Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Iranian Foreign Minister, held a conversation on phone call with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday evening. The subject of the discussion was the escalating tensions in the Middle East.
In their conversation, both leaders underscored the desperate need to halt assault in Gaza and Lebanon. The statement released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry, on Wednesday, revealed that both the leaders also highlighted the importance of ensuring humanitarian aid reaches the war-torn areas, according to a statement from .
Araghchi said that the humanitarian situation in the region has reached to the what he called “catastrophic,” citing Israel’s ongoing attacks in Gaza and Lebanon. Iran FM also requested Guterres to supply the UN’s resources to stop Israeli “crimes and aggressions” and facilitate aid delivery.
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Iran, Araghchi stated, views the maintenance of peace and stability in the region as essential. He asserted that while Iran is committed to protecting regional security, it is prepared to respond decisively to any provocations from Israel. Furthermore, he warned that the United States, as Israel’s primary supporter, would bear responsibility for any increase in regional insecurity.
The UN Chief expressed his concerns on the escalating tensions caused by the Israeli actions. He stressed the need for a political solution to end military operations and to provide assistance to the wounded and displaced in Gaza and Lebanon. Guterres also underscored the importance of protecting Lebanon’s sovereignty. He noted that the UN’s decision to maintain peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, despite threats to their safety, aligns with this objective.
Moreover, the two also talked about the situation in Yemen.
This dialogue comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, particularly following intensified Israeli attacks on Lebanon, Iran’s missile strike on Israel on October 1, and threats from Israel to take military action against Tehran.