raises

A new Bitcoin Layer-2 project is going viral with a bold claim: sub-second transactions at a fraction of today’s fees.

Bitcoin Hyper (HYPER) has already raised over $1.5 million during its presale, with demand increasing daily.

Could this be the catalyst that finally unlocks Bitcoin’s full potential?

What Is Bitcoin Hyper & What Does It Actually Do?

It’s a Layer-2 network that makes BTC usable for everyday tasks – payments, apps, and more.

Instead of waiting around for minutes and paying several dollars per transfer on Bitcoin’s main chain, you can send wrapped BTC on Hyper in under a second.

Here’s how it works: you lock your BTC on Bitcoin’s base layer through something called the “Canonical Bridge” smart contract.

This triggers the creation of an equal amount of wrapped BTC (wBTC) on Hyper.

From there, you can trade, spend, or use that wBTC in apps just like you would on Solana – because Bitcoin Hyper uses the Solana Virtual Machine.

Every batch of transactions on Hyper is bundled, verified using zero-knowledge technology, and then anchored back to Bitcoin for final settlement.

That means no middlemen and no compromise on decentralization.

Analyst Umar Khan from 99Bitcoins called it one of the “best crypto presales to buy” for this exact reason.

HYPER Token Presale Ramps Up as Staking Rewards Draw Attention

The Bitcoin Hyper presale is picking up momentum, rolling past $1.5 million just weeks after going live.

Currently, HYPER tokens are priced at $0.012 each – but that won’t last.

The presale uses a stage-based model, where each funding milestone triggers an automatic price bump.

You can buy HYPER using BTC, ETH, USDT, USDC, BNB, or even a debit card.

And the team recommends using Best Wallet for smoother purchasing and staking.

Presale investors can even stake their HYPER tokens immediately and earn yields of 504% per year.

That’s far higher than the market average, although the yield will naturally drop as more people stake and the reward pool becomes more widely distributed.

Looking ahead, Bitcoin Hyper’s roadmap shows the mainnet going live in Q3, followed by the Token Generation Event and DEX listing.

CEX listings are planned for Q4, with complete DAO governance handover targeted for early 2026.

Why Bitcoin Hyper Could Transform Bitcoin Forever

Bitcoin moves billions of dollars in value daily, but it’s still limited to processing just 3-5 transactions per second with ten-minute block times.

That’s perfectly fine for storing value – Bitcoin’s “digital gold” reputation isn’t going anywhere.

But if BTC wants to power DeFi, gaming, or everyday payments, it needs an infrastructure upgrade.

Layer-2 solutions like Bitcoin Hyper tackle this issue head-on.

By shifting heavy computational tasks off-chain, it can clear up Bitcoin’s bottlenecks.

Transactions are processed in parallel on a high-speed Layer-2 network using Solana’s proven tech stack.

This allows for sub-second confirmations, virtually zero fees, and room for developers to build real-world dApps on Bitcoin.

What’s great is that none of this sacrifices what makes Bitcoin so popular.

The Canonical Bridge locks real BTC, creates a 1:1 wrapped version on Hyper, and allows users to move back at any time.

Transactions on Bitcoin Hyper get bundled, validated with zero-knowledge proofs, and posted back to Bitcoin’s base chain for final confirmation.

Compare this to the Lightning Network, which lacks smart contracts, or Stacks, which has slow block times, and Bitcoin Hyper’s value proposition becomes clear.

It’s aiming for the sweet spot: matching Solana’s speed and flexibility while keeping the trust and security that Bitcoin users want.

If this approach gains traction, we could see HYPER explode after listing.

Visit Bitcoin Hyper Presale

This article is for informational purposes only and does not provide financial advice. Cryptocurrencies are highly volatile, and the market can be unpredictable. Always perform thorough research before making any cryptocurrency-related decisions.

Bitcoin has hit $105,000 less than 48 hours after tapping $98,900, reflecting a growing sense of optimism among investors today.

The market rally comes as Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, and crypto prices have risen across the board as a result.

