Mumtaz Hussain

UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan has cautioned against confrontation over Iran’s nuclear program, warning that the reimposition of UN “snapback” sanctions would derail diplomacy and deepen instability in the Middle East.

Speaking after the Security Council vote on draft resolution S/2025/561, which concerned Resolution 2231 (2015) and the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said his country voted in favor “out of the conviction that diplomacy, not coercion, must guide efforts to address Iran’s nuclear programme.”

Ambassador Asim underlined Pakistan’s position on four principles: creating space for diplomacy, averting confrontation, preserving the JCPOA, and upholding Resolution 2231 until a new agreement is forged. He described the JCPOA as “a sterling example of pragmatic and cooperative diplomacy” and regretted its disruption, which he said had triggered mistrust and complications.

The envoy welcomed the recent agreement between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on safeguards, calling it “a positive breakthrough.” With verification and inspections set to resume, he said the development should help rebuild confidence and encourage constructive engagement.

He cautioned that invoking the snapback mechanism to reimpose sanctions would “further complicate the situation, harden positions, and divert efforts away from an amicable resolution.” Instead, Pakistan supported a six-month technical extension of Resolution 2231 to safeguard diplomacy and allow for renewed dialogue.

“We regret being placed in a position to vote on a clearly divisive matter when other avenues were available to avoid it,” he noted, recalling that the adoption of Resolution 2231 a decade ago was built on consensus.

As an immediate neighbor and friend of Iran, Ambassador Asim warned that the region “cannot afford further tensions.” He reaffirmed Pakistan’s belief that a peaceful settlement remains achievable if parties show political will and pragmatism.

“Diplomacy has delivered previously… it can certainly deliver again,” he stressed, urging the Council to keep dialogue at the forefront of international efforts.