WASHINGTON: Ahead of a high-level debate that has acquired even greater significance amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, a key player is likely to be absent from the table when the UN Security Council discusses the weakening of the international system this week.

The debate on “Upholding the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter and Strengthening the UN-Centred International System” comes at a time when efforts towards a possible US-Iran understanding appear to have slowed, despite earlier indications from both sides that progress had been made.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar arrived in New York on Monday night to attend the ministerial-level session — which has been convened by China under its rotating presidency of the Council and will be chaired by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Beijing has described the meeting as a response to what it calls growing strain on the international system amid escalating geopolitical rivalries and conflicts. Chinese officials say the session will focus on reinforcing the relevance of the UN Charter, strengthening the authority of the Security Council, and promoting multilateral diplomacy.

Dar will represent Pakistan in China-hosted discussion on weakening of UN-centred international system

However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who was also invited by the Chinese to take part in the debate, will not be present after being denied a visa by the host nation.

According to the Iranian state-run IRNA news agency, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei told a press briefing on Monday that Mr Araghchi will not be travelling to New York to participate in the UN Security Council meeting “due to visa issues”.

Diplomatic observers noted that as Iran is not currently a member of the Security Council, its foreign minister could only have participated as an invited guest in the open debate.

His absence has, however, removed the possibility of another rare face-to-face engagement between senior Iranian and US officials at a sensitive juncture in bilateral relations.

In a briefing last week, China’s UN mission said the debate was intended to underline concerns over what it termed “unprecedented challenges” to the global order and the need to uphold multilateral mechanisms at a time of rising global instability.

Chinese officials have linked the debate to broader concerns over what they describe as the erosion of multilateral institutions, warning that growing geopolitical turbulence is placing strain on the UN-centred system.

Pakistan is expected to align with China’s position on strengthening the United Nations and supporting dialogue-based approaches to conflict resolution. Diplomatic sources say that Dar would reiterate Islamabad’s longstanding view that disputes should be resolved peacefully and within the framework of the UN Charter.

The United States is also expected to participate in the meeting as a permanent member of the Council, though it remains unclear whether Secretary of State Marco Rubio will attend in person or send a lower-level delegation.

Separately, Dar is expected to attend a meeting of the China-backed Group of Friends on Global Governance during his visit and hold bilateral meetings with several foreign ministers and senior UN officials on the side-lines of the session.

Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2026