As Bitcoin surges, a new Bitcoin-themed meme coin called BTC Bull Token (BTCBULL) is gaining momentum in its presale, having raised over $7.3 million so far.

With less than a week to go in the presale, BTCBULL is shaping up to be one of 2025’s hottest new coins. The project will release Bitcoin airdrops when BTC hits new all time highs, fueling excitement among investors.

Bitcoin Rallies 3.8% on Ceasefire Announcement, Rate Cut Hopes

Meanwhile, Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller says that rate cuts could be implemented in July to address the US’s weakening labor market. He also cited that inflation is under control, which is what the Fed has been holding off on thus far.

Lower interest rates have historically been beneficial for risk markets, prompting investors to shift away from risk-off assets, such as treasuries, and into risk-on assets, like stocks, commodities, and digital assets.

Coupled with what appears to be cooling tensions in the Middle East, this creates a favorable environment for the growth of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

Bitcoin currently trades at $105,300 and is up 3.8% today. It remains down 0.5% this week, 1.8% this month, and 5.95% from its May 2025 all-time high (ATH).

There has been a 7% surge in Bitcoin’s trading volume today, taking it to $67.2 billion.

Analyst Says Bitcoin to Reclaim M2 Trajectory

Considering its strength in recent days, this certainly can’t be ruled out. However, as Bitcoin shows promising potential, analysts have pointed to the new Bitcoin-themed meme coin, BTC Bull Token, as an alternative for those seeking to maximize their gains.

Viral Presale $BTCBULL Raises $7.3M as Analyst Forecasts 10X ROI

BTC Bull Token is a Bitcoin-themed meme coin that will airdrop its holders real Bitcoin at key price milestones.

The first airdrop will occur when Bitcoin hits $150,000, and another will follow at $200,000. There’ll also be a $BTCBULL airdrop when Bitcoin reaches $250,000.

This airdrop mechanism directly ties BTC Bull Token to Bitcoin’s performance. And not only that, but it also creates an environment in which there will be minimal willing sellers.

As such, incoming demand will be concentrated in a small pool of tokens, which could cause the $BTCBULL price to skyrocket.

Analyst Jacob Bury recently said it could give 10x gains and that it might even be the best cryptocurrency to buy now.

The project is currently undergoing a presale. It has raised $7.3 million to date, demonstrating strong market appeal.

However, the presale will end in just six days, leaving investors with limited time to secure the current fixed and discounted price.

Visit BTC Bull Token Presale

This article is for informational purposes only and does not provide financial advice. Cryptocurrencies are highly volatile, and the market can be unpredictable. Always perform thorough research before making any cryptocurrency-related decisions.

Los Angeles County’s looming agreement with its biggest labor union is expected to cost a little more than $2 billion over three years — the latest hit to a budget besieged by financial woes.

The cost estimate, provided to The Times on Monday by the county chief executive office, will necessitate more belt-tightening for a government that’s running out of notches.

The deadly January wildfires are expected to cost the county $2 billion. The Trump administration has threatened cuts that would ravage the county’s public health budget. The L.A. County supervisors agreed this year to a historic $4 billion sex abuse settlement — the largest of its kind in U.S. history — and required most departments to make 3% cuts to help pay for it.

The cuts aren’t done, Chief Executive Fesia Davenport warned the supervisors Monday as she walked them through the latest version of the county’s sprawling $49-billion budget.

To pay for salary bumps and bonuses for county workers in the tentative labor agreement, the updated budget slashes $50.5 million, cutting funding for parks, swimming pools and violence prevention, among other programs. Soon, each department will need to make an additional 5.5% cut, said Davenport, whose office drafts the budget and leads labor negotiations.

“We are taking this extraordinary step because we simply have no alternative,” she said.

The supervisors unanimously approved the recommended budget Monday, which included an initial round of cuts to pay for some of the expected labor costs and the multibillion-dollar sex abuse settlement.

Despite their unanimous vote, the supervisors had little nice to say Monday about the plan.

