UN chief urges immediate de-escalation in Israel-Iran conflict
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United Nations: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged an immediate de-escalation of tensions between Israel and Iran, followed by a ceasefire.
"I remain profoundly alarmed by the ongoing military escalation in the Middle East between Israel and Iran. I reiterate my call for immediate de-escalation leading to a ceasefire," he said in a statement on Wednesday.
According to Xinhua news agency, Guterres expressed deep concern about the conflict potentially expanding to involve other nations.
"I strongly appeal to all to avoid any further internationalisation of the conflict. Any additional military interventions could have enormous consequences, not only for those involved but for the whole region and for international peace and security at large."
He condemned the airstrikes for causing civilian casualties and widespread damage to homes and essential infrastructure.
Guterres said diplomacy remains the best and only way to address concerns regarding Iran's nuclear programme and regional security issues.
"The UN Charter remains our shared framework to save people from the scourge of war," he said. "I urge all (UN) member states to comply fully with the charter and international law, including international humanitarian law."
Meanwhile, Israel Defence Forces (IDF) spokesman Effie Defrin reported that Israeli jets carried out further strikes in western Iran on Wednesday evening, targeting missile launch and storage sites.
These strikes were aimed at operatives trying to retrieve munitions from previously bombed locations, marking the third large-scale wave of Israeli airstrikes in the region within 24 hours. The first, which occurred overnight, saw over 50 fighter jets hit nearly 40 targets near Tehran.
"Among the targets struck was a centrifuge production site, a key component in the Iranian regime's efforts to enrich uranium," he said, noting that another target was a facility used to produce anti-tank missiles destined for Hezbollah.
The second wave of operations on Wednesday afternoon targeted more than 20 additional sites in the Tehran vicinity.
(inputs from IANS)