Condemning Escalation of Middle East Conflict, Secretary-General Urges All Parties to Prevent All-Out War, ‘Return to the Path of Diplomacy’

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres:

Following the attacks overnight by the Israeli Defense Forces on targets in the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Secretary-General is deeply alarmed by the continued escalation in the Middle East.  All acts of escalation are condemnable and must stop.

The Secretary-General urgently reiterates his appeal to all parties to cease all military actions, including in Gaza and Lebanon, exert maximum efforts to prevent an all-out regional war and return to the path of diplomacy.