New York, March 26 — United Nations Secretary‑General António Guterres warned that the ongoing conflict in West Asia is falling most heavily on the region’s poorest and most vulnerable civilians, and he called for an immediate end to the fighting and a renewed diplomatic push. In a post on X, Guterres said ordinary people who had no role in the violence are bearing the humanitarian cost, stressing that “war is not the answer” and urging full respect for international law and a path to peace.
He also warned of widening economic fallout, saying disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz are intensifying global pressures. The prolonged closure is impeding shipments of oil, gas and fertilizer at a critical moment in the global planting season, Guterres said, while civilians across the region face serious harm and growing insecurity. The UN is working to reduce the conflict’s humanitarian effects, he added, but the most effective measure to limit suffering is clear: “End the war — immediately.”
Separately, Iranian official Abbas Araghchi told a televised interview that Tehran has been restricting passage for countries it regards as adversaries while allowing ships from friendly nations to transit the Strait of Hormuz. He said China, Russia, India, Iraq and Pakistan have been permitted to pass, and added that Iran sees no reason to allow what it considers enemy vessels through the waterway.
This report incorporates material from a syndicated feed and was published as received.