“While the budget may look like it’s healthy, it’s a sick patient,” said Supervisor Hilda Solis.

As a result of the cuts, two probation offices are expected to shutter. County swimming pools will shut down earlier. Regional parks will now close two days a week.

“Like every other Angeleno, I’m mad too,” said Supervisor Holly Mitchell, who noted a petition she had seen on Nextdoor that morning protesting the two-day-a-week closure of Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area in her district.

The county announced last week that it had reached a tentative agreement with SEIU 721, which represents 55,000 county workers. The agreement, which still needs to be ratified by the union membership and the supervisors, includes a $5,000 bonus in the first year, followed by a 2% cost of living adjustment and $2,000 bonus in the second year and a 5% salary increase the third year.

The county is in negotiations with 16 smaller unions. The $2.1-billion price tag assumes that those unions will adopt similar salary increases and bonuses as SEIU 721.

To pay for the new labor costs, the chief executive office said the county will dip into its general fund for $778 million. The remaining $1.2 billion or so will come from federal and state funds meant for staffing costs.

David Green, the head of SEIU 721, said his members were “thrilled” with the tentative contract — the fruit of months of negotiations and a two-day strike this spring.

Last year, the city of Los Angeles agreed to contracts covering 33,000 union workers, many of whom would receive a pay increase of 24% over the next five years. The contracts, which the city estimated would add $3.5 billion in costs over five years, were a contributing factor in a massive budget shortfall that the City Council closed with layoffs and other spending cuts.

Green, who negotiated with both the city and county, said comparing the two was like “apples and oranges.”

“The economic climate has gotten worse in a lot of ways,” he said. “I think you felt a little bit of that in L.A. county bargaining.”

County supervisors appeared supportive of the agreement in Monday’s meeting, though quick to pan the overall financial picture.

“This is a budget I don’t like — I don’t think anyone does,” said Hahn.

But it could be worse, she noted.

“I know this is a budget … that won’t put us in the hole,” she said.

THE HAGUE — Whether the United States launches a broader war against Iran after bombing its nuclear facilities may come down to President Trump’s meetings with NATO partners this week at a summit of the alliance, a gathering long scheduled in the Netherlands now carrying far higher stakes.

So far, Washington’s transatlantic partners have praised the U.S. operation, which supplemented an ongoing Israeli campaign targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, air defenses and military leadership. But European officials told The Times their hope is to pull Trump back from any flirtation with regime change in Iran, a prospect that Trump and Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, have openly discussed in recent days.

Trump is scheduled to arrive in The Hague on Tuesday morning for two days of meetings, now expected to focus on the nascent crisis, as U.S. intelligence and military officials continue to assess the outcome of U.S. strikes over the weekend against Iran’s main nuclear sites at Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan.

NATO was directly involved in the last two U.S. wars in the Middle East, taking part in a U.S.-led coalition in Afghanistan after the Sept. 11 attacks and helping to train and advise security forces in Iraq. And while not a member of NATO, Israel coordinates with the security bloc through a process called the Mediterranean Dialogue, which includes work against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

At the Mauritshuis on Monday evening, overlooking The Hague’s historic court pond and under the gaze of Vermeer’s “Girl with a Pearl Earring,” NATO officials, European military leaders and U.S. senators discussed the obvious: A summit that had been seen as an opportunity to show Trump that Europe is willing to pay more for its defense — with NATO members now committing to spend 5% of their GDP on military essentials and expenditures — will now be consumed instead with the possibility of a new war.

As the event was ending, Iran struck the U.S. military base in Qatar, its largest in the Middle East. But the Iranians gave Doha advance notice of the strike in an effort to avert casualties, the New York Times reported, indicating Tehran might be looking for an off-ramp from continuing escalation with Washington.

While the Pentagon said the U.S. bombing run, dubbed Operation Midnight Hammer, “severely damaged” Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, American and Israeli officials acknowledged to The Times that it is not entirely clear how much equipment and fissile material Tehran was able to salvage before the attacks began.

