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Pakistan calls for end to Gulf tensions at UNPakistan
At a UN Security Council meeting on Gulf security, Pakistan pressed for diplomacy over escalation, warning that attacks on shipping threaten global energy and food supplies. The session exposed deep divisions as Washington, Tehran and Gulf states blamed each other for the crisis.
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Pakistan has called for an immediate halt to military provocations in the Gulf and a return to diplomacy, as the United States, Iran and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries traded accusations at a United Nations Security Council meeting over attacks on shipping and threats to maritime security.
Addressing the Council, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Syed Haider Shah, condemned attacks on Gulf countries and stressed the need to respect their sovereignty and territorial integrity, protect civilians and commercial vessels, and restore normal maritime traffic.
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He said volatility at the maritime chokepoints had imperilled peace and stability, pushed up energy prices and heightened fears of global food insecurity. He warned that the Strait of Hormuz carries one third of globally traded crude oil and a significant share of the global fertilizer trade.
He particularly condemned attacks and threats by Houthi militants against Saudi Arabia, including strikes on civilian infrastructure and vessels involved in lawful trade, and reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity.
He said lasting peace required addressing the root causes of regional conflicts, and urged all sides to stop attacks, keep communication channels open and support diplomatic initiatives, including the UN secretary-general’s good offices.
US and Iran trade blame
The US representative, Ambassador Jennifer Locetta, rejected Iran’s position and accused Tehran of aggression against neighbouring countries and threats to commercial shipping. She said Iranian missiles, drones and alleged unlawful mines in the Strait of Hormuz, as well as attacks in the Bab el-Mandab Strait, endangered international shipping. She cited Security Council Resolution 2817, which calls on Iran to stop attacks against neighbouring states and shipping and has 136 co-sponsors.
Iranian Ambassador Gholamhossein Darzi accused Western countries of ignoring the origins of the conflict and attempting to portray Iran as responsible. He blamed US and Israeli military operations launched on June 13, 2025, and February 28, 2026, for the prevailing insecurity, saying they violated international law.
Darzi claimed that 5,000 people, including 254 children, had been killed, describing the strikes as war crimes and crimes against humanity. He said threats around the Strait of Hormuz were a direct consequence of those attacks. He rejected Resolution 2817 as politically motivated and said Tehran remained open to diplomacy, but wanted Washington to end its military operations and lift what he described as unlawful coercive measures.
GCC cites attacks on member states
GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi said Gulf countries had been targeted by more than 7,000 Iranian missiles and drones since February 28, hitting airports, ports, oil and gas installations, power stations, desalination plants and residential areas. He called the attacks violations of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of GCC states and urged Security Council action to prevent their recurrence.
Bahrain’s Ambassador Jamal Fares Alrowaiei, speaking for the GCC, welcomed mediation initiatives by Oman, Qatar and Pakistan and said Gulf states must be part of any negotiations on regional security.
The meeting underscored deep divisions over responsibility for the crisis, despite calls for a diplomatic settlement. Participants stressed restoring freedom of navigation, protecting commercial vessels and civilian infrastructure, ensuring the safety of seafarers and maintaining access for humanitarian supplies. Pakistan reaffirmed its commitment to working with Gulf states and international partners to reduce tensions and promote lasting regional peace and stability.
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