Guterres urges Washington and Tehran to quickly resume negotiations

07:50

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, calls on the United States and Iran to promptly return to the diplomatic path, as the 60-day deadline set by their June agreement has expired without a definitive resolution of the dispute.

At the UN, the message remains unchanged: confrontation cannot be sustainably resolved through force. When asked on Monday about the Secretary-General's position after the agreement's expiration, his spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, reaffirmed the priority given to dialogue between Washington and Tehran.

According to António Guterres, both parties must resume discussions "as soon as possible" to achieve a peaceful and lasting outcome. This position is accompanied by a call to avoid any new military action that could escalate tensions.

The UN maintains the diplomatic path

The agreement reached in mid-June included a 60-day period intended to create a conducive framework for exchanges between the United States and Iran. Its expiration comes as tensions remain high between the two countries.

For the United Nations, this deadline should not signify the end of diplomatic efforts. António Guterres encourages Washington and Tehran to resume negotiations and seek conditions that would lead to a lasting resolution.

The UN chief also calls on officials from both sides to exercise restraint in their public statements. He deems it necessary to reduce the rhetoric observed in recent days to prevent political tensions from escalating into new military confrontations.

Concerns over the consequences of escalation

Since the onset of the crisis between the United States and Iran, António Guterres has regularly advocated for an approach based on diplomacy and dialogue.

The United Nations warns of the consequences that an escalation of the conflict could have beyond the relations between Washington and Tehran. A new military confrontation could indeed have broader repercussions on regional and international stability.

In this context, the UN believes that resuming negotiations is the primary way to reduce tensions and seek a political solution.

At the expiration of the deadline set by the June agreement, the Secretary-General maintains a clear stance: to avoid any new military action, contain the rise of tensions, and bring the United States and Iran back to the negotiating table.