Middle East: UN chief warns of risk of 'full war'
DW.com • • world
Key Points:
- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned of the risk that the current low-level conflict between the US and Iran in the Persian Gulf could escalate into a full-scale war amid recent attacks and heightened rhetoric.
- The US military disabled an Iranian oil tanker violating its blockade in the Gulf of Oman and has targeted multiple vessels since April as part of its operations to enforce sanctions against Iran.
- US President Donald Trump vowed continued and intensified attacks on Iran following the downing of a US Apache helicopter, while urging Iran to sign a nuclear peace deal, which Tehran has yet to accept.
- The UN nuclear watchdog demanded Iran provide immediate updates on its uranium stockpile and nuclear facilities, citing lack of transparency after previous US and Israeli attacks damaged Iranian nuclear sites.
- Amnesty International accused Israel of conducting "ethnic cleansing" against Palestinian Bedouin communities in the West Bank, calling for EU sanctions and suspension of agreements with Israel to pressure an end to settlement expansion.