UN Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed French diplomat Jean Arnault as his personal envoy to try to defuse the war in the Middle East, which he now considers "out of control".
Faced with escalating violence, the UN chief warned that the world was "on the brink of a wider war," calling for an urgent intensification of diplomatic efforts.
Jean Arnault, an experienced diplomat, will be tasked with coordinating ongoing dialogue initiatives and promoting de-escalation between the various parties involved.
Guterres made direct appeals to the protagonists: to the United States and Israel, he called for an end to military operations, while he urged Iran to cease its attacks in the region.
He also called on Hezbollah to stop its attacks against Israel, while asking the Jewish state to end its strikes in Lebanon, which are particularly heavy for civilians.
The Secretary-General stressed the global consequences of the conflict, including the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which is disrupting the supply of oil, gas and fertilizer at a crucial time for global agriculture.
These disruptions, combined with soaring energy prices, raise fears of a further rise in food prices, which could further weaken the most vulnerable countries.
"It is time to move away from military escalation and take the diplomatic route," Guterres insisted, stressing the urgency of a political solution to a crisis with global repercussions.
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