Guterres Renews Call For Israel-Iran Ceasefire
18 June 2025
' I reiterate my call for immediate de-escalation leading to a ceasefire,' Mr. Guterres said in a statement in which he strongly appealled against any further internationalization of the conflict.
'Any additional military interventions could have enormous consequences, not only for those involved but for the whole region and for international peace and security at large,' he warned.
Deadly escalation
The crisis erupted on Friday when Israel began targeting nuclear and military sites across Iran, prompting Tehran to launch retaliatory strikes on Israeli cities.
Since then, more than 240 people have been killed across both countries, according to media reports.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which has been monitoring Iran's nuclear programme for decades, said that it had received information that two centrifuge production facilities were struck on Wednesday.
The TESA Karaj workshop and the Tehran Research Center were previously under its monitoring and verification as part of a 2015 international agreement known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
'At the Tehran site, one building was hit where advanced centrifuge rotors were manufactured and tested,' the agency said in a tweet. 'At Karaj, two buildings were destroyed where different centrifuge components were manufactured.'
Last week, the IAEA passed a resolution declaring that Iran was not complying with its non-proliferation obligations.
The text noted Iran's 'many failures' to provide the agency with full and timely cooperation regarding undeclared nuclear material and activities at multiple undeclared locations in the country.
Diplomacy reigns supreme
As the crisis in the Middle East deepens, the Secretary-General stressed that ' diplomacy remains the best and only way to address concerns regarding Iran's nuclear programme and regional security issues.'
He underlined that ' the UN Charter remains our shared framework to save people from the scourge of war,' urging all Member States to fully comply with the document and international law, including international humanitarian law.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
an hour ago
- Scoop
UN Experts Condemn Israeli Attack On Iran And Urge End To Hostilities
GENEVA (20 June 2025) – UN experts* today unequivocally condemned recent Israeli military attacks against Iran, which have targeted nuclear facilities, energy and military infrastructure, as well as residential and media buildings across multiple locations. 'These attacks represent a flagrant violation of fundamental principles of international law, a blatant act of aggression and a violation of jus cogens norms—peremptory rules of international law from which no derogation is permitted,' the experts said. Article 2(4) of the Charter of the United Nations prohibits the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, including through any purported claim of preventive self-defense against alleged nuclear proliferation or terrorism. The experts noted reports that Israel's strikes targeting nuclear and uranium enrichment facilities, air defense installations, and command centers, resulted in the extrajudicial killing of Iranian civilian scientists, military commanders and other government officials. Although journalists are civilians protected under international law, Iran's state television channel was reportedly also targeted, causing the death of three media workers. The bombing has caused severe damage and civilian casualties in various areas of the capital Tehran. They also noted reports that Iran's armed response had caused damage to a hospital and residential buildings, among military and energy infrastructure targeted in Israel. 'Israel's attack and Iran's response – with successive waves of attacks against each other's territory – have resulted in many civilian casualties, confirming our grave concerns about this destructive cycle of violence,' the experts said. The experts noted preliminary casualty figures of at least 224 deaths in Iran, with approximately 90% reported to be civilians, and 24 civilian deaths in Israel. They underlined the obligation of all parties to strictly abide by international humanitarian law, including the obligations to avoid deliberate, indiscriminate or disproportionate attacks on civilian objects. They recalled that even when acting in self-defense, States are bound by principles of proportionality, distinction and precaution. 'We are particularly alarmed by reports of the deaths and injuries of women and children, who are among the most vulnerable in armed conflict and disproportionately bear the brunt of such violence,' the experts said. They also agreed with the International Atomic Energy Agency that military action against or near nuclear facilities poses unacceptable risks to regional and international security, as well as catastrophic humanitarian and ecological impacts. 'The timing of the strikes — coinciding with ongoing diplomatic efforts in Muscat aimed at reviving the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) — raises serious concerns about the deliberate undermining of peace initiatives,' the experts said. 'This aggravates the charges against Israel of posing a threat to peace and security in the region and beyond.' The experts warned that Israel's attack on Iran and ensuing violence marked a dangerous escalation of risks in a region already strained by overlapping crises and geopolitical rivalries, noting that the normalisation of the use of force as an instrument of foreign policy threatened to collapse the international legal order which is already under significant strain. 'We are gravely concerned that the recent strikes form part of a broader pattern of unlawful unilateral acts by Israel,' the experts said. 'They occur alongside ongoing and intensifying occupation, annexation, apartheid and violence in the West Bank as well as genocidal violence against the people of Gaza, including through systematic use of starvation and domicide. All of which amounts to international crimes punished under the Rome statute and grave violations of international humanitarian and human rights law,' they said. The experts stressed that these multiple crises must not be viewed in isolation. 