By The South Asia Times

ISLAMABAD - Iran on Saturday expressed gratitude to Pakistan for its “historic and unwavering support” at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, after Islamabad voted against a resolution targeting Tehran and called for a formal vote on the motion.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, while in Dubai, received a telephone call from his Iranian counterpart Seyed Abbas Araghchi, during which the two leaders exchanged views on current regional and international developments.

Araghchi thanked Dar for Pakistan’s strong support and its principled position at the UN Human Rights Council, including calling for a vote and voting against the resolution concerning Iran. He also conveyed deep appreciation for Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, the Government, and the people of Pakistan, according to Pakistani Foreign Ministry statement.

Separately, Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghadam said in a post on X that he extends sincere gratitude to the Government of Pakistan, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, for what he termed historic support extended to Iran at the UNHRC in Geneva.

He particularly acknowledged Pakistan’s role in calling for a vote and casting a negative vote against what he described as an unjustified resolution targeting Iran, and praised the efforts of Pakistan’s Permanent Mission in Geneva for its professionalism and dedication.

According to the Iranian envoy, Pakistan’s stance helped mark the third consecutive defeat of what he called politically motivated actions against Iran over the past year, including international pressure following unrest inside the country and the use of multilateral forums for hostile agendas.

On Friday, the United Nations Human Rights Council held its 39th Special Session on Iran in Geneva to address growing international concern over human rights violations amid nationwide protests that began on 28 December 2025.

The resolution debated at the session aimed to extend the mandate of the independent international fact-finding mission on Iran and the special rapporteur on human rights for further investigation into allegations of serious rights abuses, including violent crackdowns on peaceful protesters.

The outcome of the vote was 25 in favour, 7 against and 14 abstentions. Pakistan was among that countries voting against the resolution, alongside China, Cuba, Indonesia, Iraq, and Vietnam. Countries that voted in favour included many Western and other UN member states such as France, Japan, the United Kingdom, Chile, and Ghana.

Supporters of the resolution emphasised concern over reports of thousands of deaths and serious human rights violations in Iran’s crackdown on protests, calling for continued investigation and accountability. Opponents, including Pakistan, criticised what they described as selective scrutiny and politicisation of the Human Rights Council’s agenda, and stressed the importance of sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs.

The vote and reactions reflect deep divisions within the international community over how to address human rights concerns in Iran, with Tehran and its allies pushing back against external pressure while Western and other nations call for heightened oversight and accountability measures.