Iranian Interior Minister Momeni arrives on official visit
US strikes inland targets as Iran hits bases across re
WASHINGTON/
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan voiced optimism on Monday, with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi welcoming his Iranian counterpart, Eskandar Momeni, and saying he hoped the visiting minister had brought “good news”, as the United States launched a fresh round of strikes against Iran and President Donald Trump vowed strong reprisals for the deaths of American troops in Iranian attacks.
The latest escalation came after the US Central Command announced in the early hours of Tuesday that a new wave of strikes against Iran had begun. The attacks followed one of the deadliest periods for US forces since the conflict began in February, with the number of American troops killed in the war rising to 17 over the weekend.
Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni arrived in Islamabad on an official visit accompanied by a high-level delegation.
During his stay, he is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and other senior Pakistani officials to discuss bilateral relations, border security, trade, energy cooperation and the evolving regional situation.
Naqvi and Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry received the Iranian delegation at Islamabad International Airport. Welcoming the visiting minister, Naqvi described Momeni as “a brother” and expressed hope that he had brought “good news”, saying the visit would contribute to meaningful progress on regional issues and further strengthen ties between the neighbouring countries.
During formal talks, the two sides reaffirmed the longstanding friendship between Pakistan and Iran. Naqvi said the visit would deepen bilateral cooperation and voiced confidence that the high-level engagements would help address shared challenges while advancing regional stability.
Momeni described Pakistan-Iran relations as “exceptional”, saying they were rooted in mutual trust and shared history. He also praised the hospitality extended by Pakistan and said he was delighted to meet Naqvi once again.
The Iranian delegation includes the governor-general of Sistan and Baluchestan Province, Iran’s deputy interior minister, the deputy minister for urban development and transport, the head of the National Iranian Oil Company, the special representative of the Iranian minister of agriculture and other senior officials.
Meanwhile, fighting intensified after a brief ceasefire earlier this month, with the United States continuing its strikes on Iran and Tehran responding with attacks on American forces across the Middle East. Reuters reported that Washington had already begun deploying additional military aircraft, including fighter jets and refuelling tankers, to the region before the latest deadly attack.
Reacting to the latest American casualties, Trump issued a stern warning to Tehran, declaring that “every time Iran kills an American Soldier they will pay for that killing many times over.” He said the directive had been passed to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Daniel Caine and military leadership.
According to the Pentagon, about 430 US troops have been injured since the conflict began. It said 100 service members had been injured since July 7, with 96 per cent returning to duty. The White House said Trump would attend the dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base for the service members killed over the weekend.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Monday that his country was fighting a “full-scale war” with the United States. “The reality is that today the Islamic Republic of Iran is engaged in a full-scale war,” he said. “We must be realistic and accept the natural consequences of this resistance.”
His comments came after state media and local authorities reported more US strikes on Monday in the north and centre of the country, extending further inland than areas near the blockaded Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s oil supplies transited before the war.
The Iranian provinces targeted hosted military bases and air defence systems. In Bushehr, home to the country’s only operational civilian nuclear power plant, the state news agency said several locations were hit. In East Azarbaijan, IRNA reported that “one person was martyred and several others injured” in an attack.
Despite the latest attacks, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said diplomatic exchanges with the United States through mediators were continuing. “Ideas have been conveyed to us by certain mediators,” he told a press conference in Tehran attended by AFP.
In the Strait of Hormuz, meanwhile, sailors abandoned a vessel after it caught fire in an attack. The Revolutionary Guards had earlier said two oil tankers attempting to transit the strait “exploded and were brought to a halt”. Baghaei said Tehran would not allow the waterway to be used by its foes.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards also announced overnight strikes on targets in Syria, Jordan and Kuwait. In Syria, they said Iranian forces launched “a surprise attack on the enemy special operations command centre in the Al-Tanf region”.
In Jordan, the Guards claimed they targeted US military aircraft stationed at Aqaba Airport with ballistic missiles, causing severe damage, while in Kuwait they said they destroyed an American early-warning radar system.
Kuwait’s military said its air defences were “engaging hostile drone attacks following Iranian aggression”. Bahrain’s interior ministry also said air raid sirens had sounded and urged citizens and residents to move to “the nearest safe place”.
Meanwhile, the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said it would respond “with force” to Houthi threats against shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and pledged to safeguard commercial vessels transiting the strategic Red Sea waterway.
Earlier, the Houthi group, which controls northern Yemen, blocked the internationally recognised government from exporting oil. Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry also condemned the maritime embargo imposed by the Houthis on the kingdom.
