Executive Summary
On February 28, 2026, the United States (US) and Israel launched coordinated military strikes against Iran, assassinating Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, degrading the country’s nuclear and military infrastructure, and triggering the most consequential interstate armed confrontation in the Middle East since the Gulf War of 1991. In response, Tehran conducted missile and drone attacks against US military installations across the Gulf region, Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, and Cyprus. Iran formally declared the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime chokepoint through which approximately 20 percent of globally traded oil transits daily.
This brief argues three core propositions. First, the strikes represent a war of strategic choice rather than necessity: diplomatic talks were ongoing and Iran had signalled significant concessions when Washington chose to escalate. Second, the war has generated geopolitical, geo-economic, and geo-social shockwaves that directly threaten Pakistan’s security environment and economic stability. Third, Pakistan must respond through a principled, law centered, and diplomatically active stance that safeguards national interests while preserving strategic autonomy.
