United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for an immediate cessation of hostilities between Iran and Israel, urging both nations to return to diplomatic dialogue in a bid to avert a full-scale regional war.
Speaking at an emergency UN Security Council meeting on Sunday evening, Guterres warned that peace in the Middle East cannot be imposed but must be embraced through mutual commitment and constructive engagement.
The meeting was convened by Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, who currently holds the presidency of the Council for the month of June.
It followed a U.S.-led military operation that destroyed three Iranian nuclear facilities, a move Washington described as a “necessary action” to thwart Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Israel has long maintained that Iran’s nuclear programme represents an existential threat to regional peace and stability.
The strikes have since sparked a fierce exchange of ballistic missile attacks between Iran and Israel, pushing the region closer to a broader and more devastating conflict.
Secretary-General Guterres lamented the failure of earlier international efforts aimed at de-escalation, stating that “Two years ago in this very chamber, I made a direct appeal—‘give peace a chance.’ That call was not heeded. Instead, the bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities by America marks a perilous time for a region already reeling.”
He strongly condemned the escalation of military actions, stressing the human cost of continued warfare: “I condemn any military assault in the region. The people of the Middle East cannot endure another cycle of destruction. We are descending into a hole of retaliation after retaliation. Diplomacy must prevail and civilians must be protected.”
Adding to the calls for restraint, the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Asia, and the Americas emphasized the historical failure of military solutions in the region.
“There is no military intervention to the situation in the Middle East. Dialogue must be prioritized over continued violence,” he said.
Representatives from both Iran and Israel addressed the Council, each defending their country’s actions as legitimate responses to perceived threats. The Iranian envoy condemned what he described as American aggression and Israeli provocation, while the Israeli representative reaffirmed his country’s right to self-defense.
The United States Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Dorothy Camille Shea, reiterated America’s opposition to a nuclear-armed Iran. She warned that any attack by Iran on U.S. interests would be met with a “strong and overwhelming response.”
Meanwhile, several regional actors, including Kuwait, have called for a de-escalation and pledged support for a peaceful mediation process aimed at restoring calm.
The ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel represents one of the most dangerous escalations in the Middle East in recent years, with the potential to destabilize not only the region but also the global order.
As diplomatic channels grow increasingly strained, the United Nations is calling on member states and key stakeholders to rally behind a ceasefire initiative and resume meaningful dialogue.
With the world watching anxiously, the path ahead remains uncertain. But the global community, led by the UN, hopes diplomacy—not warfare—will shape the next chapter in this crisis.
