UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday issued an urgent plea for immediate de-escalation in the mounting conflict between Israel and Iran. In a statement, he warned that any further military actions risk drawing in other nations and destabilizing the entire Middle East.
"I remain profoundly alarmed by the ongoing military escalation in the Middle East between Israel and Iran. I reiterate my call for immediate de-escalation leading to a ceasefire," Guterres said, emphasizing the human cost of the strikes.
He condemned recent attacks that have led to tragic civilian casualties, injuries and damage to homes and critical infrastructure. The UN chief stressed that diplomacy remains the only viable path to address concerns over Iran's nuclear program and regional security issues.
"The UN Charter remains our shared framework to save people from the scourge of war," he added. "I urge all member states to comply fully with the charter and international law, including international humanitarian law."
The appeal comes after Israel launched surprise attacks on Iran, including strikes on nuclear facilities, and Iran immediately retaliated with missiles and drones. The two nations have traded daily blows since Friday.
As tensions ripple across the globe, the world now looks to diplomatic channels to break the cycle of violence and forge a sustainable ceasefire.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
