New York [US], June 23: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivered a powerful appeal for peace during an emergency session of the UN Security Council on Sunday, following the United States’ recent airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Speaking from UN Headquarters in New York, Guterres warned of the escalating dangers in the Middle East and called for immediate diplomatic efforts to prevent a regional crisis.
“We cannot—and must not—give up on peace,” Guterres stated, urging all parties to act with restraint and return to diplomacy. He emphasized the urgent need to avoid further retaliation and highlighted the severe risks posed by ongoing military escalation.
The emergency session, held under the agenda “Threats to International Peace and Security”, came in response to the US’s precision strikes on three key Iranian nuclear facilities—Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan—on Saturday. The UN chief described the attack as a “perilous turn” in an already unstable region.
“Two days ago, in this chamber, I called on the world to give peace a chance,” Guterres said. “That call was not heeded. Instead, we saw the bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities by the United States—a dangerous escalation in a region already reeling from instability.”
Guterres condemned the military action and warned of a possible cycle of retaliation, calling for immediate steps to protect civilians and maintain safe maritime navigation through critical routes like the Strait of Hormuz.
He advocated for a diplomatic resolution to the crisis, stressing the importance of a “credible, comprehensive, and verifiable” agreement on Iran’s nuclear program. This includes full cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which Guterres described as the “technical authority” on nuclear matters.
“The Non-Proliferation Treaty is a cornerstone of international peace and security,” he said. “Iran must fully comply with it, and all nations must uphold their responsibilities under the UN Charter.”
In a stark warning, Guterres presented two possible outcomes: one path leading to wider war, human suffering, and damage to the global order, and another leading to de-escalation and diplomacy. “We must act—immediately and decisively—to halt the fighting and return to meaningful negotiations,” he urged.
Meanwhile, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the operation’s success during a press briefing alongside Air Force General Dan Caine, Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Hegseth described the strikes as “massive precision operations” that “obliterated Iran’s nuclear ambitions,” adding that the mission was carried out under direct orders from President Donald Trump.