UN Chief warns of wider Middle East War, urges dialogue over destruction

International, Middle East, North America

INTERNATIONAL, 2 April 2026 (NPA) — United Nations Secretary‑General António Guterres has issued a stark warning that the world is “on the edge of a wider war that would engulf the Middle East with dramatic impacts around the globe.” Speaking at UN Headquarters in New York on Thursday, following a Security Council meeting on cooperation with Gulf States, he appealed to all parties to halt hostilities and choose diplomacy over confrontation.

Guterres condemned the military strikes against Iran on 28 February and subsequent attacks by Iran against Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Jordan, describing them as “clear violations of sovereignty and territorial integrity.” He stressed that “conflicts do not end on their own. They end when leaders choose dialogue over destruction.”

The UN chief called on the United States, Israel and Iran to stop the war, warning that each day of continued fighting brings mounting human suffering, indiscriminate attacks and escalating devastation. He urged Iran specifically to “stop attacking your neighbours,” while pressing all sides to respect civilians and civilian infrastructure, including nuclear installations.

Highlighting the global economic repercussions, Guterres emphasised the need to uphold freedom of navigation and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital corridor through which one‑fifth of the world’s oil and gas is exported. He cautioned that disruptions to maritime routes and energy supplies risk deepening the cost‑of‑living crisis and fuelling hunger worldwide.

Diplomatic efforts are underway, with Jean Arnault appointed as the Secretary‑General’s Personal Envoy to lead UN engagement on the Middle East conflict. Guterres underscored that strengthened cooperation between the UN and Gulf States is “not only timely; it is necessary.”

“The choice is clear,” he concluded. “Dialogue must prevail over destruction if the region and the world are to avoid catastrophe.”