NEW YORK: In response to escalating tensions following recent U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites, Pakistan, Russia, and China have jointly introduced a draft resolution at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), urging an immediate and unconditional ceasefire across the Middle East.
The proposal emerged during an emergency UNSC session, where diplomats from the three nations sharply criticised U.S. military actions and warned of dire global consequences if the violence continues unchecked. Russia’s ambassador to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, accused the United States of disregarding international norms and warned that Washington’s aggressive stance risks unleashing widespread instability. “The U.S. has shown outright disregard for global opinion and has now triggered a dangerous chain of events,” Nebenzya stated. He condemned the attacks as a severe blow to international credibility, emphasising the glaring imbalance in how nuclear programs are scrutinised, highlighting that Iran remains under rigorous IAEA inspections, while Israel, which is not a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), remains exempt.
China’s representative, Fu Cong, echoed Moscow’s concerns and issued a stern rebuke of U.S. and Israeli actions. “Beijing strongly condemns the strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure,” he said, warning that the conflict could spiral into a broader regional war if immediate steps are not taken to de-escalate.
Fu stressed that the attacks were a breach of both the UN Charter and Iran’s national sovereignty. He argued that such aggression undermines the global system meant to curb nuclear proliferation, posing a grave threat to international peace and stability.
Pakistan’s UN envoy, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar, urged the Security Council to take swift and decisive action to prevent a wider war. Calling for a halt to hostilities and the restoration of dialogue, he reiterated Islamabad’s solidarity with Tehran. “The international community must prioritise diplomacy over conflict. We stand with the people and government of Iran and reaffirm their right to self-defence,” he stated.
Ambassador Iftikhar also revealed that Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister is involved in active diplomacy to defuse tensions and called on member states to back the ceasefire resolution introduced by Pakistan, Russia, and China.
Representing Iran, Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani strongly denounced what he described as deliberate, unprovoked attacks ordered by former U.S. President Donald Trump. He confirmed that Iran’s nuclear sites at Isfahan, Natanz, and Fordow were targeted and labelled the strikes as part of a broader campaign of aggression.
“This is a clear violation of international law and a political manoeuvre aimed at gaining domestic favour in the U.S.,” Iravani said. He invoked Article 51 of the UN Charter, affirming Iran’s right to respond in self-defence. He also linked the latest U.S. actions to earlier Israeli military operations, which he said had already resulted in over 400 Iranian casualties. “Iran will not remain silent in the face of such continued hostility,” he warned.
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