The United Nations Security Council held an emergency public meeting on the Israel-Iran conflict on the 20th. UN Secretary-General Guterres warned at the meeting that tensions in the Middle East could spiral out of control and called to "give peace a chance."
Guterres said that the Israel-Iran conflict is escalating rapidly. The world is not "sliding towards crisis," but "rushing towards crisis."
He stated that the only thing that can currently be predicted is that if the conflict between Israel and Iran continues, the consequences will be unpredictable. The international community should take responsible collective action and pull the Middle East and the entire world back from the edge of danger.
Guterres said that the core issue of the Israel-Iran conflict is the Iranian nuclear issue. Iran must comply with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Although Iran has repeatedly stated it does not seek to develop nuclear weapons, there is a "trust gap." The only way to bridge this "trust gap" is to establish a credible, comprehensive, and verifiable solution through diplomatic means. To that end, he called for an immediate ceasefire and a return to serious negotiations.
Guterres urged the Security Council to unite and take urgent action to promote dialogue.
UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs DiCarlo, when briefing the Security Council on the Israel-Iran conflict, said that the scope and scale of the conflict have been continuously expanding, leading to increasing civilian casualties in both countries.
She stated that the situation is now on the brink of full-scale conflict and humanitarian crisis, and further escalation would have grave consequences for regional and even global peace and security.
She called for using every opportunity to de-escalate the situation, halt hostilities, and resolve disputes through peaceful means.
International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Grossi warned in a video briefing that Israel's attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities have led to a severe deterioration of nuclear safety in Iran. Although there has not yet been a release of radioactive material directly affecting the public, the risk exists.
He stressed that as long as there is political will, the Iranian nuclear issue can be resolved through diplomatic means. The IAEA is capable of ensuring through strict verification measures that Iran does not develop nuclear weapons.