UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Wednesday expressed his deep concern over the ongoing military escalation in the Middle East, amid continuous strikes by the United States and Iran to control the Strait of Hormuz.
Moreover, Guterres urged all parties to "take immediate steps to de-escalate and return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy," UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told reporters in New York.
The Secretary-General also reaffirmed that a return to full-scale hostilities would impose unsustainable costs on civilians and lead to catastrophic consequences for international peace, security, and the global economy.
Furthermore, he renewed his call for the full restoration of international navigation rights and freedoms in and around the Strait of Hormuz—a vital maritime corridor for oil and natural gas exports.
He also stressed the necessity of respecting the exercise of navigation rights and freedoms by all parties, in accordance with international law.
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