Lebanon, Iraq, Pakistan leaders warn of regional war at UN Assembly

On the fourth day of the United Nations General Assembly, Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Iraq’s President Abdul Latif Rashid and Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari each addressed the plenary, warning that the United States‑Israel campaign against Iran is widening the risk of a regional war. Their speeches came as the assembly’s agenda shifted from climate and development to the escalating Middle‑East crisis, and they called for an immediate cease‑fire and a return to diplomatic negotiations.

The focus on Iran follows a series of flashpoints that have drawn the world’s attention. In April, a U.S. drone strike killed senior Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander Mohammad Reza Zahedi, prompting Iran to launch a swarm of drones and missiles at U.S. bases in Iraq. Israel responded with air raids on Iranian‑backed militias in Syria and Lebanon. The confrontations have spilled into the diplomatic sphere, with Washington and Tehran trading threats of further strikes. The UNGA provides the only global forum where all members can voice concerns, and the timing reflects growing anxiety among non‑aligned nations that the conflict could spiral into a broader confrontation involving major powers.

Mikati warned that Israel’s strikes on Hezbollah in southern Lebanon threaten the fragile peace that has held since the 2006 war. Rashid condemned the U.S. presence in Iraq as a violation of sovereignty and urged the Security Council to adopt a resolution calling for an immediate halt to all hostilities. Bhutto Zardari appealed to the international community to enforce UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which calls for diplomatic solutions to the nuclear dispute, and he urged the G20 to mediate. Their remarks were met with applause from many developing‑country delegations, while U.S. and Israeli representatives remained silent, underscoring the deep divisions within the assembly.

The next session of the General Assembly will feature a debate on a draft resolution that seeks to establish an emergency UN‑backed mediation team for the Middle East. If passed, the resolution could pressure the United Nations Security Council to act, despite likely vetoes from permanent members. Meanwhile, the United States has signaled it will continue its “maximum pressure” policy toward Iran, and Israel has pledged to protect its borders. The speeches from Beirut, Baghdad and Islamabad signal that a growing coalition of nations is prepared to challenge that stance, and the coming days will test whether diplomatic pressure can curb a conflict that threatens global stability.