Permanent Representative to the UN says diplomacy and dialogue must guide the process and calls for sustained negotiations
Permanent representative of the UN Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad Photo: APP
Pakistan has reaffirmed its support for resolving Iran’s nuclear issue through peaceful means, emphasizing diplomacy and dialogue as the only viable path, Radio Pakistan reported.
Speaking at a UN Security Council briefing on the 1737 Committee set up to monitor Iran’s nuclear activities and monitor compliance with sanctions, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said all disputes should be resolved through negotiations in accordance with the rights, obligations and responsibilities of all parties.
“The JCPOA was a unique instrument, a manifestation of an approach based on dialogue, diplomacy and pragmatism. It was the result of careful and constructive negotiations that mapped out a roadmap to comprehensively address the concerns of all parties,” he noted in a post on X.
The JCPOA was a unique instrument – the manifestation of an approach based on dialogue, diplomacy and pragmatism. It was the result of painstaking and difficult, yet constructive negotiations. It mapped out a roadmap to comprehensively address the concerns of the parties based on… pic.twitter.com/m9Bgs3OdPf
— Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the United Nations (@PakistanUN_NY) March 12, 2026
The committee was originally established after Iran failed to curb its nuclear enrichment activities, although its reporting role has evolved alongside broader diplomatic developments.
Ahmad highlighted that diplomatic engagement remains crucial amid heightened regional tensions. “Diplomacy and dialogue must lead the process,” he told council members, calling for sustained negotiations under international law and non-proliferation norms.
He stressed that compliance with IAEA safeguards and negotiated agreements, including the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), is key to reducing mistrust and avoiding escalation.
Read: At the UNSC, Pakistan follows a diplomatic line
Addressing the broader instability in the region, Ahmad called for an immediate cessation of hostilities in the Middle East and urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint. He pushed for a permanent ceasefire and resumption of dialogue, warning that unresolved conflicts threaten regional peace and global non-proliferation efforts.
“Returning to the negotiating table is essential,” he said, stressing that a peaceful solution serves the interests of all parties and prevents further destabilization in the region.
The Middle East remains in a volatile state as a major conflict between Iran, Israel and the United States continues to unfold following coordinated US-Israeli airstrikes on Iranian military and strategic targets that began on February 28.
