UN's Guterres urges 'give peace a chance' in Israel-Iran conflict

21/6/2025 6:26

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Friday that expansion of the Israel-Iran conflict could "ignite a fire no one can control" and called on both sides and potential parties to the conflict to "give peace a chance."



The head of the UN nuclear watchdog agency, speaking at the same United Nations Security Council session, warned that attacks on nuclear facilities could result in the release of radiation "within and beyond boundaries" of Iran, and called for maximum restraint.



Guterres said there were "moments when the directions taken will shape not just the fate of nations, but potentially our collective future".



"This is such a moment," he said.



He said expansion of the conflict would "ignite a fire that no one can control" and added: "We must not let that happen."



"To the parties to the conflict, the potential parties to the conflict, and to the Security Council as the representative of the international community, I have a simple and clear message: give peace a chance," Guterres said.