UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Wednesday issued a renewed and urgent call for de-escalation and a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, warning of grave regional and global consequences if the conflict continues to intensify.
“I remain profoundly alarmed by the ongoing military escalation,” Guterres said in a strongly worded statement, appealing for restraint and warning against further internationalization of the hostilities. “Any additional military interventions could have enormous consequences, not only for those involved but for the whole region and for international peace and security at large.”
The Secretary-General condemned the growing civilian toll, citing the “tragic and unnecessary loss of lives and injuries to civilians, as well as the damage to homes and critical civilian infrastructure.”
The current crisis erupted last Friday when Israel launched airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear and military facilities, prompting retaliatory missile attacks on Israeli cities by Tehran. Media reports estimate that more than 250 people have been killed across both countries since the violence began.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed on Wednesday that two of Iran’s centrifuge production sites, TESA Karaj and the Tehran Research Center, were hit during the strikes. Both had previously been under international monitoring as part of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
The escalation follows an IAEA resolution last week accusing Iran of failing to meet its non-proliferation obligations, citing “many failures” to provide full and timely cooperation regarding undeclared nuclear materials and activities.
As tensions mount, Guterres reiterated that diplomacy must remain the cornerstone of efforts to resolve both nuclear and regional security concerns. “The UN Charter remains our shared framework to save people from the scourge of war,” he said, urging all Member States to uphold international law and humanitarian principles.
Written By Rodney Mbua
