UN Chief Urges US-Iran Peace Talks Amid Gulf Tensions
Antonio Guterres called for immediate diplomatic talks between the United States and Iran to prevent a major regional escalation and restore freedom of navigation.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for peace talks between the United States and Iran on Monday to prevent a major regional escalation. Speaking in Cairo, Egypt, Guterres urged both nations to exercise maximum restraint as Washington prepares for new military action and Tehran warns of further regional attacks. He specifically demanded the full restoration of navigational rights and freedoms in the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to protect global trade.
During a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Guterres stated there is an opportunity to resolve Iran's nuclear program through peaceful means. He emphasized that sustainable peace in the Middle East requires a just settlement of the Palestinian cause, urging Israel to lift humanitarian restrictions in Gaza and cease settlement expansion in the West Bank.
Simultaneously, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi declared in Tehran that the management and routes of the Strait of Hormuz have fundamentally changed following the US-Israeli war against Iran. Araghchi argued that regional security must be managed by regional countries without reliance on foreign forces, though he noted Iran remains ready to cooperate with its neighbors.
Beyond the Gulf, Guterres advocated for a cessation of fighting in Sudan to allow for an inclusive political process and encouraged Libyan stakeholders to unify institutions to enable national elections.
