Pakistan urges US, Iran to exercise restraint amid rising tensions

Pakistan's Foreign Ministry has urged the United States and Iran to exercise restraint and resolve their all issues through talks to avoid conflict.
 
Mohammad Faisal, ministry spokesman, told a news conference on Thursday that recent developments in the Persian Gulf region were disturbing and that Washington's move to "deploy aircraft carrier and bombers has added to the tensions and the existing precarious security situation in Middle East."

He said Islamabad expects all sides to show restraint "as a miscalculated move can transmute into a large-scale conflict."

Fears of a potential US-Iran conflict have come to the fore in recent weeks, with the US deploying an aircraft carrier strike group and B-52 bomber to the Gulf over alleged threats from Iran.

Washington on Wednesday ordered non-essential diplomatic staff out of neighbouring Iraq following attacks on four oil tankers in the Gulf last weekend.

Pakistan has been a key ally of the United States in its war on terror since 2001 and it also enjoys good relations with neighboring Iran.

Pakistan also has close ties with Saudi Arabia and it maintains a balancing act between Riyadh and Tehran.