And as concerns emerge that Iran may have been able to preserve a breakout capability, Israel’s target list across Iran seemed to broaden on Monday to reflect military ambitions beyond Iran’s nuclear program, including the headquarters of the Basij militia and a clock in downtown Tehran counting down to Israel’s destruction.

“Trump spoke too soon,” said Michael Rubin, a former Pentagon official and Iran expert at the American Enterprise Institute, of the president’s declaration that the United States had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear capacity with its weekend strikes.

“We may have simply waited too long with our hand-wringing, and given the Iranians time to evacuate their enriched stockpiles. If so, that represents a failure of leadership,” he added, noting reports that trucks could be seen at the Fordo site leading up to the U.S. attack. “If they then scattered and the U.S. intelligence community lost track of where they went, then that is an intelligence failure that could potentially be as costly as the one that preceded the Iraq war.”

European powers, particularly France, Germany and the United Kingdom, have been careful to praise Trump for ordering the strikes. But they have also urged an immediate return to negotiations, and expressed concern that Israel has begun targeting sites tangential and unrelated to Iran’s nuclear program.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, warning of “volatility” in the region, encouraged Iran “to return to the negotiating table and reach a diplomatic solution to end this crisis.” And Germany’s foreign minister, Johann Wadephul, questioned whether Tehran’s nuclear knowledge could be bombed away. “No one thinks it’s a good thing to keep fighting,” he told local media.

“I called for deescalation and for Iran to exercise the utmost restraint in this dangerous context, to allow a return to diplomacy,” said French President Emmanuel Macron. “Engaging in dialogue and securing a clear commitment from Iran to renounce nuclear weapons are essential to avoid the worst for the entire region. There is no alternative.”

Later Monday, after Israel had struck Iran’s notorious Evin prison, where foreign nationals are held, France’s foreign minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, issued a more scathing rebuke. “All strikes must now stop,” he said.

One European official said that efforts would be made once Trump arrives to underscore his military successes, noting the example he has made — using military force to deter an authoritarian foe — could still be applied to Russia in its war against Ukraine. Now that Trump has demonstrated peace through strength, the official said, it is time to give diplomacy another chance.

But it’s unclear if Iran would be receptive to pleas for a diplomatic breakthrough.

In a post on X on Sunday, Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, noted that Israel’s attacks last week and the U.S. strikes this week coincided with negotiations, torpedoing any chance for talks to succeed.

“Last week, we were in negotiations with the U.S. when Israel decided to blow up that diplomacy. This week, we held talks with the E3/E.U. when the U.S. decided to blow up that diplomacy,” he wrote, adding that European calls to bring Iran to negotiations were misplaced. The E3 represents France, Germany and Italy.

“How can Iran return to something it never left, let alone blew up?” he added.

On Monday, before its strikes against the U.S. base in Qatar, Iranian military leaders vowed vengeance against the United States for the strikes.

The retaliation “will impose severe, regret-inducing, and unpredictable consequences on you,” said Lt. Col. Ebrahim Zolfaqari, head of the Iranian military’s central command headquarters, in a video statement on Iranian broadcaster Press TV. He added that the U.S. attack “will expand the range of legitimate and diverse targets for Iran’s armed forces.”

Times staff writer Nabih Bulos in Beirut contributed to this report.

Bitcoin has struggled with speed and functionality issues for over 10 years. Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) is the new layer 2 blockchain that addresses these problems.

The project is currently undergoing a presale, where it has raised a whopping $1.3 million in just two weeks, demonstrating clear market appeal. And it’s not just attracting the attention of profit-hungry traders; leading crypto analysts are backing the project. One well-known analyst even said Bitcoin Hyper is primed for 100x gains.

Currently, investors can buy $HYPER at a fixed and discounted presale rate of $0.011925. However, this price will rise throughout the ICO, with the next increase happening later today.

How Bitcoin Hyper fixes Bitcoin’s speed problem

Since its inception, Bitcoin’s goal has been to deliver a peer-to-peer global cash system, not just offer a Store-of-Value.

