US Strikes on Iran Mark ‘Perilous Turn’ in Crisis: UN Chief

UN Secretary-General António Guterres urges Security Council members to act swiftly and decisively to end hostilities and resume serious, sustained negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme. UN Photo/Evan Schneider

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that the United States’ overnight strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities mark a dangerous escalation in the Middle East conflict, increasing the risk of regional war and threatening global stability.

Speaking at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Sunday, Guterres said the international community now faces a critical crossroads. “We risk descending into a rathole of retaliation after retaliation,” he said, urging all parties to halt hostilities and return to the negotiating table.

The US strikes, carried out in coordination with Israel, targeted three key uranium enrichment facilities in Iran, following ten days of deadly missile exchanges between Tehran and Tel Aviv.

“We must act – immediately and decisively – to halt the fighting and resume serious, sustained negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme,” Guterres said. He called for a ceasefire and warned that the wider Middle East "cannot endure yet another cycle of destruction."

The UN chief also reminded Iran of its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), stating it must “fully respect” the international agreement which is vital for global peace and security.

Iran, for its part, has repeatedly denied pursuing nuclear weapons, insisting its programme is solely for peaceful energy purposes.

Guterres warned that the world faces two stark choices: “One path leads to a wider war, deeper human suffering and serious damage to the international order. The other leads to de-escalation, diplomacy, and dialogue.”

Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), echoed Guterres’ concerns, telling the Council that recent US and Israeli strikes have severely compromised nuclear safety in Iran.

“There has been a sharp degradation in nuclear safety and security,” Grossi said, noting significant damage at Natanz, one of Iran’s main enrichment facilities, including its underground uranium halls and key power infrastructure.

He warned of chemical contamination risks inside the site and added that other nuclear-related locations—Esfahan, Arak, and Tehran—had also sustained damage.

While he confirmed there had been no radiation leaks so far, he issued a grave warning regarding Iran’s operational nuclear power plant at Bushehr. “Any strike on Bushehr could trigger a massive radiation release across the region. The risk is real,” Grossi said.

He urged restraint from all sides and confirmed the IAEA is prepared to deploy experts to inspect and safeguard the damaged sites once safety allows.

Miroslav Jenča, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, described the moment as “extremely dangerous” and warned that Iran’s possible retaliation could plunge the region into deeper instability.

He cited satellite imagery confirming major structural damage at multiple nuclear sites, including tunnels at Fordow. He urged Iran to allow IAEA inspectors back “as soon as safety conditions permit.”

Jenča said the humanitarian toll continues to rise, with over 430 people killed in Iran—mostly civilians—and 25 dead in Israel, with more than 1,300 injured.

He also highlighted the risk of the conflict spreading further through non-state actors like the Houthis in Yemen and warned of potential Iranian action to block the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil transit route.

“The world will not be spared from the ramifications of this dangerous conflict,” Jenča concluded, urging all countries to abide by international law and the UN Charter.