UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has just spoken at an emergency session of the Security Council, Al Jazeera reports.

“The bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities by the US marks a perilous turn in a region that is already reeling,” he said. “We now risk descending into a rathole of retaliation after retaliation.”

Guterres urged that in this situation, diplomacy must prevail, civilians must be protected, and safe maritime navigation must be guaranteed.

“We must act immediately and decisively to halt the fighting and return to serious, sustained negotiations on the Iran nuclear programme,” he added, stating that the Non-Proliferation Treaty must be fully respected by Iran.

“All member states must act in accordance with their obligations under the UN Charter and other rules of international law, including international humanitarian law.”