ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and 19 other countries on Tuesday issued a joint statement condemning Israel’s military attacks on Iran as a violation of international law, while calling for a nuclear-free Middle East and a return to diplomacy following a comprehensive ceasefire and de-escalation.

The statement came after Israel launched surprise airstrikes on Iranian nuclear and military facilities on Friday, in the middle of Tehran’s ongoing nuclear negotiations with Washington.

Israel and Iran traded missile fire for a fifth consecutive day on Tuesday, as US President Donald Trump warned Tehran residents to “immediately evacuate” and cut short his participation at a G7 summit in Canada.

The US Defense Department confirmed the redeployment of “additional capabilities” to the region, with the USS Nimitz leaving Southeast Asia amid reports of its new Middle East mission. The Chinese embassy in Tel Aviv also urged its citizens to evacuate Israel immediately.

Amid these developments, 20 countries, including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Türkiye, Qatar and Oman, voiced a “categorical rejection” of Israel’s military action and warned of its destabilizing implications.

“[There is an] imperative need to halt Israeli hostilities against Iran, which come during a time of increasing tension in the Middle East, and to work toward de-escalation, to achieve a comprehensive ceasefire and restoration of calm,” the statement said.

It called for “the urgent necessity of establishing a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction, which shall apply to all States in the region without exception in line with relevant international resolutions, as well as the urgent need for all countries of the Middle East to join the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).”

The statement further stressed the importance of refraining from targeting nuclear facilities safeguarded by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), warning that such actions violate international humanitarian law and the 1949 Geneva Conventions.

The signatories also emphasized that negotiations remain the only viable path toward a sustainable resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue and called for a swift return to diplomatic engagement.

All the countries stressed the importance of protecting freedom of navigation and maritime security in accordance with international law, fearing that tensions could spill over into shipping lanes vital to global trade.

“Diplomacy, dialogue, and adherence to the principles of good neighborliness, in accordance with international law and the UN Charter, remain the only viable path to resolving crises in the region,” it continued. “Military means cannot bring about a lasting resolution to the ongoing crisis.”