UN boss reacts to latest escalation in Middle East, urges de-escalation from all parties
TOKYO, JAPAN - AUGUST 08: UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres speaks during a press conference at the Japan National Press Club on August 8, 2022 in Tokyo, Japan. Guterres was in Japan to attend a commemorative event marking the 77th anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing. (Photo by Franck Robichon - Pool/Getty Images)
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres is extremely concerned about the escalating tensions in the Middle East following Israeli strikes on Iran.
He’s urging all parties to put an end to military actions, not just in Iran, but also in Gaza and Lebanon, to prevent a full-blown regional war. Guterres wants everyone to take a step back, exercise maximum restraint, and return to diplomatic efforts.
The UN boss has been vocal about the need for a two-state solution, emphasizing that it’s the only way to achieve lasting peace and stability in the region. He denounced the recent attacks, including Iran’s large-scale assault on Israel, and urging all parties to abide by international humanitarian law.
United Nations Secretary General António Guterres is “deeply alarmed by the continued escalation” in the Middle East following Israeli strikes on Iran, his spokesperson says.
“The secretary general urgently reiterates his appeal to all parties to cease all military actions, including in Gaza and Lebanon, exert maximum efforts to prevent an all-out regional war and return to the path of diplomacy,” UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric says in a statement.
In a recent Security Council meeting, Guterres emphasized that the Middle East is on a precipice, and it’s time for maximum restraint.
