran says talks with Pakistan, Qatar and Oman continue to avert US escalation ISLAMABAD AGENCIES
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TEHRAN/WASHINGTON
STAFF REPORT/AGENCIES
HE United States and Iran exchanged some of their most intense military strikes since the April ceasefire on Monday, sharply escalating tensions across the Middle East and placing renewed pressure on diplomatic efforts to permanently end the conflict, as Washington prepared to begin enforcing a maritime blockade on Iran from Tuesday. The renewed hostilities, centred on the strategic Strait of Hormuz, have heightened fears of a wider regional confrontation and threatened to undermine the framework established under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which was signed in June to halt the fighting and pave the way for a comprehensive peace agreement. As US strikes against Iranian targets continued on Monday, Tehran warned it would cease complying with the June framework agreement if Washington
failed to honour its commitments. Iran also retaliated with attacks targeting Gulf states, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announcing fresh strikes on Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait and Oman. Iran vows to remain 'guardian' of Strait of Hormuz Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Monday that Tehran would remain the "guardian" of the Strait of Hormuz despite US President Donald Trump's threat to impose shipping fees in the strategic waterway. "POTUS (President of the US) is absolutely right. Whoever provides secure and safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz should be compensated for this service," Araghchi wrote on X. "Iran has always been the guardian of the strait and will remain so forever," he added. Earlier in the day, President Trump announced that the United States would enforce a blockade on Iran through the Strait of Hormuz and impose a 20 per
operation Shaban death toll reaches 117 as security forces intensify Balochistan offensive ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Eight more terrorists were killed in the latest phase of Operation Shaban, taking the total number of militants eliminated in the operation and other intelligence-based operations (IBOs) across Balochistan since July 5 to 117, security sources said on Monday as security forces intensified their campaign against terrorist networks operating in the province, state media reported. The joint operation, being conducted by the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps (FC) and Balochistan Police, was launched following the terrorist attack on the Mangi Dam Police Station and remains underway with coordinated ground and aerial operations targeting terrorists belonging to Fitna al-Khawarij across Balochistan.
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Iran is continuing diplomatic engagement with mediators Pakistan, Qatar and Oman to prevent a further escalation in its conflict with the United States, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday, as renewed military exchanges between Washington and Tehran fuel fresh concerns over regional stability and the security of the Strait of Hormuz. Baghaei's remarks came after fresh US strikes on Iranian targets and retaliatory Iranian missile and drone attacks on American facilities across several Gulf states, raising fears of a wider regional confrontation and renewed disruptions to commercial shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Pakistan and Qatar have played central roles in recent diplomatic efforts to bridge differences between Washing-
cent toll on ships seeking safe passage. "20% is of course too much. We will be fair," Araghchi responded. According to Reuters, the US Navyled Joint Maritime Information Centre (JMIC) announced that the US military would begin enforcing a maritime blockade on Iran on Tuesday. The advisory said the blockade would cover all Iranian ports, oil terminals and coastal areas and would apply to all vessel traffic, regardless of nationality, from 2000 GMT on July 14
ton and Tehran, helping negotiate the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)—an interim agreement reached in June that halted hostilities between the United States and Iran, reopened the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping and committed both sides to negotiating a comprehensive agreement within 60 days. As part of that process, US and Iranian negotiators met with Pakistani and Qatari mediators in Bürgenstock, Switzerland, in June for the first highlevel talks on implementing the Islamabad MoU. The parties agreed to establish a high-level committee to oversee the negotiations, create working groups on key issues including the nuclear file, sanctions and dispute resolution, and establish direct communication channels aimed at preventing military incidents and ensuring the safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.
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(1:00am Pakistan time on July 15). "Any vessel suspected of entering or departing the blockaded area without authorisation is subject to interception, diversion, and capture. Non-compliant vessels may be legally compelled with force," the advisory stated. The centre, however, clarified that neutral commercial transit through the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian destinations would not be affected.
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pm visits Doha, offers condolences on former Qatari emir's demise ISLAMABAD
SALEEM JADOON
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday travelled to Doha to offer Pakistan's condolences over the passing of Qatar's former emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, where he met Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and reaffirmed Pakistan's solidarity with the leadership and people of Qatar during their time of national mourning, according to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). Prime Minister Shehbaz was accompanied by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and other senior Pakistani officials, underscoring the significance Islamabad attaches to its longstanding fraternal ties with Qatar. Sheikh Hamad, who served as Qatar's emir from 1995 to 2013 before transferring power to his son, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, is widely credited with transforming Qatar into a leading regional and global diplomatic and economic power through rapid development and an active foreign policy. Qatar remains one of Pakistan's closest partners in the Gulf, hosting hundreds of thousands of Pakistani workers while maintaining close cooperation with Islamabad in energy, investment and regional diplomacy. More recently, Doha and Islamabad have worked closely on diplomatic initiatives aimed at promoting regional stability, including efforts related to tensions between the United States and Iran. "The Prime Minister and Pakistan delegation called on His Highness the Amir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and conveyed heartfelt condolences at the sad demise of the Father Amir," the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement. During the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid rich tribute to the late Father Amir's visionary leadership, statesmanship and enduring contributions to Qatar's remarkable transformation, as well as to regional peace, stability and development. The prime minister also recalled the late emir's deep affection for Pakistan and reaffirmed Pakistan's unwavering solidarity with the leadership and people of Qatar during this period of profound grief.
Field Marshal Munir arrives in Türkiye for high-level strategic talks ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir arrived in Türkiye on a two-day official visit on Monday to hold high-level talks with the country's political and military leadership on matters of mutual interest, as Pakistan and Türkiye continue to deepen their longstanding strategic partnership and defence cooperation. Quoting security sources, Pakistan Television (PTV) and APP reported that Field Marshal Asim Munir received a warm welcome upon his arrival in Türkiye. During the visit, he is scheduled to hold important meetings with Türkiye's political and military leadership to discuss issues of mutual interest. No further details regarding the agenda of the visit were officially disclosed. "During the visit, he will hold important meet-
ings with Türkiye's military and political leadership to discuss matters of mutual interest," state-run Radio Pakistan reported, without providing additional details. Pakistan and Türkiye enjoy close political, economic and defence relations, underpinned by regular high-level exchanges and growing strategic cooperation. Both countries are also members of the R-4 diplomatic framework, launched in March by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan to coordinate positions on regional crises. The visit comes amid expanding defence collaboration between the two countries. In May, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Chief Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu visited Türkiye, where he held meetings with the Turkish Air Force commander, the country's defence minister and senior executives of Turkish drone manufacturer Baykar Technologies, reflecting deepening cooperation in advanced defence technologies at a time when
armed forces worldwide are investing heavily in drones, electronic warfare, cyber capabilities and integrated multi-domain operations. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also visited Türkiye, where he invited Turkish companies to explore investment opportunities in Pakistan's energy, mining, infrastructure, maritime, telecommunications and agriculture sectors. Field Marshal Asim Munir's visit also comes a month after Turkish Land Forces Commander General Metin Tokel called on him at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi. During that meeting, General Tokel reaffirmed his commitment to further strengthening defence cooperation and institutional linkages between the armed forces of the two brotherly countries. During his visit to Pakistan, General Tokel also called on Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf and Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu.