UN Calls on US, Iran to Resume Talks as Conflict Enters Sixth Month

The United Nations has appealed to the United States and Iran to return to the negotiating table, marking six months since the outbreak of their conflict. Speaking at a press briefing, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres's spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, stressed that a diplomatic resolution remains the only viable path forward.

"This is a sad marker of six months of this ongoing conflict," Dujarric said. "We again stress that the only solution to this is a diplomatic solution, and we urge both the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran to engage in meaningful negotiations."

The UN expressed strong support for mediation efforts involving Qatar, Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait, noting that the Secretary-General has remained in close contact with these mediators.

Dujarric highlighted the devastating toll the conflict has taken on civilians in the region, including bombardment and the destruction of civilian infrastructure. He also pointed to the broader global economic impact, including disruptions to food supplies, humanitarian aid deliveries, and fertilizer shipments, as well as rising energy prices that have disproportionately affected the world's most vulnerable economies.

Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint, Dujarric confirmed that a UN task force is consulting with relevant parties. While the technical framework for a mechanism could be deployed relatively quickly, its implementation requires approval from all concerned countries.

The conflict began on February 28 when the US and Israel launched military attacks against Iran. Iran retaliated against Israel and US bases in the Gulf, and the Strait of Hormuz was largely blocked, severely disrupting global oil and commodity flows.

A memorandum of understanding signed on June 18 had scheduled negotiations within 60 days, but the fate of those talks remains uncertain following renewed escalation.