TOKYO: UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday called for an immediate halt to ceasefire violations in the Middle East, stressing the need for diplomacy to resolve the ongoing conflict.
Speaking to reporters during a visit to Japan, the UN secretary-general said restoring safe and uninterrupted navigation in and around the Strait of Hormuz was vital for regional stability and global security.
It is essential to immediately reestablish the freedom of navigation in and around the Strait of Hormuz, and to end all ceasefire violations and create conditions for a political solution to the conflict.
–@antonioguterres speaking to the media in Japan:https://t.co/aH7PpTA31y pic.twitter.com/6kF8h9vFDs
— UN Spokesperson (@UN_Spokesperson) May 20, 2026
He warned that deepening mistrust and widening geopolitical divisions were undermining efforts to find effective solutions to international crises.
Guterres also criticised what he described as growing disregard for international law, saying some countries were acting “with impunity”, though he did not name any specific state.
The UN chief urged all sides to create conditions conducive to a political settlement and to avoid further escalation in the region.
