Pakistan pushed for urgent diplomacy as Trump issued a stern warning against Iran

Pakistan launched a last-ditch diplomatic effort on Tuesday to prevent an escalation between the United States and Iran, following a dramatic warning from former US President Donald Trump signaling the possibility of devastating military action.

The move came just hours before a deadline set by Trump, as tensions rise after weeks of coordinated attacks by the United States and Israel against Iranian targets.

The White House acknowledged Pakistan’s intervention and indicated it would respond to proposals put forward by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who has positioned his country as a mediator in the crisis.

“Diplomatic efforts for a peaceful resolution of the ongoing wars in the Middle East are making steady, robust, and robust progress with the potential to bring substantive results in the near future,” Sharif wrote in X.

In his call, Sharif urged Trump to extend the deadline by two weeks, and also called on Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil route that was closed in response to the conflict.

Despite the diplomatic push, Trump’s rhetoric escalated sharply and raised widespread concern.

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“The entire civilization will die tonight, never to be revived. I don’t want that to happen, but maybe it will,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

The remarks followed earlier warnings in which he threatened to destroy key infrastructure across Iran, including bridges and power facilities — statements that sparked concerns of potential violations of international law.

Responding to the threat, Pope Leo XIV condemned the statement, describing the “threat against the entire Iranian people” as “completely unacceptable.”

Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance, speaking in Budapest, stated that Washington still has additional military options.

He said the United States has tools “that so far we have not decided to use” against Iran, although he did not provide specifics. The White House later clarified that its statement did not refer to nuclear weapons.

On the ground, hostilities continued to escalate. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the attacks targeted infrastructure he said was linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, including railway lines and bridges.

The Israeli military also issued a rare apology after admitting damage to a synagogue in Tehran, and explaining that the intended target was a senior Iranian commander.

Iranian officials maintained a defiant stance. First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref said his country was fully prepared to face any escalation.

“There is no threat that exceeds our preparedness and intelligence,” he added.

Reports from Iranian authorities indicate that recent attacks hit several infrastructure locations, including bridges near Qom and central Iran, resulting in casualties, as well as the main highway connecting Tabriz to Tehran.

Additional damage was reported on railway lines in Karaj, further underscoring the widening scope of the conflict as diplomatic efforts race against time.