UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned the recent military escalation in the Middle East, noting that US and Israeli strikes on Iran and Iran’s retaliatory attacks undermine international peace and security.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the secretary-general expressed grave concern over the direct confrontation, emphasizing that the use of force by all involved parties threatens the stability of the entire region.

He reminded all member states to uphold their obligations under international law, including the UN Charter, which prohibits the threat or use of force against any nation’s territorial integrity or political independence.

Guterres underscored that any military action inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations is a violation of the foundational principles that maintain global order.

“The Charter provides the foundation for the maintenance of international peace and security,” he reiterated.

Guterres called for an immediate halt to hostilities, warning that failure to dae-escalate could spark a wider regional conflict, and urged all parties to return to negotiations for a peaceful resolution.

He highlighted the “grave consequences” such a conflict would have for civilians and regional stability, insisting that there is no viable alternative to the peaceful settlement of international disputes.

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk also condemned the US and Israeli strikes on Iran, as well as Iran’s retaliatory attacks, warning that civilians invariably bear the brunt of any armed conflict.

Türk stressed that military action only brings death and destruction, and called on all parties to exercise restraint, de-escalate tensions, and return to negotiations that had been under way just hours earlier.

He cautioned that failing to halt hostilities risks a far wider conflict across the Middle East and urged all actors to respect international law, emphasising that civilian protection is paramount and violations must be met with accountability.