United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a stark warning on Friday, urging all parties involved in the escalating Iran-Israel conflict to “give peace a chance” and avoid plunging the region, and potentially the world, into uncontrollable chaos.
Speaking during an emergency UN Security Council session in New York, Guterres cautioned that the situation was rapidly deteriorating and could spiral far beyond regional borders if not urgently addressed.
“To the parties to the conflict, the potential parties to the conflict, and to the Security Council as the representative of the international community, I have a simple and clear message: Give peace a chance,” Guterres said. His remarks were widely interpreted as a veiled appeal to the United States, which is reportedly weighing military support for Israel amid the escalating violence.
“We are not drifting toward crisis, we are racing toward it,” the UN chief warned. “We are not witnessing isolated incidents; we are on course to potential chaos.”
Tensions between Iran and Israel have surged following a series of deadly missile exchanges, with both sides sustaining casualties and infrastructure damage. The conflict has already drawn regional actors into the fray and raised fears of a broader Middle East war.
Guterres urged all nations with influence over the warring parties to act swiftly to de-escalate hostilities and revive diplomatic efforts. “The expansion of this conflict could ignite a fire that no one can control. We must not let that happen,” he said.
Despite repeated calls for restraint from international leaders, fighting has intensified in recent days. The Security Council has so far failed to reach a consensus on a unified response, with divisions among permanent members over the scope and legality of potential military interventions.
The Secretary-General’s plea underscores mounting global concern over the risk of a wider conflict that could destabilize an already fragile international order.
Written By Rodney Mbua
