NEW YORK, June 23 (Alliance News): Pakistan has urged the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to intervene urgently and prevent the deepening crisis in the Middle East, cautioning that military force and unilateral actions only exacerbate conflicts rather than resolve them.
Addressing a key UNSC session in New York, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar, condemned the recent US airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, calling them a “dangerous precedent” that threatens regional and global security.
“We must act now to prevent the situation from spiralling further out of control,” Ambassador Iftikhar said. “Dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable path forward.”
The remarks came in the wake of escalating tensions following US President Donald Trump’s authorization of strikes on Iran’s Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear sites — actions he described as a “spectacular success” in halting Tehran’s alleged nuclear ambitions, a claim Iran categorically denies.
In response, the Iranian Parliament has moved to block the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil transit route. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit in Istanbul, accused Washington of abandoning diplomacy in favor of missiles and warned the US had “crossed a very big red line.”
Echoing Pakistan’s earlier Foreign Office statement, Ambassador Iftikhar expressed grave concern over attacks on IAEA-safeguarded facilities, stressing they violate international law and jeopardize civilian safety.
He announced Pakistan’s support for a joint draft resolution with China and Russia at the UNSC calling for an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire.” The resolution also demands protection of civilians and infrastructure and advocates a peaceful solution to the Iranian nuclear issue acceptable to all parties.
Ambassador Iftikhar warned that Israel’s continuous aggression and now direct US involvement risk “catastrophic consequences for the region and beyond,” urging all parties to adhere to international humanitarian law.
This strong diplomatic stance follows Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, during which he conveyed Pakistan’s condemnation of the US strikes and reaffirmed solidarity with the Iranian people and government. Both leaders emphasized the urgency of Muslim unity and agreed to maintain close contact.
President Pezeshkian expressed gratitude for Pakistan’s unwavering support, acknowledging the government, military leadership, and people for their solidarity amid the escalating crisis.
