New York, Islamabad – Agencies
UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned on Wednesday that a resumption of military confrontations between Iran and the United States would have grave consequences for international peace and security and for the global economy.
Guterres said in a statement: "I am deeply concerned by the serious escalation and the resumption of military confrontations in the Gulf, including Iranian attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, American attacks on Iran, and Iranian attacks on targets in neighbouring countries." He called for an immediate halt to these attacks and urged Washington and Tehran to urgently resume negotiations and address outstanding issues through diplomatic channels.
Meanwhile, Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar called for "de-escalation" and "restraint" among the parties to the conflict during a telephone call with his Iranian counterpart on Wednesday, according to a statement issued by the foreign ministry.
Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in the statement, issued following the call between Ishaq Dar and Abbas Araghchi, that "the two officials exchanged views on developments in the regional situation," adding that Dar "emphasised that dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable path to resolving disputes and achieving lasting peace and stability in the region."
In a separate development, Iraq's Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed on Wednesday the importance of respecting state sovereignty, good neighbourliness, and refraining from endangering the security and safety of maritime navigation in the region. The Iraqi foreign ministry expressed in a statement its concern over the continuation of tensions and developments affecting the security of navigation in the region and their potential repercussions on regional security and stability, as well as on international trade flows. The Iraqi foreign ministry called for the adoption of dialogue and diplomatic means to address differences, affirming Baghdad's support for all efforts aimed at de-escalation, preserving the region's security and stability, and safeguarding the common interests of its peoples.