UNITED NATIONS: Expressing deep concern about recent warnings from US President Donald Trump about potential action against Iran, Islamabad has called on all parties to "exercise restraint, act responsibly" and resolve disputes over Iran through peaceful dialogue, hoping for an early normalisation of the situation.
Speaking at a United Nations Security Council meeting on “The Situation in the Middle East (Iran)” on Thursday, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, said disputes must be resolved through peaceful means and in line with the international law.
He remarked that continued hostilities, unilateral actions and the use of force would move the world further away from solving key issues and cause unnecessary humanitarian suffering.
“The threat or use of force would only aggravate the situation and undermine regional and international peace and stability,” he told the world body.
Islamabad's remarks come at a time of heightened tensions in the region, following strong statements by US President Donald Trump regarding possible action against Iran.
The ambassador said that Pakistan was “carefully observing developments in Iran and the region in recent days”, describing the emerging threats to peace as a serious concern at a time of already high tensions.
He also highlighted the close ties between Pakistan and Iran, calling Iran an immediate neighbour and a “brotherly country”. He said the two nations share deep historical, cultural and religious bonds.
“We hope for an early normalisation of the situation in Iran and support all diplomatic efforts aimed at regional peace and stability,” he said.
“A stable and peaceful Iran is in the interest of Pakistan, the region and beyond.”
"We have full confidence in the wisdom of the Iranian people and leadership, rooted in their rich culture, ancient civilization, history and resilience to address all challenges," he said.
The Pakistani envoy also stressed that the principles of the UN Charter must be respected. He noted that international law clearly prohibits the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.
“Any external interference in the domestic affairs of states is inconsistent with international law,” he said.
Islamabad's permanent UN representative urged all parties to exercise restraint and act responsibly, warning against actions that could further damage regional and international security.
He said diplomacy and dialogue should guide efforts to resolve disputes. “Diplomacy and dialogue should be the guiding principles for achieving a negotiated settlement of all contentious issues,” the envoy said, adding that Pakistan had consistently advocated engagement over confrontation in a region already affected by instability.
Pakistan, he added, hopes the situation in Iran will soon return to calm and that all sides will return to the negotiating table to find a lasting solution based on mutual respect and understanding.
The United States earlier today imposed sanctions on five Iranian officials it accused of being behind the crackdown on protests and warned it was tracking Iranian leaders' funds being wired to banks around the world.
The US Treasury Department, in a statement, said it imposed sanctions on the Secretary of the Supreme Council for National Security as well as Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and law enforcement forces commanders, accusing them of being architects of the crackdown.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, in a video on Thursday, said Washington's message to Iran's leaders was clear: "US Treasury knows, that like rats on a sinking ship, you are frantically wiring funds stolen from Iranian families to banks and financial institutions around the world. Rest assured, we will track them and you."
"But there's still time, if you choose to join us. As President Trump has said, stop the violence and stand with the people of Iran."
The unrest in Iran started with protests over soaring prices before turning into one of the biggest challenges to the establishment since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Trump has repeatedly threatened to intervene on behalf of protesters in Iran, where the establishment has cracked down hard on nationwide unrest since December 28.
"The United States stands firmly behind the Iranian people in their call for freedom and justice," Bessent said in the statement. "Treasury will use every tool to target those behind the regime’s tyrannical oppression of human rights."
The Treasury also imposed sanctions on 18 people it accused of involvement in laundering the proceeds of Iranian petroleum and petrochemical sales to foreign markets as part of "shadow banking" networks of sanctioned Iranian financial institutions.
Thursday's action is the latest move targeting Tehran since Trump restored his "maximum pressure" campaign on Iran, which includes efforts to drive its oil exports to zero and help prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon.
