A senior Iranian military officer has claimed that Pakistan would respond with a nuclear strike if Israel were to deploy a nuclear weapon against Iran. The statement comes amid a dramatic escalation in hostilities between Iran and Israel, which has already resulted in the deaths of at least 248 people.
General Mohsen Rezaei, a senior member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Iran’s National Security Council, made the assertion during an interview on Iranian state television, even as a barrage of missiles reportedly flew between Iran and Israel.
“Pakistan has assured us that if Israel uses a nuclear bomb on Iran, they will attack Israel with a nuclear bomb,” Rezaei said during the televised broadcast. His comments, while unconfirmed by Pakistani authorities, reflect growing tensions in the region and what Tehran describes as strengthening Muslim solidarity in the face of Israeli aggression.
According to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), both Israel and Pakistan are among the nine nations that possess nuclear arms. However, no official statement has yet been released by Islamabad confirming Rezaei’s claims.
Rezaei went on to state that Pakistan had pledged to “stand behind Iran” and called on the broader Muslim world to unite. He referred to what he described as “hidden capabilities” that Iran has not yet revealed.
Pakistan and Iran, whose relations were tested during a brief but fierce missile exchange in early 2024, appear to have reconciled in light of the recent Israeli offensive, Rezaei suggested.
Also read: How Israeli forces shot down 20 Iranian drones in one hour
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif condemned what he termed Israel’s “rogue behaviour”, warning, “Western world must worry about conflicts being generated by Israel. It will engulf the whole region and beyond; their patronage of Israel, a rogue state, can have catastrophic consequences.”
The United States, a key ally of Israel and a major arms supplier to Pakistan, has so far refrained from direct military involvement. However, US President Donald Trump, in one of his strongest warnings since returning to office in January, cautioned Iran against any attack on American interests.
“If Iran attacks the US, the full strength and might of the US Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before,” Trump said in a statement on Sunday.
While the conflict has intensified, the likelihood of nuclear engagement remains speculative. Diplomats and analysts warn that even verbal assurances regarding nuclear retaliation can significantly elevate regional tensions and draw in global powers.
The missile strikes over the past two days have claimed 230 lives in Iran and 18 in Israel, according to preliminary reports. The international community continues to appeal for de-escalation and dialogue, though no side has agreed to truce talks thus far.
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