By Enyichukwu Enemanna
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Saturday condemned the ongoing military escalation in the Middle East, warning that it poses threat to international peace and security.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson’s office, Guterres called for an immediate ceasefire and urged all parties to pursue de-escalation without delay.
The statement quoted him as stressing the need to return to negotiations “immediately,” underscoring that diplomacy remains the only viable path to resolving the crisis.
The UN chief according to the statement reaffirmed that there is no alternative to the peaceful settlement of international disputes, in full respect of international law and the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter.
He described the Charter as the cornerstone of efforts to maintain global peace and security, reiterating the organization’s longstanding position that conflicts must be addressed through dialogue rather than use of military force.
The remarks is in response to the rising tensions across the region, prompting growing international concern.
On Saturday, the United States and Israel launched a joint military operation against Iran, striking targets across the Middle Eastern nation after Iran failed to meet President Donald Trump’s expectations in nuclear negotiations.
Trump who announced the operation in an eight-minute video posted to his Truth Social account also called on Iranians to seize the chance to overthrow the Islamist regime.
He alleged that Iran “attempted to rebuild their nuclear programme and continue developing long-range missiles that can now threaten our very good friends and allies in Europe, our troops stationed overseas and could soon reach our American homeland.”
In response to the deteriorating situation, the UN Security Council is scheduled to hold an emergency meeting. The session will focus on developments in the Middle East and the broader implications for regional and global stability.
The United Nations has repeatedly called on all sides to exercise maximum restraint as diplomatic efforts continue.
