New York, July 15 (Petra) -- The United Nations expressed deep concern on Wednesday over the continuing military escalation in the Middle East, calling on all parties to take immediate steps to de-escalate tensions and return to dialogue and diplomacy.

U.N. spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told a daily press briefing that Secretary-General António Guterres had reiterated that a return to large-scale hostilities would inflict intolerable civilian suffering and have catastrophic consequences for international peace and security as well as the global economy.

Dujarric added that the Secretary-General also renewed his call for the full restoration of international navigation rights and freedoms in the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters, stressing that all parties must respect the exercise of navigation rights and freedoms in accordance with international law.

//Petra// AF

15/07/2026 22:35:50