With regional tensions at an all-time high as the Iran-Israel conflict continues for the seventh consecutive day, Israeli author, Hebrew University professor and military reservist Meir Masri has said that Tel Aviv, following its campaign against Tehran, could go on to dismantle Pakistan’s nuclear programme.

 

“After Iran's campaign, we may seek to dismantle Pakistan's nuclear programme,” Masri wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

 

 

While no Pakistani official has reacted to the statement as of yet, it comes a day after Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister (PM) Ishaq Dar dismissed claims that Islamabad would carry out a nuclear attack on Israel if Iran was to targeted with weapons of mass destruction.

 

“Our nuclear programme is only a deterrent for Pakistan’s security,” the deputy premier told a private media outlet. He went on to say that it was Pakistan’s stated policy since May 28, 1998, that its nuclear programme was only a deterrent.

 

Dar, who is also the foreign minister, also said that even though Pakistan was not a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), it abided by its principles. “We have not signed the NPT because our position has always been that we would consider doing it if India does it too,” he said.

 

Meanwhile, hundreds have been killed and thousands injured in the clashes between Iran and Israel.

 

Citing Washington-based group Human Rights Activists, the Washington Post has reported that the death toll in Iran has reached 585 with another 1,326 wounded. The group added that it had identified 239 of those killed in Israeli strikes as civilians and 126 as security personnel.

 

On the Israeli side, 24 people have so far been killed, more than 800 have been injured and over 3,800 have been evacuated from their homes, Israeli Prime Minister (PM) Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Thursday.

 

With the number of casualties continuing to rise and global leaders stressing the need for ceasefire, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned the US of “irreparable damage” if it intervenes, declaring that Tehran itself would “never surrender”.

 

Khamenei’s latest statement, which was released by state-owned media, comes amid fears that the US could soon be entering the conflict with strikes on Iran.