António Guterres warned that weakening respect for international law in the Middle East could have serious consequences for civilians and global stability.
Speaking at the United Nations headquarters in New York City, he said conflicts are increasingly ignoring rules protecting civilians, and stressed there is no military solution.
He called for renewed US–Iran negotiations, restraint, respect for international law, and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
Guterres also said he will visit The Hague later this week to reaffirm support for international law and the International Court of Justice.
