Yuri Kobzar 20:46, 02.04.26 UNIAN

What is happening now in the Middle East may be just the beginning of a larger conflict

The conflict in the Middle East risks escalating into an even larger war, the consequences of which will be dramatic for the entire world, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said during a press conference .

“The crisis in the Middle East has been going on for two months. With each day that this war continues, human suffering increases. (…) And the dangers to our world are increasing. We stand on the brink of a wider war that will engulf the entire Middle East and have dramatic consequences for the entire world,” he said. 

Guterres noted that the consequences of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz are already being felt by the whole world, especially poor countries.

“If the drums of war continue to beat, escalation will only make all this worse. Disputes must be resolved peacefully. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of all member states must be respected.

It is high time for the US and Israel to stop a war that is causing immense human suffering and already has devastating economic consequences. For Iran, it is high time to stop striking its neighbors,” the UN Secretary-General stressed.

Situation in the Middle East

As UNIAN reported, Saudi Arabia has launched a new rail freight corridor as an alternative to the Iranian-blocked Strait of Hormuz. The route, over 1,700 km long, connects Persian Gulf ports with the Jordanian border, providing faster and more stable access to regional markets and the port of Aqaba. 

We also reported that oil prices rose sharply on April 2 after Donald Trump announced that the US would continue strikes on Iran. Brent prices rose to over $108 per barrel and WTI to over $106, responding to the risks of escalation in the Middle East and threats to shipping. 

https://www.unian.ua/world/viyna-v-irani-antoniu-guterresh-poperediv-pro-novu-zagrozu-13336443.html