Antonio Guterres, The UN Secretary General has said the war between Iran and US-Israel is out of control and has gone too far. The UN message posted on X (Twitter) said the UN Secretary General has announced the appointment of seasoned diplomat Jean Arnault as his Personal Envoy to lead the UN efforts on the conflict in West Asia. Highlighting the suffering of civilians, the UN chief urged an end to war.
Guterres said the war had pervaded West Asia with shockwaves that were spreading worldwide – especially impacting energy markets dependent on oil and gas coming from the region and currently stalled because of the crucial Strait of Hormuz blockade.
He urged the United States and Israel that “it is high time to end the war”, while calling on Iran “to stop attacking their neighbours that are not parties to the conflict.”Highlighting the humanitarian toll, he said civilians across the region were “enduring serious harm and living under profound insecurity”. Referring to Lebanon, he insisted that “the war must stop”, calling on Hizbullah to stop attacks into Israel and on Israel to cease strikes that are “hitting civilians the hardest”.
The Secretary-General also cautioned against the broader global turmoil, noting that markets are disrupted and humanitarian operations constrained.
The economic shock, he said, is hitting the most vulnerable hardest, particularly in developing countries already struggling with debt and rising costs.
He also stressed that freedom of navigation, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, must be respected, pointing out that its prolonged disruption is blocking vital supplies of oil, gas and fertiliser.
He pointed to the disruption of fertiliser supplies as a looming threat to global food security. “Without fertilisers today, we might have hunger tomorrow,” he warned, adding that soaring energy prices risk fuelling inflation and deepening poverty worldwide.
Despite mounting tensions and continued military escalation, Guterres insisted there remains a path forward. “Diplomacy must prevail,” he said. “War is not the answer."