It has only been framed as a Store-of-Value due to its speed restrictions. Bitcoin can process 7 transactions per second (TPS), a long way from the requirements to enable frequent global transactions.

Developers have addressed this issue through various means, one being building layer 2 blockchains.

The Lightning Network is the most well-known, allowing users to create microchannels that enable scalable transactions. However, the complexities of setting up these channels aren’t just a burden; they’re a deterrent for everyone but the most avid Bitcoin enthusiasts.

There are also other Bitcoin layer 2s built using optimistic rollups, but withdrawal times on these networks are painstakingly long, sometimes days or weeks.

Many of these earlier layer 2s also lack the performance capabilities needed for modern use cases. DeFi, meme coins, and RWAs all need sub-second transactions.

Bitcoin Hyper is the new Bitcoin layer 2 blockchain that offers just that. Sub-second transactions for a new golden age in Bitcoin development.

It’s built using the Solana Virtual Machine (SVM), which brings Solana’s speed and programmability to Bitcoin.

Moreover, Bitcoin Hyper’s Canonical Bridge maintains Bitcoin security and also enables speedy network withdrawals. It’s addressing the major issues of earlier layer 2s, but doesn’t stop there.

Since it’s built using SVM, Solana-based apps and tokens can easily migrate to Bitcoin Hyper, where they’ll be able to tap into a portion of Bitcoin’s $2 trillion liquidity. That’s the bedrock for a vibrant ecosystem.

The network is also interoperable with Ethereum, allowing developers and users to transfer Ethereum-based assets to the network.

Ultimately, Bitcoin Hyper is at the intersection of crypto’s three hottest ecosystems.

Analyst calls for 100x gain as $HYPER presale claims $1.3 million

ClayBro and many other top analysts anticipate Bitcoin to rally on the back of this institutional demand. However, ClayBro tips Bitcoin Hyper as the best way to capitalize, noting that it can “improve Bitcoin utility.”

Last chance to buy $HYPER before price increase

With price increases occurring throughout the Bitcoin Hyper presale, those seeking to maximize their upside potential should act fast.

Presale participants can also stake their tokens and currently earn a 553% APY. However, this APY will decrease as the staking pool grows.

With Bitcoin’s bright outlook, analyst support, and Bitcoin Hyper’s market-leading approach to scaling and implementing Bitcoin utility, it appears that $HYPER is primed for significant gains this year.

Potential investors can also rest assured that Bitcoin Hyper is safe and secure. It has received smart contract audits from Coinsult and Spywolf, and neither found any issues with the project’s code.

Follow the project on X or join its Telegram for the latest updates. Alternatively, visit its website to buy and stake tokens.

Visit Bitcoin Hyper Presale

This article is for informational purposes only and does not provide financial advice. Cryptocurrencies are highly volatile, and the market can be unpredictable. Always perform thorough research before making any cryptocurrency-related decisions.

Pepe has dipped 3% today and 20% this week. Things aren’t looking great for the frog-themed meme coin, but a new alternative called Snorter ($SNORT) is gaining real traction.

Unlike Pepe, Snorter is built on real utility. It offers a multichain trading bot that helps users identify promising trading opportunities on autopilot. The chains it supports are Solana, Ethereum, Base, Polygon, and BSC.

The project is undergoing a presale and has raised over $1 million in its opening three weeks, showing considerable demand among investors.

Currently, traders can buy $SNORT at a discounted price of $0.0955, but this will increase as the presale advances. The next uptick will occur in just one day.

Pepe folds to market-wide bearish momentum

Down 20% this week, Pepe is now teetering on a crucial support level of $0.00001. If it falls below this level, things could get ugly.

Pepe’s bearish momentum is due to a broader market selloff, with Bitcoin down 4.1%, and Ethereum down 8.5% this week.

This is due to rising tensions in the Middle East, with escalations in the Iran-Israel conflict and U.S. President Donald Trump insinuated that the U.S. may increase its involvement.

