António Guterres on Iran

António Guterres firmly condemns recent military escalations in the Middle East involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, characterizing the exchanges as a grave threat to international peace and security. He has called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and de-escalation following joint US-Israeli strikes and subsequent Iranian retaliation across the region, emphasizing the risk of a wider conflict with grave civilian consequences. The Secretary-General repeatedly stresses that all Member States must adhere strictly to international law, particularly the UN Charter's prohibition on the use of force against another state's territorial integrity or political independence.

He views the military actions as having squandered an opportunity for diplomacy, especially after indirect talks had been underway, urging all involved parties to return immediately to the negotiating table. His position is rooted in upholding the UN Charter's foundational principles for resolving international disputes peacefully, including specific reference to the nuclear program's future in diplomatic discussions. While condemning attacks on Iran, he also condemned Iran's retaliatory actions for violating the sovereignty of several regional nations, maintaining a stance focused strictly on adherence to international law and civilian protection.