United Nations, Labeling confrontation a “dangerous path”, Pakistan has warned that the snapback sanctions on Iran would derail diplomacy and further destabilize a region already beset by crises, urging space for dialogue and a negotiated settlement under the JCPOA framework.
Speaking after the Council vote on draft resolution S/2025/561 concerning Resolution 2231 (2015) and the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, explained that Pakistan voted in favor “out of the conviction that diplomacy, not coercion, must guide efforts to address Iran’s nuclear programme.”
He highlighted that Pakistan’s position was anchored in four guiding principles: creating space for diplomacy to succeed, the imperative of averting confrontation and preserving the integrity of the JCPOA and Resolution 2231 as the foundation for an amicable resolution until a successor agreement is forged.
Calling the JCPOA “a sterling example of pragmatic and cooperative diplomacy,” Ambassador Asim recalled that it charted a negotiated roadmap to address the concerns of all parties involved. He lamented, however, that its disruption evoked complications and mutual recriminations that continue to impede its faithful implementation.
He pointed to the recent agreement on Practical Modalities for the Implementation of Safeguards in Iran, signed this month with the IAEA, describing it as a “positive breakthrough.”
With verification activities and inspections set to resume — hailed by the IAEA Director General who termed it “an important step in the right direction” — Pakistan’s Ambassador stressed that this progress must serve to rebuild confidence and renew constructive engagement among all sides.
In this context, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad cautioned against the invocation of the “snapback” mechanism, stating that re-imposing UN sanctions would “further complicate the situation, harden positions, and divert efforts away from an amicable resolution.”
Pakistan, he underscored, supported a six-month technical extension of Resolution 2231, designed to safeguard diplomacy and enable renewed political dialogue.
“We regret being placed in a position to vote on a clearly divisive matter when other avenues were available to avoid it,” Ambassador Asim remarked, reminding the Council that consensus, as demonstrated during the adoption of Resolution 2231 a decade ago, should have remained the guiding principle.
As an immediate neighbor and friend of Iran, he cautioned against any action that could exacerbate instability in a region already mired by crises. “This region cannot afford further tensions,” highlighting that diplomacy and dialogue should remain at the forefront of international efforts.
Looking ahead, Ambassador Asim reaffirmed Pakistan’s conviction that a peaceful resolution remains attainable, provided there is political and pragmatic engagement. “Diplomacy has delivered previously…it can certainly deliver again,” he emphasized.
The Pakistan UN Ambassador urged the Council not to squander the fragile opportunity before it: confrontation will only breed instability, but dialogue offers a path to peace. Pakistan, he stated, will continue to stand for cooperation, convinced that with political will and prudence, the JCPOA framework can once again serve to sustain peace, security, and much-needed stability.
