UN Secretary-General António Guterres has declared the escalating Gulf war “out of control,” urging immediate de-escalation to avert a wider regional conflict and global economic shock.
Speaking in New York, Guterres warned that civilians across the Middle East are enduring severe harm and profound insecurity. He called on the United States and Israel to end hostilities and urged Iran to cease attacks on non-combatant neighbors.
Guterres announced the appointment of veteran diplomat Jean Arnault as his Personal Envoy to lead UN mediation efforts directly on the ground. Arnault will engage all parties to restore peace and safeguard critical infrastructure, especially freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
The Secretary-General emphasized that prolonged disruption of this chokepoint is choking global supplies of oil, gas, and fertilizer-threatening food security worldwide. “Without fertilizers today, we might have hunger tomorrow,” he said.
Markets are in turmoil, humanitarian operations are constrained, and developing nations face deepening poverty due to soaring energy prices and inflation. Guterres insisted diplomacy remains the only path forward: “War is not the answer. Peace is the way out.”