But despite all that, BlackRock continues to buy Bitcoin via its IBIT Bitcoin ETF – a clear sign that smart money anticipates a crypto market recovery.

It made an additional $412 million buy on Tuesday, marking the sixth consecutive day of capital inflows.

But while most cryptos are down this week, Snorter is experiencing a notable surge in buys. Its presale raise has surged around $400K in the past week, going from $600K to over $1 million.

Its strength at a time when the broader market is struggling suggests that it could see huge gains once things start to recover.

But why is Snorter performing so well?

Snorter is the new bot that can find 1,000x opportunities

Snorter isn’t just a meme coin; it’s a next generation trading bot that will help users find opportunities in the fast piece meme coin sector.

Thousands of new cryptocurrencies launch every day, so finding ones with the most potential is far from easy. In fact, without insider knowledge or advanced tooling, it’s almost impossible.

Snorter offers a range of innovative features that make monitoring the market and making trades much easier.

It has an automated sniping feature which allows users to input trading parameters and then the bot automatically executes on said criteria.

Another important feature is copy trading, enabling users to mimic the moves of the most profitable on-chain wallets.

But Snorter isn’t just about catching opportunities; it’s about protecting against losses.

The Snorter app has a rug pull detection feature that has caught 85% of scam tokens in its beta testing phase. And it also has a dynamic stop loss feature so users can automatically close positions if they don’t go their way, minimizing damage.

It’s a setup that could help users find the next 1,000x trade while executing proper risk management.

As a result, expectations are high about how far Snorter could go. For example, the Cryptonews YouTube channel said $SNORT could give 100x gains.

Investors could potentially earn even more from the project thanks to its staking mechanism which is live in the presale and offering a 283% APY. However, this will decrease as the staking pool grows.

Just 1 day until $SNORT presale price increases

With presale price increases taking place throughout the campaign, those seeking to buy $SNORT shouldn’t wait to get involved.

Pepe and many other cryptocurrencies are down this week, but BlackRock’s continued Bitcoin interest suggests a swift recovery may be on the horizon. The fact that Snorter has pushed forth unfazed by external conditions indicates that it could be among the biggest winners as prices regain strength.

Follow the project on X or Instagram to catch the latest updates. Alternatively, visit its website to buy tokens.

Visit Snorter Presale

This article is for informational purposes only and does not provide financial advice. Cryptocurrencies are highly volatile, and the market can be unpredictable. Always perform thorough research before making any cryptocurrency-related decisions.

Islamabad, Pakistan – In January 2024, Pakistan and Iran fired missiles into each other’s territory in a brief military escalation between the neighbours.

Yet 17 months later, after Israel attacked Iran with strikes on the latter’s nuclear facilities, and assassinated multiple Iranian generals and nuclear scientists, Pakistan was quick to condemn the Israeli action.

Islamabad described the Israeli strikes as violations of Iran’s territorial sovereignty and labelled them “blatant provocations”.

“The international community and the United Nations bear responsibility to uphold international law, stop this aggression immediately and hold the aggressor accountable for its actions,” Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on June 13.

As Israeli attacks on Iran, and Tehran’s retaliatory strikes, enter their sixth day, the deepening conflict is sparking fears in Islamabad, say analysts, rooted in its complex ties with Tehran and the even greater unease at the prospect of the Israeli military’s aerial influence extending close to the Pakistani border.

The human toll from the spiralling Israel-Iran conflict is growing. Israel’s attacks on Iran have already led to more than 220 deaths, with more than a thousand people injured. In retaliation, Iran has launched hundreds of missiles into Israeli territory, resulting in more than 20 deaths and extensive property damage.

While Pakistan, which shares a 905km (562-mile) border with Iran via its southwestern province of Balochistan, has voiced staunch support for Tehran, it has also closed five border crossings in Balochistan from June 15.

More than 500 Pakistani nationals, mainly pilgrims and students, have returned from Iran in recent days.

