UN chief calls on US and Iran to halt new outbreak of fighting

United States: United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called on the United States and Iran to immediately stop the latest escalation in hostilities and return to negotiations aimed at ending the conflict in the Middle East.

In a statement issued on Sunday, UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said Guterres was "deeply concerned" by the renewed fighting, particularly the recent US military strikes on Iran and Tehran's attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and on US allies in the Gulf.

"These attacks must stop," Dujarric said, adding that the Secretary-General urged both sides to resume dialogue and pursue a diplomatic solution to prevent further regional instability.

The appeal came a day after the United States launched a third round of military strikes against Iran, following allegations that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) attacked the Cyprus-flagged container ship *M/V GFS Galaxy* while it was transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the attack left one civilian crew member missing, while the vessel suffered a fire and significant engine room damage, rendering it unable to continue its voyage.

CENTCOM said the latest operation began at 7.15 pm Eastern Time on Saturday and was carried out after Iran allegedly failed to comply with commitments made under an earlier Memorandum of Understanding following previous attacks on commercial shipping.

"The United States is imposing a heavy cost by continuing to degrade Iran's ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships freely transiting the strait," CENTCOM said, adding that the strikes were conducted on the orders of the US President.