Pakistan, June 2 -- Iran has asked Pakistan to use diplomacy to reduce regional tensions after Tehran suspended exchanges with the United States in protest over Israel's widening military operations in Lebanon, officials and Iranian media said on Monday.

The request was conveyed during a telephone call between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. Araghchi expressed concern over what Tehran called Israeli violations of the Lebanon ceasefire and reported Israeli plans for strikes in parts of Beirut, while praising Pakistan's constructive role in regional diplomacy and asking Islamabad to continue its good offices for de-escalation.

Dar conveyed Pakistan's concern and stressed th...