Iftikhar Ali UNITED NATIONS, Jul 10 (APP):After two days of deadly strikes between the US and Iran leading to heightened tensions in the region, Pakistan has called on all parties to exercise restraint and refrain from further actions that could further undermine regional peace and stability. "The cycle of violence and instability must end for the good of regional and international peace, security and prosperity. All efforts should be made …
Pakistan urges U.S. and Iran to abide by Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, halt strikes
Iftikhar Ali
UNITED NATIONS, Jul 10 (APP):After two days of deadly strikes between the US and Iran leading to heightened tensions in the region, Pakistan has called on all parties to exercise restraint and refrain from further actions that could further undermine regional peace and stability.
“The cycle of violence and instability must end for the good of regional and international peace, security and prosperity. All efforts should be made to restore normalcy and bring the parties back to the negotiations table,” Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, permanent representative of Pakistan to the United Nations,told the UN Security Council on Friday.
He was participating in a discussion on the implementation of resolution 2231 (2015), which endorsed the 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and major world Powers, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Despite strong objections from Russia and China, arguing that the resolution was no longer valid following the war, the meeting of the 15-member Council proceeded after a procedural vote passed by 11 votes in favour. Pakistan and Somalia abstained.
As procedural matters are not subject to the veto, the outcome enabled the meeting to go forward.
In his remarks, the Pakistani envoy stressed the critical need for diplomacy and dialogue, saying that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreed between the United States and Iran in Islamabad in June offers a “viable road map” to address all outstanding issues through diplomatic means.
“Any interruption of this diplomatic process would complicate the issue further,” Ambassador Asim Ahmad cautioned, spotlighting Pakistan’s robust support for continued constructive negotiations on such sensitive topics.
Pakistan, along with partners, has been making constructive diplomatic engagement in supporting de-escalation, ceasefire efforts, and the broader pursuit of stability in the region, he said.
“We are heartened by the expert level talks held so far and the positive progress made on issues related to the aspects of the Islamabad MoU,” the Pakistani envoy said.
“We look forward to continued constructive engagement between the parties.”
As these sensitive negotiations continue, any actions or messaging that may contribute to misunderstandings should be avoided. “All our efforts and energies should be devoted to advancing the implementation of the Islamabad MoU.”
At the outset, Rosemary DiCarlo, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peace building Affairs, briefed members on the Secretary-General’s most recent report on resolution 2231 (2015), dated 19 June 2026.
The report indicated that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had not conducted any in-field verification activities in Iran under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Safeguards Agreement – the instrument that had once enabled the Agency to verify and monitor Iran’s compliance under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
“The Agency also reported a significant deterioration in its situational awareness following the attacks against Iran by the United States and Israel that began on 28 February 2026,” she said.
“It has now lost continuity of knowledge across all of Iran’s declared nuclear facilities extending to the production and current inventory of centrifuges, rotors and bellows, heavy water and uranium ore concentrate.”
