Pakistan, Russia, and China have jointly proposed a draft resolution at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in the Middle East amid growing concerns over escalating hostilities following recent US and Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
The move comes as the Security Council convened for an emergency session, during which representatives from the three countries issued stinging rebukes of American military actions and warned of catastrophic consequences if the crisis remains unaddressed.
Russia’s permanent representative to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, accused the United States of showing “complete contempt for the international community” and said Washington had “opened a Pandora’s box.”
“No one knows what new catastrophe or suffering these reckless actions will bring,” he said. “It is prepared not only to ignore the killings of tens of thousands of Palestinians, but now gambles with the safety and well-being of humanity as a whole.”
He termed the coordinated strikes by the United States and Israel as a “humiliation of the international community” and called out the “glaring double standards” in global nuclear oversight, noting that Israel remains outside the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), while Iran is among the most heavily inspected countries by the IAEA.
China warns of spillover, urges restraint
Echoing Moscow’s alarm, China’s ambassador to the UN, Fu Cong, said Beijing “strongly condemns the US attacks on Iran and the bombing of nuclear facilities.”
“We are deeply concerned about the risk of the situation spiralling out of control,” he warned. “Israel must cease hostilities immediately to prevent further escalation and a dangerous spillover into the broader region.”
Fu also described the US strikes as a “dangerous violation of the United Nations Charter, international law, and Iran’s sovereignty.” He added that the attacks have undermined the global nuclear non-proliferation regime and “dealt a major blow to the international framework designed to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons.”
Pakistan calls for diplomacy, solidarity with Iran
Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar, urged the Council to act decisively and avoid a larger conflict. “We demand an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and urge all parties to return to the path of diplomacy,” he said.
He described the strikes as a breach of international law and reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for Iran’s right to defend itself. “We express our deep solidarity with the people and government of Iran. Diplomatic channels must be used to defuse tensions, not military action,” he stated.
The ambassador also revealed that Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister was actively engaged in peace efforts, and he called on the international community to support the draft resolution jointly tabled by Pakistan, China, and Russia.
Iran reserves right to respond
Iran’s permanent representative to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, reiterated Tehran’s condemnation of what he termed as “premeditated and unprovoked aggression” by the United States, carried out under the direct orders of former US President Donald Trump.
“This marks yet another shameful chapter in the political history of the United States,” Iravani said, pointing to Sunday’s coordinated attacks on nuclear facilities in Isfahan, Natanz, and Fordow. He accused Trump of personally orchestrating the attacks and publicising them for political gain.
Describing Iran as an “independent and peace-seeking nation,” Iravani warned that Tehran retains “the complete and lawful right to respond under Article 51 of the UN Charter.”
He further linked the US action to earlier Israeli strikes on Iranian territory, which Tehran says have already claimed over 400 lives. “These latest acts of aggression are part of a broader campaign of hostility that cannot go unanswered,” he added.
