Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres held a telephone conversation on Tuesday evening to discuss the escalating conflicts in the Middle East.
The two leaders emphasized the urgent need to halt hostilities in Gaza and Lebanon and to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to the affected areas, according to a statement released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday.
Araghchi expressed deep concern over the “catastrophic” humanitarian situation resulting from Israel’s ongoing attacks in Gaza and Lebanon. He urged Guterres to leverage the United Nations’ capacity to stop what he described as Israeli “crimes and aggressions” and to facilitate adequate humanitarian assistance to both regions.
“Based on its principled positions, Iran considers maintaining peace and stability in the region necessary,” Araghchi stated, highlighting Iran’s commitment to safeguarding regional peace and security. He also warned that Iran is prepared to deliver a “decisive and regret-inducing response to any adventurism” by Israel.
The Iranian Foreign Minister held the United States, as Israel’s main supporter, responsible for the consequences of increasing insecurity in the region.
UN Secretary-General Guterres voiced his concern over the escalating tensions resulting from Israeli attacks against Gaza and Lebanon. He underscored the necessity of pursuing a political solution to end the military operations and to provide aid to the wounded and displaced people.
Guterres also stressed the importance of protecting Lebanon’s sovereignty. He noted that the UN’s decision to continue stationing peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, despite threats to their safety, aligns with this objective.
During the conversation, the two officials also discussed the humanitarian situation in Yemen.
The phone call comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, particularly following intensified Israeli attacks against Lebanon, Iran’s retaliatory missile strike on Israel on October 1, and Israel’s threats of military action against Tehran.
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Iranian FM, UN chief discuss latest developments in the Middle East
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