UN Chief: US-Iran Confrontation Risks Derailing Diplomatic Progress

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is alarmed by the renewed outbreak of military confrontation in the Gulf region and has called for de-escalation, his spokesperson said on Wednesday. ‘The incidents we have witnessed in the last 24 hours risk derailing the diplomatic progress made between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States,’ Stephane Dujarric, the UN chief’s spokesperson, told a daily press briefing. Dujarric said that a return to full-scale hostilities would have catastrophic consequences, both for the people of the region, for international peace and security, and for the global economy as a whole. The Secretary-General urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint, avoid any further escalatory actions, and take immediate steps towards de-escalation. The UN chief also recalled the obligation of all parties to fully comply with international law. Guterres urged Iran and the United States to promptly resume negotiations and resolve outstanding issues through diplomacy. The UN remains committed to supporting all efforts to prevent a return to conflict, restore stability, and advance a comprehensive and sustainable resolution to the conflict, the spokesperson said.