“On Monday, we had 45 students who were pursuing degrees in various Iranian institutions return to Pakistan. Almost 500 pilgrims also came back via the Taftan border crossing,” the assistant commissioner for Taftan, Naeem Ahmed, told Al Jazeera.

Taftan is a border town neighbouring Iran, situated in the Chaghi district in Balochistan, which is famous for its hills where Pakistan conducted its nuclear tests in 1998, as well as the Reko Diq and Saindak mines known for their gold and copper deposits.

At the heart of the decision to try to effectively seal the border is Pakistan’s worry about security in Balochistan, which, in turn, is influenced by its ties with Iran, say experts.

A complex history

Pakistan and Iran have both accused each other of harbouring armed groups responsible for cross-border attacks on their territories.

The most recent flare-up occurred in January 2024, when Iran launched missile strikes into Pakistan’s Balochistan province, claiming to target the separatist group Jaish al-Adl.

Pakistan retaliated within 24 hours, striking what it said were hideouts of Baloch separatists inside Iranian territory.

The neighbours patched up after that brief escalation, and during Pakistan’s brief military conflict with India in May, Iran studiously avoided taking sides.

On Monday, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ishaq Dar addressed Parliament, emphasising how Pakistan had been speaking with Iran and suggesting that Islamabad was willing to play a diplomatic role to help broker an end to the military hostilities between Iran and Israel.

“Iran’s foreign minister [Abbas Araghchi] told me that if Israel does not carry out another attack, they are prepared to return to the negotiating table,” Dar said. “We have conveyed this message to other countries, that there is still time to stop Israel and bring Iran back to talks.”.

Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry told Al Jazeera that other nations needed to do more to push for a ceasefire.

“We believe we are playing our role, but the world must also do its duty. Syria, Libya, Iraq – wars devastated them. It even led to the rise of ISIS [ISIL]. We hope this is not repeated,” he added.

Fahd Humayun, assistant professor of political science at Tufts University and a visiting research scholar at Stanford, said that any Pakistani bid to diplomatically push for peace would be helped by the fact that the administration of President Donald Trump in the United States is also, officially at least, arguing for negotiations rather than war.

But Umer Karim, a Middle East researcher at the University of Birmingham, suggested that for all the public rhetoric, Pakistan would be cautious about enmeshing itself too deeply in the conflict at a time when it is trying to rebuild bridges with the US, Israel’s closest ally.

“I doubt Pakistan has the capacity or the will to mediate in this conflict, but it definitely wants it to wind down as soon as possible,” he said.

Balochistan and security concerns

Pakistan’s greatest concern, according to observers, is the potential fallout in Balochistan, a resource-rich but restive province. Rich in oil, gas, coal, gold and copper, Balochistan is Pakistan’s largest province by area but smallest by population, home to about 15 million people.

Since 1947, Balochistan has experienced at least five rebellion movements, the latest beginning in the early 2000s. Rebel groups have demanded a greater share of local resources or outright independence, prompting decades of military crackdowns.

The province also hosts the strategic Gwadar port, central to the $62bn China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), linking western China to the Arabian Sea.

Baloch nationalists accuse the state of exploiting resources while neglecting local development, heightening secessionist and separatist sentiments. Baloch secessionist groups on both sides of the border, particularly the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLA), have been waging a rebellion in Pakistan to seek independence.

“There is a major concern within Pakistan that in case the war escalates, members of armed groups such as BLA and BLF, many of whom live in Iran’s border areas, might try and seek protection inside Pakistan by crossing the very porous boundaries shared by the two countries,” Abdul Basit, a research fellow at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, told Al Jazeera.

“Thus, Pakistan had to shut down the crossing in an attempt to control the influx. It remains to be seen whether they can successfully do that, but at least this is their objective.”

Worries about an Afghanistan redux

Since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, waves of Afghan refugees have sought shelter in Pakistan. The latest mass entry occurred after the Taliban took over Kabul in August 2021. At their peak, there were close to 4 million Afghans living in the country.

