Iran Claims to Have Shot Down Israeli F-35 Fighter Jet Amid Ongoing Strikes

In a recent interview on Iranian state television, General Mohsen Rezaei, a senior officer in Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, asserted that Pakistan would retaliate with a nuclear strike against Israel if the latter were to use a nuclear bomb on Iran. This claim comes amidst escalating tensions in the Middle East, where missile exchanges between Iran and Israel have resulted in approximately 248 reported deaths in the region.
Rezaei emphasized Pakistan's commitment to supporting Iran and called for solidarity among Muslim nations. He stated, “Pakistan has assured us that if Israel uses a nuclear bomb on Iran, they will attack Israel with a nuclear bomb.” Iran and Pakistan are among the nine countries known to possess nuclear weapons, according to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN).
While Pakistan has not made any public statements regarding a nuclear response, its defense minister has expressed concerns about Israel's nuclear capabilities, warning that conflicts generated by Israel could have catastrophic regional consequences. This geopolitical conflict continues to draw in external powers, including the United States, which has thus far refrained from direct military involvement.