NEW YORK (HRNW)— The United Nations today delivered a stern and urgent message amid the spiralling conflict sparked by coordinated U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and rapid Iranian retaliation: the world cannot afford a broader war.
UN SECRETARY-GENERAL DEMANDS IMMEDIATE STOP TO FIGHTING
In a forceful statement, UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the recent military escalation as a severe threat to international peace and security, warning that the violence could engulf the wider Middle East and risk humanitarian catastrophe.
Guterres emphasised that the UN Charter expressly prohibits the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any nation, urging all sides — including the United States, Israel, and Iran — to cease hostilities immediately and return to the negotiating table.
“Failing to de-escalate now risks a wider regional conflict with grave consequences for civilians and regional stability,” the Secretary-General said, stressing that peaceful dialogue under international law remains the only path forward.
UN SECURITY COUNCIL CALLED INTO EMERGENCY SESSION
Diplomats confirmed that an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council was convened late Saturday night following the outbreak of war, at the request of multiple member states, including the United Kingdom, France, Bahrain, and Colombia.
The Council is expected to hear statements from the Secretary-General and consider draft resolutions aimed at halting the violence and preventing further destabilisation. Calls for immediate cessation of military operations — and for all parties to commit to diplomatic solutions — are at the heart of the discussions.
UN HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF WARNS OF HUMANITARIAN COST
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights added to the chorus of concern, deploring the airstrikes and subsequent retaliatory attacks, and urging restraint to protect civilians caught in the crossfire.
“I deplore the military strikes… and as always, in any armed conflict, it is civilians who end up paying the ultimate price,” the Commissioner said, emphasising the urgent need for a negotiated end to the fighting.
GLOBAL LEGAL IMPERATIVES AND DIPLOMATIC PRESSURES
Meanwhile, Iran’s government has formally called on the UN Security Council and Secretary-General to take immediate action to confront what it describes as a violation of international peace by the U.S. and Israel — citing specific provisions of the UN Charter.
Iranian diplomats at the UN in Kuala Lumpur also urged global institutions to reaffirm the ban on the use of force and prioritise de-escalation and legal norms over battlefield escalation.
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