UN Secretary-General António Guterres

 UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that the United States’ overnight airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities risk igniting a wider regional war and further destabilising global peace efforts. Speaking at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Sunday, Guterres said the strikes have caused “serious damage to the international order” and urged an immediate return to diplomacy.

The U.S. airstrikes targeted three key Iranian facilities involved in uranium enrichment, marking a significant escalation after ten consecutive days of Israeli strikes aimed at disabling Iran’s nuclear programme. The continued exchanges between Israel and Iran have resulted in deadly missile fire and rising regional tensions.

“We now risk descending into a rathole of retaliation after retaliation,” Guterres told ambassadors. He warned that the Middle East cannot bear another cycle of destruction and called for a ceasefire. “We must act, immediately and decisively, to halt the fighting and return to serious, sustained negotiations on the Iran nuclear programme,” he added.

The UN chief also called on Iran to fully uphold the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), a cornerstone of international nuclear arms control, while urging all sides to choose diplomacy over violence. “One path leads to a wider war, deeper human suffering and serious damage to the international order. The other leads to de-escalation, diplomacy and dialogue,” Guterres said.

UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Miroslav Jenča echoed the Secretary-General’s concerns, describing the situation as “a dangerous moment” for the region. He said the escalation threatens to engulf the Middle East in greater instability, warning there is “no military solution to this conflict”.

Jenča reported that over 430 people have been killed in Iran — the majority civilians — while Israel has confirmed 25 deaths and more than 1,300 injuries. He also pointed to the growing risk of retaliation by non-state armed groups, including the Houthis in Yemen, which could further spread the conflict.

Meanwhile, Iran’s parliament expressed support for potentially closing the Strait of Hormuz — a crucial international shipping route — further fuelling fears of global economic and security repercussions.

“The world will not be spared from the ramifications of this dangerous conflict,” Jenča said, urging all parties to respect international law and the UN Charter as tensions continue to mount.