Pakistan has warned the United Nations Security Council that the US-Israeli attacks on Iran and the subsequent retaliatory strikes risk triggering a wider regional conflict with far-reaching consequences for global security.
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Addressing an emergency session of the Council, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, said Islamabad was “deeply alarmed” by the escalating situation and the growing threat of a regional conflagration.
The emergency meeting was convened at the request of several member states amid rising tensions after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, prompting Tehran to retaliate with missile attacks targeting Gulf countries and Israel.
The Pakistani envoy described the joint attacks as a violation of international law and expressed regret that the escalation occurred at a time when renewed diplomatic efforts were underway to reach a peaceful settlement. At the same time, he condemned Iran’s retaliatory strikes on Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, reaffirming Pakistan’s solidarity with the affected countries.
Ahmad emphasized the need for maximum restraint and praised Oman’s mediation efforts aimed at facilitating dialogue between Washington and Tehran. He also condemned the death of a Pakistani national in the UAE during the attacks and urged all parties to avoid actions that could undermine the sovereignty and territorial integrity of regional states.
Reiterating Pakistan’s long-standing position, the envoy stressed that diplomacy had once again been derailed at a critical moment and called for an immediate halt to hostilities and a return to negotiations. He underscored that respect for international law and the principles of the UN Charter remained essential to maintaining peace and stability.
Opening the debate, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the situation posed a grave threat to international peace and security, urging all sides to pursue de-escalation and peaceful dispute resolution.
Guterres said large-scale strikes and retaliatory attacks had expanded the conflict across multiple countries, resulting in civilian casualties and rising instability, and stressed that diplomacy remained the only viable path forward.
