WASHINGTON, D.C.: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed deep concern over the escalating military confrontation between the United States and Iran, condemning attacks on civilian infrastructure and renewing calls for an immediate diplomatic solution to the crisis.
Speaking on Friday, UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq said Guterres views strikes targeting civilian facilities in Iran and across the wider region as “unacceptable,” warning that continued escalation risks further destabilizing the Middle East.
The remarks followed a fresh wave of US military strikes that reportedly targeted five bridges and several sites in southern and southeastern Iran, marking the sixth consecutive night of military operations.
According to Iranian media reports, the attacks killed at least eight people and injured several others in locations including Bandar Abbas, Bandar Khamir, Qeshm Island, Sirik, and Iranshahr. One strike reportedly hit Iranshahr Airport, damaging electrical infrastructure and a fuel storage facility while injuring one person.
Another reported attack caused the collapse of a maritime control tower at Shahid Kalantari Port in the southeastern city of Chabahar, following repeated strikes on the facility.
Reaffirming the UN’s position, Haq said the Secretary-General believes the dispute between Washington and Tehran cannot be resolved through military means. He urged all parties to intensify diplomatic engagement and work toward a peaceful and lasting settlement.
Guterres also emphasized the importance of restoring international navigational rights and freedom of passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway vital to global energy supplies and international trade.
Regional tensions have remained high since February, when joint US-Israeli military operations against Iran triggered retaliatory missile and drone attacks by Tehran on Gulf states hosting American military facilities.
Although Iran and the United States signed a Pakistan-mediated memorandum of understanding last month aimed at reducing hostilities and pursuing a long-term peace agreement, recent disputes surrounding the Strait of Hormuz have reignited military tensions, raising concerns about regional stability and global energy security.
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