'The implications of the current escalation extend far beyond the Middle East,' they said. 'They strike at the core of the international system founded on respect for the sovereign equality of states, the peaceful settlement of disputes, and the prohibition of unilateral military action.' The UN experts urged the international community to take principled and coordinated action to uphold international law, prevent further escalation and cease hostilities. They stressed the necessity of respecting the ongoing international proceedings against Israel for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. The proceedings impose an absolute and non-derogable obligation not to recognise, trade with, provide aid to, or assist a state accused of atrocity crimes. 'Stopping the supply of arms to Israel is the first step to return to peace and stability in the region,' the experts said. 'World leaders must recommit to diplomacy and dialogue in resolving disputes in a peaceful manner according to the UN Charter and international law,' they said. 'Failure to act will drag the entire region and beyond into the abyss.' *The experts: George Katrougalos, the Independent expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order ; Mai Sato, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran ; Claudia Mahler, the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons; Morris Tidball-Binz, the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions ; Ben Saul, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism; Irene Khan, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression ; Surya Deva, the Special Rapporteur on the right to development ; Michael Fakhri, the Special Rapporteur on the right to food ; Gina Romero, the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association ; Francesca Albanese, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967 ; Nicolas Levrat, Special Rapporteur on minority issues; Laura Nyirinkindi (Chair), Claudia Flores (Vice-Chair), Dorothy Estrada Tanck, Ivana Krstić, and Haina Lu, Working group on discrimination against women and girls; Balakrishnan Rajagopal, the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, and on the right to non-discrimination in this context; Geneviève Savigny (Chair-Rapporteur), Carlos Duarte, Uche Ewelukwa, Shalmali Guttal, Davit Hakobyan,
Scoop
an hour ago
- Scoop
UN Chief ‘Gravely Alarmed' By US Bombing Of Iranian Nuclear Sites
"I am gravely alarmed by the use of force by the United States against Iran today,' said the UN chief, reiterating that there is no military solution. ' This is a dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge – and a direct threat to international peace and security.' President Donald Trump delivered a televised address to the nation from the White House at 10pm local time and said that Iran's nuclear facilities at Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan had been 'totally obliterated' describing the long-range bombing raid as a 'spectacular military success.' President Trump called on Iran's leadership to now 'make peace' and return to negotiations over its nuclear programme or suffer a far greater wave of attacks. Iranian authorities have yet to confirm the extent of the damage to the three sites in central Iran. Earlier in the day, Iran's foreign minister reportedly warned the US against any involvement in the Iran-Israel conflict which erupted on 13 June. Deadly strikes At least 430 Iranians are believed to have been killed during waves of strikes since then with around 3,500 injured, according to figures from the Iranian health ministry. In Israel, 24 civilians have died in the retaliatory attacks according to local authorities with more than 400 missiles reportedly fired towards the country. B-2 bombers were involved in the US strikes, President Trump confirmed, dropping so-called 'bunker buster' bombs on the uranium enrichment site at Fordow which is buried deep inside a mountain south of the capital Tehran. 'Avoid a spiral of chaos' In his statement, the Secretary-General reiterated his concerns voiced in the Security Council during Friday's emergency meeting on the crisis that the conflict 'could rapidly get out of control – with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world.' He called on all Member States to de-escalate the situation which threatens the stability of the Middle East and beyond, calling for everyone to uphold their obligations under the UN Charter and international law. ' At this perilous hour, it is critical to avoid a spiral of chaos,' he added calling for an immediate return to negotiations between the warring parties. ' There is no military solution. The only path forward is diplomacy. The only hope is peace.'
Scoop
2 hours ago
- Scoop
DAWN Statement On The Trump Administration's War On Iran
In response to U.S. airstrikes inside Iran ordered by President Trump, DAWN issued the following statements: 'Trump's unprovoked and unauthorized attacks on Iran not only violate international law but the U.S. Constitution, which grants only Congress the right to declare war,' said Sarah Leah Whitson, DAWN's Executive Director. 'Trump has recklessly launched a war that harms American interests in service of Israeli demands, and broken his promise to the American people to put America first.' 'President Trump's actions will most likely lead to retaliation from Iran that puts American troops and citizens across the Middle East in harm's way,' said Raed Jarrar, DAWN's Advocacy Director. 'Congress should immediately pass a War Powers Resolution to prohibit further U.S. military involvement, even in the event of retaliation. We need de-escalation, not more bombs.' 'Trump has completely folded to Netanyahu, dragging the U.S. into a war that undermines American interests,' said Michael Schaeffer Omer-Man, Israel-Palestine Director at DAWN. 'The UN General Assembly should immediately pass a 'Uniting for Peace' resolution to hold both Israel and the U.S. accountable and demand an end to this regime-change campaign.'
