United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres issued a powerful call for peace during an emergency session of the UN Security Council on Sunday, urging immediate steps to de-escalate tensions following the United States’ recent airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Addressing the session under the agenda “Threats to International Peace and Security,” Guterres described the US strikes as a “perilous turn” in an already volatile region and warned against a dangerous cycle of retaliation.
“We cannot — and must not — give up on peace,” Guterres declared. “The people of the region cannot endure another cycle of destruction. We now risk descending into a rathole of retaliation after retaliation.”
The emergency meeting was convened after the US launched Operation Midnight Hammer, a series of precision airstrikes targeting three key Iranian nuclear facilities—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan—on Saturday.
Guterres condemned the escalation and emphasized the urgent need for diplomacy over military action.
“Diplomacy must prevail. Civilians must be protected. Safe maritime navigation must be guaranteed,” he said. “We need a credible, comprehensive, and verifiable solution to the Iranian nuclear issue, with full access for IAEA inspectors.”
He reiterated the importance of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), urging Iran to comply fully with its provisions, and called on all UN member states to uphold their responsibilities under international law and the UN Charter.
“One path leads to wider war, deeper human suffering, and serious damage to the international order. The other leads to de-escalation, diplomacy, and dialogue,” Guterres warned, stressing the need for “reason, restraint, and urgency.”
In closing, the UN chief reaffirmed the UN’s readiness to support diplomatic solutions and avoid further escalation: “We know which path is right. We cannot—and must not—give up on peace.”
Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the success of the strikes, stating that the mission had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear capabilities. He emphasized that the operation targeted only nuclear infrastructure, not military personnel or civilians.
The international community now watches closely as global powers weigh the next steps in a crisis that threatens to engulf the region in further conflict.
