United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres issued a stark warning on the growing volatility in the Middle East following US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, cautioning that the region is on the brink of a dangerous cycle of vengeance.
Addressing an emergency session of the UN Security Council, Guterres described the latest military action by the United States as a deeply troubling escalation in a region already gripped by instability.
"Ever since the (Israeli-Iranian) crisis began, I have consistently denounced any escalation through military means in the Middle East. The people of the region cannot stand another cycle of devastation. And yet, today we risk falling into a rathole of retaliation for retaliation," he said.
Highlighting the necessity for diplomacy rather than force, Guterres underscored the imperative of safeguarding civilians and facilitating the safety of maritime trade. He appealed to world leaders to adopt prompt and decisive action towards reviving diplomatic engagement.
"We need to act — now and firmly — to stop the combat and get back to serious, meaningful negotiations on the Iran nuclear program," he appealed.
Guterres also called for a strong and verifiable deal to revive international confidence, with inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN nuclear watchdog, in accordance with Xinhua news agency.
Emphasizing the importance of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Guterres said that it is still a bedrock pillar of international peace and security, and emphasized that Iran should strictly comply with its terms.
"All member states need to act in accordance with their UN Charter and other international law rules, including international humanitarian law," he emphasized.
HIGHLIGHTING the UN's willingness to assist in peace efforts, Guterres reminded the Council that real peace cannot be imposed from outside.
"The United Nations is prepared to help any and all efforts towards a peaceful solution. But peace cannot be imposed, it has to be chosen," he stated.
He ended his speech with a somber but direct call: "We are faced with a stark choice. One leads to further war, greater human misery and significant harm to the international order. The other to de-escalation, diplomacy and dialogue. We know which is the right path."
Guterres called upon both the Security Council and wider UN membership to "respond with reason, restraint and urgency to the call for peace.".
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