Pakistan has voiced strong opposition to the United Nations Security Council’s (UNSC) decision not to halt the reimposition of sanctions on Iran, warning that the move risks destabilising an already fragile region.
A draft resolution, introduced by South Korea as Council president, sought to prevent the “snapback mechanism” from taking effect. However, it failed to secure the nine votes needed for adoption. Only four members, Pakistan, China, Russia, and Algeria, supported the measure, while nine voted against and two abstained.
Speaking after the vote, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, stressed that coercive measures would only deepen instability. “We do not favour any action which risks destabilising a region already mired in multiple crises. Diplomacy and intimidation do not go together. We must give negotiations a chance,” he said.
France, Germany, and the United Kingdom triggered the snapback clause last month, citing Iran’s expanded uranium enrichment and reduced cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Under the 2015 nuclear deal, the mechanism revives all UN sanctions previously suspended, including arms embargoes, missile restrictions, asset freezes, and travel bans.
European diplomats argued the move was justified to preserve the global non-proliferation framework. The UK envoy maintained that the mechanism was legally valid under Resolution 2231. In contrast, Russia and China rejected the legality of the step, accusing the Europeans of bypassing the agreed dispute settlement mechanism and acting unilaterally.
Iran, grappling with a war with Israel and a prolonged financial crisis, warned it would respond to any unlawful action while reaffirming its commitment to diplomacy.
Pakistan’s envoy reiterated that the only viable path forward lies in dialogue. “We must prioritise peaceful engagement and never abandon the pursuit of a negotiated settlement,” he concluded.
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