UN chief tells US, Israel 'it is high time to end war', urges Iran to stop attacking neighbours

BRUSSELS: United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Thursday called on the United States and Israel to end the war on Iran while simultaneously urging Tehran to cease its attacks on neighbouring countries.

Speaking to reporters in Brussels following a meeting with European Union leaders, Guterres delivered what he described as "two clear messages" to the warring parties.

"Let me start by two clear messages. First, to the United States and to Israel: It's high time to end this war that is risking to get completely out of control, causing immense suffering on civilians and with propagation around the global economy, that is really dramatic with potential tragic consequences, especially for the least developed countries."

The UN secretary general then directed his attention toward Iran, delivering a pointed message to Tehran.

"Stop attacking your neighbours; they were never parties to the conflict."

Background to the conflict

Guterres's remarks came as the US-Israel war on Iran continues to intensify. The conflict began when Washington and Tel Aviv launched strikes on Iran on February 28, which also resulted in the assassination of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei. The war has expanded since then, with Iran targeting US assets in the region.

The UN chief's dual appeal reflected growing international concern over the widening scope of the conflict and its humanitarian and economic consequences. Guterres specifically highlighted the risk of the war spiralling completely out of control, warning of its severe economic repercussions that could prove particularly devastating for the world's least developed nations.

His call for restraint from both sides — demanding an end to hostilities from the US and Israel while pressing Iran to refrain from striking neighbouring states — underscored the complex and multi-front nature of the ongoing conflict. Guterres noted that Iran's neighbours had never been parties to the original conflict, making attacks on them unjustifiable in his view.

The secretary general's statements in Brussels came during a period of heightened diplomatic activity, as the conflict's consequences ripple through the global economy and threaten stability well beyond the Middle East.