Pakistan urges all sides to give diplomacy ‘a little more chance’ at UNSC

Says US-Iran war has disrupted the IAEA's crucial verification mandate

Pakistan on Wednesday urged all sides to exercise restraint. give diplomacy "a little more chance" amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, warning that recent events have highlighted the risk of further escalation.

Addressing a UN Security Council briefing on non-proliferation. Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, said Islamabad was "deeply concerned" at the ongoing situation in the region marked by heightened tensions.

"Events of the last few days have amply underscored the fragility of the situation, the risk of escalation. the need for diplomatic efforts to come to fruition – sooner than later," he told the council.

Statement by Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad,Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN,At the Security Council Briefing on Non-proliferation (1737 Committee)(9thof June 2026)*****President,Pakistan is deeply concerned at the ongoing situation in the region marked by…pic.twitter.com/f5vLN6I4PK

The ambassador said the recent increase in violence in the Middle East was "a stark reminder of the dangers associated with a tenuous ceasefire. the unbearable consequences it may lead to".

"The cycle of violence. instability must end for the good of regional and international peace, security, and prosperity," he added.

Referring to the Iranian nuclear issue, Iftikhar said the latest hostilities had complicated diplomatic efforts. affected the work of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

"Regrettably, the breakdown of diplomacy. outbreak of hostilities has also impacted the consideration of the Iran nuclear issue, pushing the parties further apart on this complex file," he said.

He added that the conflict had also "disrupted the IAEA's crucial verification mandate".

Reaffirming Pakistan's position, the ambassador said Islamabad supported resolving all outstanding issues through dialogue and negotiations.

"We reaffirm our support for the resolution of all outstanding issues, including Iran nuclear issue, through peaceful means, diplomatic engagement,. sustained dialogue," he said.

Iftikhar said Pakistan believed that "diplomacy and dialogue should be the guiding principles" for achieving negotiated settlements of contentious issues.

Highlighting Pakistan's diplomatic efforts, he said Islamabad had worked with international partners to help reduce tensions and encourage negotiations.

"Pakistan, along with partners, initiated diplomatic efforts to stop the war. to bring the parties to the table," he said.

The ambassador added that Pakistan had been engaged in efforts supporting "de-escalation, ceasefire,. the broader pursuit of stability in the region".

The Pakistani envoy also referred to what he described as the "Islamabad Talks". saying Pakistan appreciated both sides for engaging in dialogue.

"We appreciate both parties for reposing their trust in Pakistan,. engaging in dialogue to achieve a ceasefire and participating in the 'Islamabad Talks' – the highest-level direct engagement between the United States and Iran for over four decades," he said.

According to the ambassador, Pakistan had maintained contacts with both Tehran. Washington as well as several regional and international partners.

He said that Islamabad sought to encourage dialogue, facilitate the exchange of messages,. help create space and conditions conducive to meaningful negotiations.

Iftikhar said Pakistan's efforts were intended to "break the momentum of hostilities, save lives and give diplomacy a chance".

He described Pakistan's approach as reflecting a "consistent commitment to regional stability. international peace" and a preference for "principled, dialogue-oriented diplomacy" in dealing with geopolitical disputes.

Concluding his remarks, the ambassador urged all parties to avoid actions that could undermine ongoing diplomatic efforts.

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"As we work earnestly. painstakingly, together with our friends and partners, to find a peaceful diplomatic solution to the conflict, and especially when the final objective is just about to be achieved, we sincerely urge all sides to exercise restraint and give peace a little more chance," he said.

He added, "Let us continue to tread the path of peace. diplomacy, for it has bright prospects of success, something that the international community has pinned its hopes on."

Iran nuclear programme

Five days ago. the UN nuclear watchdog sent areportto member states with no major changes to its assessment of Iran’s nuclear programme, despite three months of US-Israeli war with the stated aim of preventing Iran from building an atomic bomb.

In its first report into Iran’s nuclear programme since the day before the United States. Israel launched air strikes on Iran at the end of February, the IAEA repeated calls for Tehran to explain the fate of stockpiles of enriched uranium. The uranium has been unaccounted for since an earlier US-Israeli bombing campaign a year ago targeted Iran’s main nuclear sites.

US President Donald Trump. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeatedly cited destroying Iran’s nuclear programme as one of their main aims in launching fresh strikes at the end of February.

Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile has been a major sticking point in negotiations between the United States. Iran to end the war, with Trump insisting Iran give it up. Efforts have lately focused on a preliminary deal that would leave nuclear issues for later.

The confidential report on Iran was one of two issued on June 5. seen byReutersahead of next week’s quarterly meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s 35-nation Board of Governors. They showed very little change from the previous reports in late February, just before the latest war.

“The (IAEA) Director General has emphasised to Iran that it is indispensable. urgent to implement effectively the NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty) Safeguards Agreement effectively.. and that its implementation cannot be suspended by Iran under any circumstances,” the report seen byReuterssaid.

The IAEA has been unable to return to nuclear sites that Israel and the United States bombed last June. Iran has yet to inform the IAEA of the fate of its stocks of low-. highly enriched uranium (LEU and HEU), including uranium enriched to up to 60% purity, a short step from the roughly 90% of weapons-grade.

The region has been on edge since the US. Israel launched airstrikes on Iran in late February, triggering Iranian retaliation on Israel and other regional countries hosting US assets.

A temporary ceasefire was reached on April 8, but negotiations later stalled amid disputes over its implementation. subsequent regional developments, even as Trump extended the truce indefinitely.

An agreement to fully end the US-Israeli war on Iran has proven elusive. with Iran insisting that any negotiations to address its nuclear program be subsequent to a full end to the war.

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