New York, 2 April 2026 – The war in the Middle East will spread “if the drums of war keep beating” and will have dramatic impacts on countries in Asia as well Africa in addition to those in the region that are suffering indiscriminate daily attacks targeting civilians and civilian infrastructures, the UN chief said.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, “My message is very clear. To the United States and Israel, it is high time to stop the war that is inflicting immense human suffering and already triggering devastating economic consequences. To Iran, to stop attacking their neighbours.”
“When the Strait of Hormuz is strangled, the world’s poorest and most vulnerable cannot breathe,” Guterres said in an address to the media at UN headquarters while the UN Security Council was holding a meeting on the situation in the Middle East. “We see it in the daily lives of people struggling with rising food and energy costs from the Philippines to Sri Lanka, and to Mozambique.”
“Many aspects of the conflict may be uncertain, but one thing is not: If the drums of war keep beating, escalation will only make all of this worse. The spiral of death and destruction must stop,” he said, calling on both sides of the war to find a peaceful solution.
At the UN Security Council meeting, the Secretary-General of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jassim Albudaiwi, said Iran’s attacks on countries in the Middle East had exceeded “all red lines” and demanded that his organization to be included in discussions or agreements with Iran regarding security of the region.
Albudaiwi told the council that Iran had targeted vital civilian infrastructure, including airports, oil facilities, residential and commercial areas, fuel depots, service facilities and diplomatic missions.
“The GCC strongly condemns these blatant Iranian attacks, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of GCC States”, as well as the principle of good-neighbourly relations, international law and the UN Charter. he said. “GCC States do not seek war. They seek the peace, security and stability that all peoples deserve.”
The UN Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari, who attended the council meeting, said the Middle East stands “at a dangerous precipice.” He said the UN Chief has condemned both military strikes against Iran starting on February 28 as well as attacks launched by Iran against GCC countries and Jordan.
“These actions are clear violations of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the affected countries. All actors must pull back from the brink and immediately cease hostilities,” Khiari said, pointing to Resolution 2817 (2026) adopted by this UN Security Council after the war broke out, which demanded the immediate cessation of all attacks by Iran against Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan.
“These attacks, condemned by this Council, must stop now,” he said. “Escalating hostilities are posing an acute and rapidly growing threat to international peace and security. Attacks on energy infrastructure and other civilian sites are particularly alarming. They are causing devastating harm to civilians and creating serious risks for the global economy, especially for the most vulnerable.”
“Disruptions to maritime routes in the Gulf and surrounding waters are also having global economic repercussions. They heighten the risk of broader confrontation. All parties must respect freedom of navigation, which is a cornerstone ofinternational maritime law.”
United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations correspondent journalists – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations journalism articles – United Nations News – UNCA Awards