Pakistan has told the UN Security Council that diplomacy is the way out of the Iran nuclear stand-off, warning that the situation on the file has sharply deteriorated. Ambassador Usman Jadoon, Pakistan's Acting Permanent Representative to the UN, delivered the statement at a Security Council briefing on Iran and non-proliferation on Tuesday 27 October, thanking International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi for his briefing before setting out Pakistan's position.

Restraint first, then process

Jadoon said the ground situation was marked by deep tensions and continued hostilities, and by profound mistrust and difference of opinion that has led to a breakdown of consensus within the Council. He urged all sides to exercise restraint and refrain from irresponsible and destabilizing rhetoric, actions and postures that could escalate tensions and increase the risk of conflict, and said a diplomatic settlement had become more critical than ever. On process, Pakistan's consistent position is that any issues of non-compliance must be addressed through competent technical bodies like the IAEA, without politicization, and that the agency must be enabled to carry out its work without any hindrance and within its technical mandate.

Islamabad points to its own mediation

Pakistan pointed to its own diplomacy as evidence that progress is possible, citing the memorandum of understanding signed in Islamabad in June as a successful manifestation of the diplomatic approach, and thanked partners including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Egypt and China for supporting de-escalation, a ceasefire and negotiations. Pakistan's leadership continues to work toward a peaceful settlement, Jadoon said, adding that diplomacy can once again deliver results in settling contentious issues peacefully. The dispute centres on international concern over Iran's nuclear activities and verification of its commitments under the non-proliferation regime, after a 2015 agreement traded limits on Tehran's programme for sanctions relief, the United States withdrew from it in 2018, and later efforts to revive the deal failed.

Sources: Diplomatic Insight (mission statement) and Khabarwire (Dawn-reported session).