UN chief warns of risk of return to ‘full war’ in Middle East
TLE Desk: United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has warned of the growing risk of a return to full-scale war in the Middle East following recent exchanges of strikes between Iran and the United States, reports AFP.
Speaking at a United Nations Security Council meeting on Wednesday, Guterres cautioned that the situation in the region could rapidly escalate beyond control if tensions continue to intensify.
“We should not minimize the risks of a lesser fire becoming full fire, or in another word — full war,” he said.
His remarks come amid heightened regional instability after recent military exchanges between Iranian and US forces, which have raised fears of broader conflict across the Middle East.
The UN chief urged restraint and renewed diplomatic engagement, warning that miscalculation could deepen an already volatile security environment.
The Security Council session focused on the escalating tensions in what diplomats have described as a “tinderbox region,” with multiple active flashpoints across the Middle East.
