Reports leaked earlier today claimed that Pakistan may soon supply its Shaheen-III medium-range ballistic missiles to Tehran as a way to counter a heightened threat from Israel—in other words, when their struggle with Iran reaches higher levels.
Citing "several" Arab sources, the Israeli daily Jerusalem Post reported that an offer for Pakistan to provide Iran with its advanced missiles was discussed at a recent meeting of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation.
The US administration said it was aware of such reports on Tuesday. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, during a press briefing, was asked if the Biden administration had conveyed its concerns to Islamabad; she asserted that the US is "unequivocal in our support for Israel" and that the US position "is very clear on this particular issue.".
On Wednesday, the Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, attended a hastily summoned emergency session of the OIC Executive Committee in Jeddah called by Iran to work out a course of action the bloc would take regarding Israel in the wake of the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. Dar has more or less been keeping regular touch with the Iranian acting Foreign Minister, Ali Bagheri Kani. He also attended the inauguration of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
The budding missile deal between Islamabad and Tehran could be the second blow to ties between Washington and Islamabad, coming just shortly after the arrest of Asif Raza Merchant, a 46-year-old Pakistani from Karachi, allegedly associated with Tehran in an assassination plot against former US President Donald Trump.
"Earlier this year, Washington has signaled "a potential risk of sanctions" for those involved in business with Iran. "However, the Deputy Spokesperson of the U.S. State Department, Vedant Patel stressed to the press after the Iranian President´s return from his visit to Pakistan that although Pakistan's foreign policy is an affair of its own, any deals concerning Iran are to be made cautiously.
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