Pakistan warns against escalation in Iran crisis, urges diplomacy

WASHINGTON: Pakistan has warned that the situation surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme has sharply deteriorated, urging all sides to exercise restraint and resolve the dispute through diplomacy amid continued hostilities and divisions within the UN Security Council. Speaking at a council briefing on Iran and nuclear non-proliferation on Tuesday, Pakistan’s Acting Permanent Representative, Ambassador Usman Jadoon, said mounting tensions and a lack of consensus had made a diplomatic settlement more urgent. “Pakistan remains concerned that the situation regarding the Iran nuclear file has sharply deteriorated, negatively impacting the consideration of the issue, including in the Security Council,” he said. The dispute centres on international concerns over Iran’s nuclear activities and the verification of its commitments under the non-proliferation regime.

The 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers sought to limit Tehran’s nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief, but the United States withdrew from the accord in 2018 during Donald Trump’s first presidency. Subsequent efforts to restore the agreement failed. Mr Jadoon urged all parties to avoid rhetoric and actions that could aggravate the situation. “Pakistan urges all sides to exercise restraint, refrain from irresponsible and destabilizing rhetoric, actions, and postures that could escalate tensions and increase the risk of conflict, and choose a path that delivers peace, security and stability for all,” he said. Pakistan also called for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to be allowed to address technical questions relating to the nuclear dispute without political interference. “We have consistently maintained that any issues of non-compliance must be addressed through competent…