UN Secretary-General Urges US and Iran to Resume Peace Negotiations Immediately

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged the United States and Iran to resume diplomatic talks immediately in order to resolve the ongoing military conflict.

“(Guterres) urges the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States to resume negotiations towards a peaceful and sustainable settlement as soon as possible,” said UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric at a press conference on Monday (17/8) local time.

The appeal was made following the expiry of the 60-day negotiation deadline set by US President Donald Trump under the terms of the Iran Agreement signed at Versailles on 18 June.

In addition to encouraging talks, Guterres called on the governments in Washington and Tehran to exercise restraint, tone down political rhetoric, and prevent an escalation of retaliatory military action.

Tensions between the two countries have been rising again since 8 July, when Trump unilaterally declared that the ceasefire agreement reached with Iran on 18 June was no longer in force.

The US military subsequently launched a series of strikes on Iranian territory. US Central Command claimed the armed action was a response to Tehran’s actions against commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran then retaliated by striking US military bases in the Middle East region, while accusing Washington of violating the ceasefire agreement.

In recent weeks, Washington and Tehran, with the help of mediators from Middle Eastern countries, had actually been working to formulate the terms of a new agreement to end the dispute.

Nevertheless, Trump stated on 9 August that Washington was negotiating with Tehran half-heartedly, while highlighting Iran’s economic condition, which he described as deteriorating.