The Secretary-General Urges Israel and Iran to Comply with the Ceasefire.

The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, has expressed his satisfaction with the recent announcement of a ceasefire between Iran and Israel, made public by U.S. President Donald Trump. However, hours before both countries confirmed this agreement, reports surfaced of gunfire exchanges and an increase in attacks in Tehran. Guterres urged both nations to uphold the ceasefire, emphasizing that “fighting must stop,” as the civilian population has suffered greatly due to this prolonged conflict.

In a context of rising tension, the director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, commented on Iran’s decision to suspend cooperation with the agency and prohibit inspections of its nuclear facilities. Grossi urged Iran to reestablish dialogue with the international community to clarify concerns regarding its uranium enrichment program, expressing his willingness to meet with Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi. The resumption of cooperation was deemed essential to finding a diplomatic solution to this complex disagreement.

Hostilities between Israel and Iran began on June 13 with Israeli bombings targeting nuclear and military sites in Iran, resulting in devastating casualties, including the deaths of high-ranking military officials and Iranian scientists. Iran, in turn, retaliated by launching missiles at Israel, causing significant damage in Tel Aviv and resulting in a high number of casualties. According to Iran’s Ministry of Health, at least 400 deaths have been reported, including many women and children, although various human rights organizations indicate that the figure could exceed 865.

The violence has led to a massive displacement of people in major cities across Iran, worsening a humanitarian crisis that intensifies day by day. Furthermore, the situation escalated further over the weekend, with U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, prompting Iran to launch thirteen missiles at Al Udeid Air Base, the largest U.S. military installation in the Middle East. Despite the tensions, Iran had previously warned the United States about the importance of minimizing collateral damage in this context of confrontation.