In 2023, however, Pakistan launched a campaign to send the refugees back to Afghanistan. According to government estimates, close to a million of them have been expelled so far. Pakistan has cited rising incidents of armed violence in the country, which it blames on groups that it says find shelter in Afghanistan, as a key justification for its decision. The Taliban reject the suggestion that they allow anti-Pakistan armed groups sanctuary on Afghan territory.

Basit said Pakistan would likely want to avoid any repeat of what happened with Afghan refugees.

“With such a long border [with Iran], and a history of deep connection between people of both sides, it is not out of realm of possibility that it was this factor which factored in Pakistan’s decision to close the border,” he added.

Fears of Israeli aerial superiority

Baloch armed groups and the prospect of a refugee influx are not the only concerns likely worrying Pakistan, say experts.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed that his air force has control over Tehran’s skies. And while both Israel and Iran continue to strike each other’s territory, Pakistan, which does not recognise Israel and views it as a sworn enemy, will not want Israeli influence over the Iranian airspace to grow and creep towards the Iran-Pakistan border.

“Pakistan is also averse to Israel achieving complete air superiority and control of Iranian airspace, as it would upend the current security status quo on Pakistan’s western flank,” Karim, the University of Birmingham scholar, told Al Jazeera.

Break from the past

Security analyst Ihsanullah Tipu Mehsud, based in Islamabad, noted that Pakistan has historically sided with the US in regional wars, including in Afghanistan, but may hesitate this time.

A majority Sunni nation, Pakistan still boasts a significant Shia population – more than 15 percent of its population of 250 million.

“Pakistan has already dealt with sectarian issues, and openly supporting military action against [Shia-majority] Iran could spark serious blowback,” he said.

The emerging Web3 project Snorter Bot (SNORT) has successfully accumulated over $1 million through its ongoing crypto presale campaign, positioning itself as a potential game-changer within the Solana ecosystem.

This innovative meme token combines a familiar animal-themed branding approach with practical trading bot functionality, presenting users with advanced tools for navigating the volatile crypto market.

The project’s unique approach has attracted whale investors and retail buyers alike, making the Snorter Token presale one of the most promising crypto investment options in 2025.

Advanced Trading Bot Technology Powers Snorter’s Competitive Edge

Snorter distinguishes itself from conventional meme crypto projects by delivering genuine utility through its sophisticated Telegram-based trading platform. The Snorter Bot protocol provides users with lightning-fast transaction capabilities, automated token discovery for new launches, portfolio management tools, and copy trading features.

These comprehensive functionalities are designed to give traders a decisive advantage in the fast-paced cryptocurrency environment.

The platform also incorporates cutting-edge MEV protection and intelligent anti-scam detection systems, addressing critical security concerns in the meme coin sector. Snorter Token holders benefit from reduced trading fees, paying only 0.85% compared to the industry-standard 1.5% rate.

This competitive fee structure, combined with the bot’s high-performance capabilities, creates compelling value for active traders seeking efficient execution tools.

Impressive Presale Performance Reflects Strong Market Demand

The Snorter Bot project has also attracted endorsements from notable crypto influencers, including ClayBro (136,000 YouTube subscribers), who highlighted Snorter’s combination of meme culture and real-world trading utility.

Early participants can access substantial staking rewards of approximately 462% APY, creating additional incentives for long-term holders.

Multi-Chain Expansion Plans Position Snorter for Widespread Adoption

Furthermore, Snorter Bot’s robust security measures will tackle the rampant scam epidemic affecting countless investors – with testing phases demonstrating an 85% chance that Snorter will identify fraudulent projects.

Snorter’s flexible infrastructure will eventually span numerous blockchain networks (including BNB Chain, Ethereum, and Base as well as Solana), offering unmatched versatility for modern crypto traders.

The next SNORT price increase is scheduled to take place in a matter of hours, but the tokens are currently priced at just $0.0951.

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This article is for informational purposes only and does not provide financial advice. Cryptocurrencies are highly volatile, and the market can be unpredictable. Always perform thorough research before making any cryptocurrency-related decisions.