UNITED NATIONS, United States, Feb 28, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday condemned the "escalation" of military violence in the Middle East and urged an immediate cessation of fighting.

He said the US and Israeli strikes on Iran, and the Islamic republic's retaliatory attacks, undermine international peace and security. "I call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and de-escalation," Guterres said in a statement.