UNITED NATIONS, Sep 11 (APP):Pakistan called the recent upsurge of violence in the Middle East as "quite unsettling" for the peace prospects in the region, emphasizing the resolution of all outstanding issues through diplomatic engagement, when the UN Security Council debated the Iran nuclear issue on Thursday. “Given the necessary space, diplomacy can still deliver results,” Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, permanent representative of Pakistan to th UN, told the 15-member …
Middle East escalation ‘quite unsettling’, Pakistan tells UNSC, urges resumption of diplomacy
UNITED NATIONS, Sep 11 (APP):Pakistan called the recent upsurge of violence in the Middle East as “quite unsettling” for the peace prospects in the region, emphasizing the resolution of all outstanding issues through diplomatic engagement, when the UN Security Council debated the Iran nuclear issue on Thursday.
“Given the necessary space, diplomacy can still deliver results,” Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, permanent representative of Pakistan to th UN, told the 15-member Council.
Pakistan, he said, has pursued diplomatic engagement in support of de-escalation, ceasefire and broader pursuit of stability in the region.
Convened by France, the Council President for September, Thursday’s session reviewed the work of the 1737 Sanctions Committee concerning Iran, under the “Non-Proliferation” agenda item.
The 1737 Sanctions Committee was established by resolution 1737 (2006), with a requirement to report to the Council every 90 days.
Prior to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on Iran’s nuclear programme, which the Council endorsed through resolution 2231 (2015), these briefings took place every three months under the “Non-Proliferation” agenda item.
Resolution 2231 (2015) had suspended all prior sanctions resolutions on Iran, including resolution 1737 (2006), rendering the 1737 Committee and its reporting requirement defunct.
In August 2025, France, Germany and the United Kingdom – the “E3” parties to the JCPOA – then triggered the agreement’s “snapback” mechanism to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran.
In his remarks, Ambassador Asim Ahmad reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for the resolution of all outstanding problems through peaceful means, diplomatic engagement and sustained dialogue, saying renewed violence and breakdown of diplomacy have also impacted the consideration of the Iran nuclear issue, including by the Security Council.
Pakistan, he said, has been undertaking constructive diplomatic engagement in supporting de-escalation, ceasefire, and the broader pursuit of stability in the region.
“Through sustained interaction at the leadership level, as well as with active coordination other partners in the region and beyond, we consistently sought to encourage dialogue, facilitate the exchange of messages, and help create space and conditions conducive to meaningful negotiations,” the Pakistani envoy said.
“Our approach underscores Pakistan’s enduring commitment to regional stability and international peace, reflecting our preference for principled, dialogue-oriented diplomacy in addressing geopolitical challenges.”
Continued divisions have impacted the work of the Council’s subsidiary bodies, he said. “We hope members will show unity and shoulder our responsibility and find common purpose in upholding international peace and security.”
“We urge all sides to exercise restraint and choose a path that delivers peace and security for all.”
