UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday condemned the U.S.-Israeli military strikes on Iran and Tehran's subsequent retaliation, saying the escalation "undermines international peace and security" and risks pushing the Middle East toward a broader war.

Guterres warned that failing to halt the violence could lead to "a wider regional conflict with grave consequences for civilians and regional stability."

The secretary-general stressed that all UN member states must respect international law, recalling that the UN Charter prohibits "the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state." He said the current trajectory runs counter to the purposes of the UN.

Guterres called for "an immediate cessation of hostilities and de-escalation" and urged all parties to return to diplomacy, saying he "strongly encourages all parties to return immediately to the negotiating table."

"There is no viable alternative to the peaceful settlement of international disputes," he said, reiterating that the UN Charter remains "the foundation for the maintenance of international peace and security."

(Cover: A plume of smoke rises following a reported explosion in Tehran on February 28, 2026. /VCG)