Guterres: "We are on the brink of a broader war"

UN Secretary-General Guterres spoke to the media on the 2nd, again calling on the United States and Israel to stop the war against Iran, while also urging Iran to stop attacking its neighboring countries.

Guterres said that this war is causing immense suffering to humanity and has already led to devastating economic consequences. The escalation of the Middle East crisis has been ongoing for more than a month, with the scale of destruction continuing to grow, indiscriminate attacks increasing, and attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure showing no letup. “We are on the brink of a wider war.”

Guterres said that, at present, diplomatic efforts aimed at finding a path to peace are under way. He is maintaining close contact with all parties and has already dispatched his Personal Envoy, Jean Arnaud, to the region to help advance the aforementioned efforts.

Guterres emphasized that disputes must be resolved through peaceful means. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of all UN member states must be respected. Civilians and civilian infrastructure, including nuclear facilities, must be respected and protected. Freedom of navigation must be maintained. He urged relevant country leaders to “choose dialogue over destruction” to end the conflict.

（Source: Xinhua News Agency）