March 13, (THEWILL) — The escalating conflict across the Middle East is pushing the region dangerously close to collapse, with far-reaching consequences already being felt across the globe, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, has warned.
Speaking in Türkiye while receiving the Atatürk International Award for Peace, Guterres called for an immediate halt to hostilities and urged global powers to return to diplomacy. He emphasised that the crisis now threatens international peace, global trade, and humanitarian stability.
“Around the world, we hear much talk of peace, but we see far too little of it”, Guterres said, warning that international norms are increasingly being ignored. He also highlighted that rising global tensions are compounded by growing inequalities, power politics, and the unregulated use of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, which could exacerbate conflicts instead of preventing them.
The UN chief singled out the massive military strikes launched by the United States and Israel against Iran, as well as Iran’s retaliatory attacks, as key factors worsening the crisis.
“The massive military strikes launched by the United States and Israel and the subsequent attacks by Iran on so many countries constitute a grave threat to international peace and security and have caused immense suffering for civilians”, Guterres stated.
He warned that the fallout from the conflict is already rippling across global markets, disrupting trade routes, driving up energy and food prices, and deepening instability worldwide. “As always, the most vulnerable are being hurt first and worst”, he added.
Calling for urgent de-escalation, Guterres stressed that dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable path to peace.
“The region and the world desperately need an off-ramp”, he added.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
