ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said on Monday Iran was willing to engage in “diplomatic dialogue” if Israel stopped its military offensive, as the conflict between the two regional rivals entered a fourth day with no sign of de-escalation.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi on Monday called on US President Donald Trump to force Israel to cease fire as the only way to end the four-day-old aerial war, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country was on the “path to victory.” Meanwhile, Israeli forces stepped up their bombardment of Iranian cities, while Iran proved capable of piercing Israeli air defenses with one of its most successful volleys yet of retaliatory missile strikes.

Speaking during a session of the upper house of Pakistan’s parliament, Dar, who also serves as Pakistan’s foreign minister, said he had been in direct contact with Araghchi since the fighting began on June 13 when Israel launched strikes targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities and senior military leaders.

“He said we will respond to this [attack by Israel] but right now, we are preparing and if Israel does not attack again after our response, we are ready to come to the table for a diplomatic dialogue,” Dar told the Senate. “Then as a neighboring Muslim brotherly country, we passed this on through different channels that there is still time that if the other side [Israel] stops, Iran is ready and if we facilitate them.”

Dar expressed regret that Israel’s air strikes came just two days before planned direct talks between Tehran and Washington on June 15.

Separately, Dar rejected social media reports Pakistan would launch a nuclear strike against Israel if it used nuclear weapons on Iran, calling the reports “fabricated and a lie.”

“This is such an irresponsible statement based on lies and it has been spreading on social media,” he said. “No one has given the statement from our side. It has been fabricated.”

Dar also assured the Senate that Pakistan’s armed forces were on high alert amid the regional crisis, reiterating Islamabad’s resolve to safeguard its nuclear and missile defense systems.

“By the grace of God, Pakistan has the strength to respond to a brick with a stone, to any mala fide intentions ... the armed forces of Pakistan are fully alert,” Dar said in response to a question by a senator about the safety of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons in light of the crisis in neighboring Iran.

“These [nuclear assets] are the nation’s trust for the coming generation. It is our responsibility to safeguard it unitedly, which we will do, are doing, and will continue to do together.”

Israel says its strikes have targeted Iranian facilities to prevent Tehran from advancing toward nuclear weapons capability, which Iran denies, insisting its nuclear program is for civilian purposes. The UN nuclear watchdog reported last week that Iran had breached its obligations under the global non-proliferation treaty.

Pakistan has condemned Israel’s attacks and reiterated that Iran has the right to self-defense under the UN Charter, pledging diplomatic support for Tehran at international forums.