New york: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Wednesday that the Iran war has spun beyond all boundaries, declaring the conflict "out of control," cautioning that the world faces the prospect of a far broader confrontation. "More than three weeks on, this war is out of control," Guterres told reporters at a news conference at UN headquarters in New York, adding that "the conflict has broken past the limits even leaders thought imaginable."
According to Philippines News Agency, Guterres emphasized that "the world is staring down the barrel of a wider war, a rising tide of human suffering, and a deeper global economic shock," stressing that it "has gone too far." He called for an end to the military escalation, stating, "It is time to stop climbing the escalation ladder and start climbing the diplomatic ladder and return to full respect of international law."
Pointing to the key parties involved in the war, Guterres addressed the United States and Israel, stating, "My message to the United States and Israel is that it is high time to end the war as human suffering deepens, civilian casualties mount, and the global economic impact is increasingly devastating." He also urged Iran to cease attacks on Gulf countries, which he argued "are not parties to the conflict."
Highlighting the economic ripple effects of the war, Guterres explained, "The prolonged closure of the Strait (of Hormuz) is choking the movement of oil, gas, and fertilizer at a critical moment in the global planting season." Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, an essential route for global goods and energy trade, had been largely disrupted by escalating tensions in the Gulf following US and Israeli attacks on Iran and Tehran's retaliation. The strait handles roughly 25 percent of global oil trade, about 20 percent of liquefied natural gas trade, and nearly 30 percent of fertilizer trade.
The UN chief also addressed the situation in Lebanon, saying, "Israel must stop its military operations and strikes in Lebanon, which are hitting civilians the hardest," adding that "the Gaza model must not be replicated in Lebanon." In efforts to de-escalate tensions, Guterres announced the appointment of Jean Arnault of France as his "personal envoy to lead the UN efforts on the conflict and its consequences." Arnault previously served as the UN chief's personal envoy on Afghanistan and regional issues in 2021.
When asked for details about Arnault's role, Guterres said he "will be doing everything possible to support all the efforts for mediation, all the efforts for peace, to be in contact with all the parties" in the Middle East. Guterres emphasized the need for diplomacy and full respect for international law, expressing hope that the parties involved in the Iran war will reach "an understanding to end this horrible conflict." He added, "Because the consequences of the conflict, that is totally out of control at the present moment, are absolutely devastating."
The region has been shaken since the US and Israel launched a joint offensive on Iran on Feb. 28, resulting in the deaths of more than 1,300 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, along with Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties and damage to infrastructure while disrupting global markets and aviation.
