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The United Nations has called for urgent de-escalation after a surge of military strikes between Iran, the United States, and Israel, warning that continued violence risks devastating consequences for civilians across the Middle East.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, condemned the latest wave of attacks and appealed for an immediate return to diplomacy.
“I deplore the military strikes across Iran this morning by Israel and the United States of America, and the subsequent retaliatory strikes by Iran,” he said in a statement.
Türk stressed that civilians inevitably bear the brunt of armed conflict.
“As always, in any armed conflict, it is civilians who end up paying the ultimate price,” he said. “Bombs and missiles are not the way to resolve differences — they only result in death, destruction, and human misery.”
He warned that failing to halt the cycle of retaliation could ignite a broader regional war.
“To avert these terrible consequences for civilians, I call for restraint and implore all parties to see reason, to de-escalate, and to return to the negotiating table,” Türk said, noting that diplomatic efforts had been underway only hours before the strikes.
Indeed, on Thursday, US and Iranian negotiators held indirect talks in Geneva, mediated by Oman, aimed at addressing concerns over Tehran’s nuclear programme — discussions that took place within sight of the UN human rights offices.
Türk reiterated that the protection of civilians is a fundamental obligation under international humanitarian law and insisted that those who violate the rules of war must be held accountable.
Meanwhile, the head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said he was “deeply troubled” by the unfolding crisis and alarmed for the safety of civilians caught in the crossfire.
“We urge leaders to choose the challenging path of dialogue over the senseless route of destruction,” he said. “The world is watching and hoping for wisdom to prevail over weapons. Peace is the best medicine.”
As tensions mount, the UN’s message is clear: diplomacy — not escalation — remains the only viable path to prevent a humanitarian disaster that could reverberate far beyond Iran’s borders.
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