Gravely Alarmed by United States Use of Force against Iran, Secretary-General Calls on Member States ‘at This Perilous Hour’ to De-escalate

Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ statement on Iran, today:

I am gravely alarmed by the use of force by the United States against Iran today.  This is a dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge — and a direct threat to international peace and security.

There is a growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of control — with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world.

I call on Member States to de-escalate and to uphold their obligations under the UN Charter and other rules of international law.

At this perilous hour, it is critical to avoid a spiral of chaos.

There is no military solution.  The only path forward is diplomacy.  The only hope is peace.