Antonio Guterres cautions against further conflict following U.S. attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites, stressing the importance of diplomacy and moderation.
On Sunday, June 22, 2025, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres cautioned against a renewed spiral of devastation and reprisal after U.S. airstrikes targeted Iran’s nuclear sites, describing the attacks as a dangerous shift in the Middle East.
Addressing an urgent United Nations Security Council meeting, he reiterated his condemnation of military escalation in the region, warning that its people cannot bear another wave of ruin and risk falling into an endless pit of tit-for-tat violence.
Similarly, Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, urged restraint, expressing concern over the conflict’s potential to spread. Speaking via video link, he highlighted visible craters at Iran’s critical Fordo nuclear facility, suggesting the use of U.S. ground-penetrating weapons, though the extent of underground damage remains unassessed.
Grossi stressed that attacks on nuclear sites are unacceptable, as they could unleash radioactive fallout with severe consequences far beyond the targeted nation, and emphasized a fleeting chance to pursue dialogue and diplomacy to avert catastrophic violence and preserve the global non-proliferation framework.