U.S. Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites a "Perilous Turn", Guterres Warns

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres issued a grave warning on Sunday during an emergency session of the Security Council, declaring that the United States' overnight strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities represent a dangerous escalation that threatens to plunge the region into a broader conflict and seriously undermine the global order.

“These massive strikes risk pushing the Middle East over the edge,” Guterres said, calling for an immediate halt to hostilities and urging all parties to recommit to diplomacy. “We now risk descending into a rathole of retaliation after retaliation.”

The U.S. attacks — targeting three key uranium enrichment sites — came in the wake of 10 days of intense Israeli airstrikes on Iran, which triggered daily missile exchanges between Tehran and Tel Aviv. Washington described its intervention as support for Israel’s efforts to neutralize what it sees as a growing nuclear threat.

But Guterres warned that further escalation would only bring more suffering to civilians and imperil decades of nuclear non-proliferation work. “We must act – immediately and decisively – to halt the fighting and return to serious, sustained negotiations on the Iran nuclear programme,” he said.

While reaffirming that Iran must comply fully with the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Guterres also stressed that Iran has consistently denied seeking nuclear weapons, maintaining its nuclear program is for peaceful energy use.

The UN chief drew a stark line between two possible futures: “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.”

### Nuclear Watchdog Raises Alarm

Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), echoed the Secretary-General’s concerns, warning the Council that recent strikes by both Israel and the U.S. on nuclear facilities in Iran have severely compromised nuclear safety.

“The attacks have led to a sharp degradation in nuclear safety and security,” Grossi told ambassadors, revealing that Iran’s main enrichment site at Natanz suffered major damage, including to underground halls and power systems.

While no radiation leaks have been reported so far, Grossi noted that chemical contamination within the site poses significant risks. “If inhaled or ingested, these materials can be extremely dangerous,” he said.

He cautioned that the world is at a “critical juncture,” warning that if current tensions are not defused, “the global nuclear non-proliferation regime as we know it could crumble and fall.”

Grossi urged all parties to seize the “narrow and closing” window for dialogue before irreversible damage is done.

### A Call for Global Responsibility

The emergency meeting concluded with repeated appeals from UN diplomats for restraint, dialogue, and a return to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which had placed limits on Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief — until it began unraveling in recent years.

With the threat of further strikes looming, Guterres called on world powers to step up efforts to mediate and prevent the outbreak of full-scale war. “The people of the Middle East cannot endure another cycle of devastation,” he said. “Now is the moment for statesmanship, not brinkmanship.”