United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued a renewed and urgent appeal to the United States, Israel, and Iran to de-escalate tensions, warning that the ongoing conflict risks spiraling “completely out of control” with severe humanitarian and economic consequences.
In a series of statements over the past weeks, Guterres called on both the United States and Israel to bring the war to an end, stressing that continued fighting is driving immense civilian suffering and amplifying global instability.
“It’s high time to end this war that is risking to get completely out of control,” he said, pointing to the mounting toll on civilians and the “dramatic” repercussions on the global economy, particularly for the world’s poorest nations.
The UN chief underscored that as violence intensifies, its ripple effects are being felt far beyond the immediate conflict zone, with vulnerable economies bearing the brunt of disruptions.
At the same time, Guterres issued a direct warning to Iran, urging it to cease attacks against neighboring countries that are not parties to the conflict.
“Stop attacking your neighbors. They were never parties to the conflict,” he said, noting that the United Nations Security Council has already condemned such actions and called for an immediate halt.
He also highlighted concerns over the continued disruption of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil transit route, warning that its prolonged closure is inflicting widespread economic pain on countries with no direct involvement in the conflict.
“The prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz causes enormous pain in so many peoples around the world that have nothing to do with this conflict,” Guterres said.
Framing the crisis as a test of international order, the UN chief emphasized the need to uphold international law and pursue diplomatic solutions.
“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 said.
Guterres reiterated that as civilian casualties rise and economic fallout deepens, immediate de-escalation remains critical to preventing further humanitarian and geopolitical consequences.