Pakistan has called for diplomatic engagement and emphasized the imperative of avoiding confrontation to resolve the Iran nuclear issue, as the UN Security Council on Tuesday remained deeply divided on the path forward.
“It is deeply regrettable that in recent months, divisions in the Council and beyond have widened – taking us further away from the resolution of the issue,” Ambassador Usman Jadoon, deputy permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, told the 15-member Council during a discussion on nuclear non-proliferation.
“The situation had already become more complicated due to unilateral actions involving the use of force and violations of the UN Charter, and due to the differing interpretations on the invocation of the snapback mechanism,” he added.
At the heart of the split between the Council members is a dispute over the legitimacy of holding meetings related to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, formally the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), an agreement to limit Iran’s nuclear programme in return for sanctions relief.
Iran signed the agreement alongside the Council’s five permanent members — China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, United States — plus Germany and the European Union (EU). But the U.S. under President Trump withdrew from the agreement in 2018, leading to the re-imposition of sanctions. “Coercive measures would not help in bringing the parties closer and only exacerbate the trust deficit,” the Pakistani envoy cautioned, adding that sanctions directly hurt ordinary people the most and affect economic development.
“We strongly believe that diplomacy and dialogue should be the guiding principles for the resolution of all outstanding issues concerning Iran’s nuclear programme in accordance with the rights, obligations and responsibilities of the parties concerned,” Ambassador Jadoon said.
Pakistan, he said, has consistently advocated the primacy of diplomatic engagement and the imperative of avoiding confrontation and conflict.
The fact remains that JACPOA provided an essential framework for the resolution of the issue – one that is based on international law and mutual respect and acceptance, the Pakistani envoy said.