UNITED NATIONS, July 8 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is alarmed by the renewed military confrontations in the Gulf and calls for de-escalation, his spokesman said Wednesday.
"These incidents that we have seen in the last 24 hours risk derailing the diplomatic progress achieved between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States," said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman, at a daily press briefing.
He said that "a return to full-scale hostilities would have catastrophic consequences -- for the peoples of the region, for international peace and security, and for the global economy as a whole."
The secretary-general called on all parties to exercise maximum restraint, avoid any further escalatory action, and take immediate steps to de-escalate. The UN chief further recalled the obligations of all parties to fully comply with international law.
Guterres urged Iran and the United States to promptly resume negotiations and to address outstanding issues through diplomacy.
The United Nations remains committed to supporting all efforts to prevent a return to conflict, restore stability, and advance a comprehensive and durable resolution to this conflict, said the spokesman. ■
