Pakistan told the UN Security Council on Thursday that it hopes for an early normalisation of the situation in Iran, cautioning that international law prohibits external interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states.
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Speaking at an emergency meeting convened by the United States to discuss unrest in Iran, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, stressed that the UN Charter prohibits the threat or use of force against states’ territorial integrity or political independence.
Statement by Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad,
Permanent Representative of Pakistan
At the Security Council Briefing under Agenda
“The Situation in the Middle East” (Iran)
(15 January 2026)
***********Thank you, Mr. President,
I thank Assistant Secretary General Martha Pobee… pic.twitter.com/58tBItqvaw
— Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN (@PakistanUN_NY) January 15, 2026
“We have been carefully observing developments in Iran and the region in recent days,” he said, describing new threats to regional stability as a serious concern. Calling Iran a “brotherly country,” he emphasised shared historical, cultural and religious ties and reaffirmed Pakistan’s confidence in the Iranian people and leadership.
The envoy reiterated Islamabad’s position that disputes must be resolved peacefully and warned that external pressure, unilateral actions and continued hostilities would only deepen crises. Pakistan hopes the situation will soon return to calm, he said, enabling all parties to pursue dialogue and a negotiated settlement.
We strongly believe that all disputes must be resolved through peaceful means and in accordance with international law. Continued hostilities, use of force and unilateral actions will only take us further away from the resolution of core issues and cause unnecessary humanitarian… pic.twitter.com/EOTu8bNSNx
— Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN (@PakistanUN_NY) January 15, 2026
Opening the debate, UN Assistant Secretary-General Martha Pobee called the situation in Iran “fluid and deeply concerning,” noting protests have continued, albeit on a smaller scale. She urged restraint from all sides to avoid escalation.
The US ambassador, Mike Waltz, accused Iran’s leadership of actions that threaten international peace and security and reaffirmed Washington’s support for protesters. Russia and China rejected the US position, accusing Washington of stoking tensions and issuing threats of force. Both warned that intervention would violate the UN Charter and risk destabilising the region.
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Iran’s deputy envoy, Gholamhossein Darzi, said his country was in mourning and accused the United States of spreading disinformation and seeking to justify political destabilisation and potential military intervention under a humanitarian guise.