New York: UN Secretary-General António Guterres has cautioned of a “potential wider conflict with grave consequences for civilians and regional stability” following the recent flare-up in the Middle East, as tensions between the US and Israel on one side, and Iran and Russia on the other, intensified.

Addressing the Security Council on Saturday, Guterres warned that “military action carries the risk of igniting a chain of events that no one can control in the most volatile region of the world.” The emergency meeting was convened after US-Israel airstrikes on Iran and Iran’s retaliatory missile attacks targeting US military infrastructure across the Gulf.

Guterres expressed deep regret over missed diplomatic opportunities, referencing last week’s US-Iran negotiations in Geneva, facilitated by Oman, and a technical meeting on nuclear issues scheduled in Vienna next week. He called for an immediate ceasefire and urged all parties to prioritise diplomacy over military escalation.

US position

US Permanent Representative Mike Waltz stressed that the situation required “historical clarity” and reiterated that Washington would act to ensure “the Iranian regime can never, ever threaten the world with a nuclear weapon.” Waltz described Iran’s missile capabilities as a persistent threat to regional neighbours and labelled its actions as “aggression and violence that cannot be ignored.”

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Iran’s response

Iran’s Permanent Representative Amir Saeid Iravani accused the US and Israel of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity by targeting civilian areas. He dismissed claims regarding Iran’s nuclear programme, calling them “legally, morally, and politically unfounded” and maintaining that Tehran’s nuclear activities are peaceful.

Russia condemns US-Israel strikes

Russia’s Permanent Representative Vassily Nebenzia condemned the US-Israel attacks as “another unprovoked act of armed aggression against a sovereign and independent UN Member State,” warning that the strikes threaten the entire region. He referenced past US actions in Iraq, highlighting what he said was a failure to learn from previous conflicts.

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Israel’s stance

Israel’s Permanent Representative Danny Danon cited repeated chants in Iran calling for the deaths of Americans and Israelis, arguing that the strikes were necessary to “stop extremism before it becomes unstoppable.”

With the Security Council deeply divided, Guterres noted that polarisation among members has made collective action unlikely, leaving the UN without a clear path to de-escalation.

IANS