In a stark warning from Brussels, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for an immediate end to the escalating military conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran, describing the situation as “risking to get completely out of control” with potentially “tragic consequences” for the global economy, especially the world’s least developed nations.
Addressing reporters on Thursday after meetings with European Union leaders, Guterres delivered two unequivocal messages. “First, to the United States and to Israel: It’s high time to end this war,” he stated, emphasizing the immense civilian suffering and dramatic economic propagation already underway. He then turned to Tehran: “Stop attacking your neighbours; they were never parties to the conflict.”
The conflict, which began with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28—reportedly resulting in the assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei—has since expanded dangerously. Iran has retaliated by targeting U.S. assets and bases across Gulf countries, drawing regional powers deeper into the confrontation. The UN Security Council has struggled to respond cohesively; on March 11, it adopted a Bahrain-led resolution condemning Iran’s actions in the Gulf, while the United States vetoed a separate Russian resolution calling for de-escalation across the Middle East.
Guterres highlighted the severe global repercussions, particularly the disruption of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments. “The prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz causes enormous pain to so many people around the world who have nothing to do with this conflict,” he warned. This disruption has triggered a global oil crisis and heightened inflation, straining economies worldwide. The Secretary-General recalled that the Security Council has already condemned attacks on Iran’s neighbours and ordered them to cease, alongside demands to reopen the vital waterway.
The UN chief’s urgent appeal underscores the conflict’s transformation from a regional confrontation into a catalyst for worldwide economic instability. With diplomatic channels strained, Guterres framed the crisis as a fundamental choice between force and law. “It’s time for the force of the law to prevail over the law of the force. It’s time for diplomacy to prevail over war,” he asserted, calling for renewed international efforts toward de-escalation. As reported by Reuters, the conflict’s expansion threatens to unravel fragile regional stability, with no clear exit strategy in sight for the involved parties.
Guterres’s intervention marks a critical moment for multilateral diplomacy, emphasizing that the humanitarian and economic costs of continued warfare are becoming untenable for the international community. The call for an immediate ceasefire and a return to dialogue reflects growing global apprehension over a conflict that shows no signs of abating.
Source: Dawn News